A couple designs - comments please :)

[evasive]

Note, these haven't actually been coded yet,these are just the designs out of Photoshop. Any comments on any of them? Thanks :)

http://brendanwor.customer.netspace.net.au/xpent.jpg
http://brendanwor.customer.netspace.net.au/fzer0-new.jpg
http://brendanwor.customer.netspace.net.au/gamelogix.jpg
http://brendanwor.customer.netspace.net.au/gameplayes.jpg
http://brendanwor.customer.netspace.net.au/importsau.jpg

Also this wallpaper if you don't mind!

http://brendanwor.customer.netspace.net.au/1.jpg

[evasive]

Anyone? :(

[djtherapy]

First thing I should say is that I'm a print desgner, not a web designer, so feel free to take what I say with a pinch of salt...

One thing I found about all of them was that there's a lot of information on one page, and some of the fonts are so small they become difficult to read.

1st design:-
I like the banner design on this one. You could do with giving the different sections a bit more 'space' - the central panel in particular looks squashed and the result is a little confused. Also the 'user interface' bits of the site, i.e. profile -> messages etc seems to me like it belongs on the right hand side, with the news - admin stuff. Maybe I'm a bit conventional that way but I think it might make more sense for people using and navigating the site.

2nd design:- function zero
Again, nice background although I'm not sure what the site's content is, and from that, whether the image is quite appropriate. If it's computer games, then it's fine, if it's football etc then it might be a bit too 'tecchy' and dark...

Information is well arranged on this one, its a lot easier to read and navigate. I guess the only thing that puts me off slightly is the fact that the 'header' (function zero) kinda looks less important by virtue of the fact that it's lower down than your login panel and the ad banner.

3rd:- Gamelogic
I can see what you're trying to do with the 'look' of the site and the info panel bits work well, although I think the overall look is too dark. It's quite hard to read and 'infernolan' sticks out like a sore thumb on the top right. The panels give it an appropriate, tecchy feel but the distressed look on the interactive bits carries too much of an implication about the content of the site for me. It's all a bit too moody. I'm not saying you should put fluffy bunny rabbits on it, mind you, but something not quite as specific/dark/moody as that style might work better.

4th:- Gameplay
Nice layout, and depending on the site's target audience, a good use of colours - although I would like to see use of colour to further define the nav bars etc. One nagging thing is the use of THAT font - it just says Star Trek to me. But that's just personal preference.

5th - import australia
The car is too big relative to the logo for me. It puts the masthead out of balance, and the company's name and logo could use a bit more prominence/space. Maybe try darkening or Photoshopping the mage if you don't want to make it smaller. Also the ad panel is a bit distracting by virtue of the fact that it's white. Maybe try using some vertical lines or borders to separate it from the rest of the design. Otherwise, good colour again, although I'm not too sure about the fuzzy edges to the pics. Do they fit in with the clean lines of the rest of the style?

Wallpaper
Nice use of motion blur/pixel stretch. Size and placement on fonts is also good relative to rest of design.

One thing is this:- I know ****-all about cars, but this car looks like some turbo-charged/boy racer kinda thing (no offence intended to anyone who may own one btw), but the ad looks like something that might be more appropriate for a sophisticated executive car...

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Overall I think you'e got a good grasp of techniques, but maybe you could do with thinking a bit more about the suitability of your design to the client.

And I hope none of this has come across as too critical. I don't want you to think I'm being rude - just trying to be helpful / constructive.

[evasive]

Thanks very much for the criticism djtherapy, it's really appreciated :)

[evasive]

anyone else? :/

[DeleteYourself]

I like them all a lot. You've got good style. My only criticism is on the third one, it's really dark and hard to read. Nice work, overal, though!

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[evasive]

Anyone else please? :)
Here's another: http://brendanwor.customer.netspace.net.au/raveau.jpg

[lfredericks]

#1-Expent
The menu items and headings are very hard to read, I would get rid of the blur and make them a tiny bit bigger. I really like the banner on this one, but feel the page needs some sort of a divider between the header and the body. I'm not fond of the sponsor item being located at the top, I would follow the standard and put them at the bottom of the page. I think it takes away from the overall feel. There is something about the font that makes it difficult to read. It may be the black on true white background. Maybe if you played around with a grey tint (background) or changed the text color to a dark grey it would take the stress off. I love the color scheme, maybe add some design elements to the bottom also.

#2-Function Zero
The text is hard to read. It's a bit too small and black on white is difficult on the eyes in general. I think if you used a dark grey text color as I suggested in the first one it will be much more soothing. I really like the header on this one too, I think that the white on either side takes away from though. As with the first one, I would move the sponsors to the bottom of the page.

#3-Gamelogic
This page is a bit too dark. I can barely see the logo and the menu buttons. I like what you are going for, maybe incorporate silver as a compliment, instead of the warm grey.

#4-Gameplay
I don't care for the blaring yellow in the header, and I can't make out any text incorporated in it. The text overall is hard to read, and think about matching reds. There are at least four different shades throughout the page. Stick with one and find a compliment. (pet peeve of mine) I would probably shrink the header graphic, it should not exceed 1/4 of a page like this.

#5-Import Austrailia
I like the black and yellow, I think the yellow should be a little toned down, with black it is difficult to read. The text is a little small. I would work on the blurs around the photos a bit. I cannot see at a glance there are graphics at the bottom, and the advertisement on the side is way too distracting.

#6-RAU
I like the color scheme and layout a lot. Again, the text is pretty small and a little difficult to read, but overall, this one is nice and clean.

These are all really good designs! They were difficult to critique /emoticons/smile.gif

[Ryan8720]

1:
Love the background. Looks easy to convert into a site. I'm am against using images as links. If it just words, then don't use images. That is just a pet peeve of mine...second to popups. Plus, the text on the links is a little blurry anyway.

2:
Overwhelming. There is so much content that is can be discouraging. Needs to have more whitespace aka breathing room.

3:
Way too dark. I have to strain to read it, and have to tilt my monitor to see the links and header graphic. You seem to have a thing for glowing link text. lol

4:
Top-right image is too bright for the rest of the site. It takes all the attention and is somewhat irritating. The text could be enlarged a bit.

5:
I'm not a fan of having to scroll in little boxes in the middle of a page. Other than that, I love it. Great work.

Wallpaper:
Great job. Strange pick of a car though.

http://edgewebdesign.org/ryan2.gif (http://www.edgewebdesign.org)

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