Hi, a few comments.... this is obviously bulit using a content management tool, am I correct? I am not sure if it is the cms limiting the use of design and usability or the design itself... i just feel that it is a little rigid and predictable.

My other thought is that it doesnt jump out and say GRAPHIC DESIGN COMPANY... it looks a little Night cluby, perhaps lose the first page and jump straight to the home page and have a language switch button at the top. This will also help with search engines.

I myself develop a CMS syatem and some are more restrictive thatn others... its just finding the right one for the functionality that you require.

I do like the work you have done but perhaps tru using bigger images and without the brown gradient background.

I think it has alot of potential.

Ok

First thing, I am viewing at 1024 x 768 and the main logo on the intro page is pixelated. Did you design this at a lower resolution?

Secondly, when on the main page of your site, the layout has navigation links on the left, and a small paragraph or so of information on the right. The number of links in the paragraph and the number of navigation links are creating havoc (in my obsessively organized mind) with the organization.

I think you could probably cut down on the number of links, and increase the clarity of the navigation bar. When people have a ton of things to click on, they don't realize the underlying organization.

However, if you have discreet, easy to locate options, people will have an easier time making choices, and navigating your site. As mentioned before, the site is nice, but a bit plain. You might think of adding a background, integrated graphics instead of hypertext links, etc.

Just something to grab the eye.

The site is clean. It actually looks like a blog page to be honest, but nothing wrong with that.

Your work is good too. I like how you have a diverse style.

I guess the only thing I would suggest is fleshing out the navigation a little more. I’m in the portfolio, but there is no obvious way back to home. In fact, I can’t find a link back to home!

Hi Jonny! Thanx for your comments! It was my intention to keep the site as simple and plain as possible, as I honestly believe there are more than enough sites full of junk and cluttered pages already out there in the WWW.
The reason for the (admittedly) rather plain start-page was because I'm based in Germany and I have a dot-com address I wanted visitors to my site to immediately see that the site is bilingual (I don't think many non-Germans would look thru' a German site and not many Germans would read through a site in English). Your comments about the search engines has been noted and I'm considering scrapping the start-page.

Hi Akanik! Yep, I'm definately going have to replace my logo on the start-page! This "mistake" is due to my knowledge (or rather lack of knowledge!) of internet design (I'm a print designer and proud of it!). Your comments about the links have been noted and I'll definately cut out the links in the text. The design of the site is based on my business cards and letterheads, hence the plain cream coloured background. The idea behind my site was to use it as a platform to present my work to the world, and I didn't want the design of the site to distract from my work

Hi Zendada! (Cool name!)
Thanx for your comments. Time I got to work on the navigation, eh? Your comment about not being able to return to the home-page kinda confused me. Why do think it's necessary to return to "home" when all the links are listed on the left? Or isn't this clear? Should I rename the "All about STARS" link as "Home"? Whaddya think?

hi nessie, to get your site on the search engine is a whole different story. You have to learn the basics of Search Engine Optimization. I find this site really useful for SEO http://forums.seochat.com/google-opt...post-8704.html.

Minor details

Just remember, if the site is designed to present your
work to the world, it should be nearly impossible to not
get right into your work in an organized fashion.

Usually, a lot of links can be grouped into misc information
catagories and displayed on a separate page, or section.
The main section, in my opinon, should be as simple and
intuitive as possible, and directly reflecting the most
important information on your site.

In your instance, your work.

I'd like to see how it turns out!

Some of your work is much stronger then your other pieces.

I would suggest minimalizing your portfolio.

Currently, I think you have to much and some of it is not all that sucessfull in comparision to others.

I also think, the navagation and grid like system you have "cheapens" the design aspect. This is more so a personal opinion but, it gives it a more "mass producability" affect then a "designed" and unique effect- get what I'm saying?

I would recommend minimalizing the portfolio, and just having your portfolio with 10-15 pieces with the navagation as numbers or something. rather then breaking it up into a bunch of different sections. I think this will create the more "unique" look then easy and mass produced like now- in my opinion.

One catagory I would definatly scrap are your CD covers- non of them all that sucessfull (no offense). However, your more layout type work is much more sucessfull and I would try to focus on what you have your most sucess in- rather then just putting CD covers on there to put them on there. Another example would be some of your logos. The only one I feel that is pretty stong is the restaurant one. Perhaps the flower place one also but, I think thats all. The rest arn't really communicating anything (to me at least).

So I would suggest trying to create as much impact as you can with as few pieces as it requires to do so. Show me one or two logos that are -good. Perhaps show me one poster that is fantastic. Then maybe a restarant menu i that is great. Then a book design that is great. Then maybe one or two packaging designs that are wonderfull. So rather then having 6 packaging design you can take two that really show me you know how to design and accomplish more with less without devalueing the rest of work with the ill sucess of the rest.

This is just my opinion though.

Nessie,

Like the site and enjoy the logo. I would agree with what's already been said and add one thing. Going along with what TZ said, decrease the number of samples and then if you can, increase the size of the thumbnail...not a whole lot, just a bit. Enjoy the work though, and wish you luck in the cut-throat world of design!

Thanx Larson! Having been in the world of graphics since 1980 (!!) it was hard enough to decide on which of my works I should include and which not, but now you've convinced me that I'll have to do more editing! Re: The thunbnails. I don't know if you noticed that if you click on the thumbnails you will be presented with a larger image, and if you click on that image it increases to full-screen. Maybe I should include this info' in the site?

Thanx tZ. I appreciate your honesty!! Obviously I'm going to have to have a serious re-think about which of my works to present to the world! Your comments on my CD covers are noted. They're all covers that I've designed for myself – just for fun. the Bluespower CD was my first attempt with a vector-graphics programme (Coral-Draw 5) and the Technodrone CD was my first attempt with Illustrator and Photoshop. I was hoping it wouldn't be so obvious!! Time for me to get my html-scalpel out and start "cutting the crap"!