Web Site Portfolio and Logo Redesign

[kinch]

Hello all,

I'm rebranding my freelancing company. I designed my website over a year ago, and it's looking quite amaterurish. I do like the old logo, however I designed it only after 6 months of Graphic Design eductation.

First of all, web deisgn is not my forte. I can get by... but it takes me a long time. But I think I can definately improve from the old design.

So here is the old site: http://kinchdesigns.ca/

Here is a quick draft of the new site: http://kinchdesigns.ca/newweb/

The new logo is quite small on the new site, and unfortunately I'm not at my home computer -- so I don't have a larger version available.

The new website is only a quick draft. The header will be resized. The buttons will be redone. The alignment of the picture of me will change or be moved to the "About" page like it is on the old site. I will play around with font size. I will remove the white space that's creeping up between some of the graphics. And I will do the entire site in CSS.

So what do you think of the new design. Do you think I'm going in a better direction?

[CkretAjint]

both links are the same... ;)

[kinch]

Oops! Fixed.

[budafist]

It's a very real estate thing to do to put your portrait on your advertising. What is the purpose of this?

I also feel like this website an uncomfortable cross between a personal portfolio site and a company's business website.

Kinch Designs produces profressional graphics for both web and print. Check out my portfolio to see some examples of my work.

This sentence has a very displaced feeling since you're refering to the company and then to "my".

Choose if you want to be perceived as a company or as 1 person and stick to it.

[kinch]

It's a very real estate thing to do to put your portrait on your advertising. What is the purpose of this?

I also feel like this website an uncomfortable cross between a personal portfolio site and a company's business website.



This sentence has a very displaced feeling since you're refering to the company and then to "my".

Choose if you want to be perceived as a company or as 1 person and stick to it.

Thanks,

The picture won't be on the main page, but in the "About" section. The reason for this is as I meet a lot of clients at Coffee Shops and what not, and when we are meeting for the first time it can help to indentify me.

I agree with you about the sentence structure. Do I just leave the logo as "Kinch Designs" and then just write all the content as a freelancer?

[budafist]

The picture won't be on the main page, but in the "About" section. The reason for this is as I meet a lot of clients at Coffee Shops and what not, and when we are meeting for the first time it can help to indentify me.

Fair enough :)

I agree with you about the sentence structure. Do I just leave the logo as "Kinch Designs" and then just write all the content as a freelancer?

Hmmm...I'm not entirely sure. Do eventually want to expand?

[kinch]

I'm thinking about expanding... eventually.

I do like having "Kinch Designs" as it's easy for the client to remember or to tell there friends about.

[urstwile]

A couple of typos you need to address, I've marked them in red:

My name is Tyler Kinch and I am a freelance graphic artist located in Calgary Alberta, Canada. If you need unique, strong and effective graphic design, look no further than Kinch Designs.

Kinch Designs produces professional graphics for both web and print. Check out my portfolio to see some examples of my work. I can design for your needs and I promise you that you won't be disappointed in choosing me as your graphic artist.

There's a space before the period after Canada, and professional is spelled incorrectly, as is disappointed.

[kinch]

A couple of typos you need to address, I've marked them in red:



There's a space before the period after Canada, and professional is spelled incorrectly, as is disappointed.

:o:o:o

Oops. I won't even go for an excuse for that.

[chris82]

I like the idea of having your picture on there, but maybe make it smaller and a more interesting shot. Not just a typical mug shot. I love the color scheme though and I think the new logo is much more effective and less intimidating.

[kinch]

I like the idea of having your picture on there, but maybe make it smaller and a more interesting shot. Not just a typical mug shot. I love the color scheme though and I think the new logo is much more effective and less intimidating.

I'm going on a Barenaked Ladies cruise in two weeks.. hopefully I will get a more interesting shot then! :D

[chris82]

Nudity may draw people away from your site. No I'm just kidding I know you mean the band. I think you should try to get a pic with a black background or something neutral.

[kinch]

Nudity may draw people away from your site. No I'm just kidding I know you mean the band. I think you should try to get a pic with a black background or something neutral.

Actually... there is going to be a group naked photo on the cruise... last time 500 people participated! But yeah... I don't think that would be suitable for my website :p

[Maker]

perhaps an illustrated self image? something that showcases talent yet still allows someone to see what you look like. and also at a size that fits into the page design, and doesn't look stuck on. And also maybe a 3/4ths facial angle, so it looks less mug shotty.

I hate personal photos in marketing, probably because I have 20 real estate clients that all want their picture on every piece of marketing fodder they print... to me, it's tacky - but a part of the RE biz I guess. Hey, who doesn't want a coffee mug with a pic of the lady who sold them their house?

Hardly any other professional client I have wants their photo on things.

[kinch]

I was actually hoping that my good looks could attract some clients ;)

But seriously, thanks for the tips!

[Maker]

True, looking like a designer is important to many clients. They want Alton Brown to bake them a Sell Sheet.

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j28/jstjn11/200px-400px-Alton_Brown.jpg

remember, image is everything... thirst? notsomuch.

[kinch]

Just thought I'd post an update. I'm really taking my time with this redesign, and have come up with another concept here: http://kinchdesigns.ca/newweb2/index.html

You can pretty much ignore the content areas of the site... as they were just copied and pasted from my old site. What I want is some comments on the layout (Navigation, logo placement, etc.)

Thanks.

[Fredonia2k]

The blue/green box looks distorted at the ends. It looks like it was originally done as a rounded rectangle and then stretched horizontally.

I like the new logo and colors, but the site design is pretty blah overall. It is an improvement over the original.

[kinch]

The blue/green box looks distorted at the ends. It looks like it was originally done as a rounded rectangle and then stretched horizontally.

I like the new logo and colors, but the site design is pretty blah overall. It is an improvement over the original.

Are you commenting on the link that I just posted, or the link in the original post?

[Fredonia2k]

Are you commenting on the link that I just posted, or the link in the original post?

I didn't see the re-post when I commented. I replied from page 1. The new version is an improvement.

Two things that jump out would be the banner on the right. I would make the color a little closer to that of the logo. And consider going with a san-serif text for continuity.

[kinch]

I didn't see the re-post when I commented. I replied from page 1. The new version is an improvement.

Two things that jump out would be the banner on the right. I would make the color a little closer to that of the logo. And consider going with a san-serif text for continuity.

I tried a San-Serif web font... but I found it clashed with the logo-type (since I use it fore the naviagation as well.) I find that a serif font is good for body type in this case.... even though it's recommended that serif is used in web... it's only going to be a small amount of body copy.

[Spunky Nerd]

the first thing I see is an odd shade of green and then that you are far to the left in your pic lol. I do like the general design of the sight. I like the wave in the back and the change from blue to green, but for some reason the green doesn't sit well with me, it reminds me of spearmint gum and seafoam mixed all together (maybe it's just me)

I might also do something with the transparency of the box behind the text or move the text around because the way that the wave cuts the text makes it a little hard to read (not ligibility issue, just a distraction issue).

[kinch]

So I uploaded the new website, and I am slowly working on improving it. I think I will take the suggestion, and make the wave on the right with no transperency... just the solid blue. The transperency is bugging me now that it was mentioned :P

I also added a "splash" page. I'm against splash pages usually... but this one has the navigation on it. The image is from a post card I designed, and I just really loved it. The navigation on the splash page will eventually have roll overs.

And to all the web designers... don't you dare look at the code! :P I'm embarassed. The main site is just sliced out of illustrator... I will eventually make it in CSS with valid XHTML, but I'm still in the design stage right now. And I find it easier to design if I'm not worrying too much about valid XHTML. It's important, but it will come later on in the game.