Help with a R9mil site

I

iPirate

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Hi guys,

Now that I've got your attention with the heading, the site is not costing R9mil, but the products they sell start at R9mil.

I'm having a problem conveying this in my design...Right now my boss is saying what I have done lacks class...Can anyone give me some tips?

A wip can be found at http://www.buypastel.co.za/boat-world Only done the homepage.
 
Tell your boss he lacks common sense. Sure it could be different and every one will have many ideas but from what I have seen it is done well and businesslike professional. That's just me but I am sure more feedback will come.

Interesting thread to follow.
 
Banner needs work,slogan using horrendous font,images for boats are stretched weird,rest not bad
 
The layout is a bit dated, but quite clean.

I wouldn't say "Lacks class" is valid criticism.
 
ug... I agree with the boss. The site can be SO much more.

I know that's not very useful feedback. I'll see if I can add something a little more useful later when I have some time.
 
Also get the content grammatically correct:

In short we are fisherman striving for excellence, building boats for fishermen that will impress and last them a lifetime.
Click to expand...

I suspect the customer gave you the content, but it still creates an unprofessional appearance.
 
Is that comic sans? Use helvetica and a black background, correctly format the pictures..
 
Wow, that was a lotof feedback really quickly...

Okay, thanks for all the advice, especially the grammar error.

So basically a new header image? I hate the font there, but I was advised to use it.

My boss's main problem is with the menu I've designed. I'm not really sure how to improve it though.

I was aiming for a very clean, minimalistic look. The site they gave me as a reference point is http://www.princess.co.uk

And hell no that is not comic sans, I'd rather stamp on new born kittens than ever use comic sans
 
It looks like the Logo banner was designed in word using word art.

If it is a high end product the site needs to be high end as well.
Try using a different colour for the background, or at least a different contrast, white is too bright!
 
iPirate said:
Wow, that was a lotof feedback really quickly...

Okay, thanks for all the advice, especially the grammar error.

So basically a new header image? I hate the font there, but I was advised to use it.

My boss's main problem is with the menu I've designed. I'm not really sure how to improve it though.

I was aiming for a very clean, minimalistic look. The site they gave me as a reference point is http://www.princess.co.uk

And hell no that is not comic sans, I'd rather stamp on new born kittens than ever use comic sans
Click to expand...

Maybe try a aqua marine /white theme with the navigation bar. Try some swatches on the buttons.
The logo should be sharper and maybe something like a old white boat stearing wheel to replace the "o" on the boat.
Keep this one theme right through and try to stay clear of brown and gray.
Might also work if you added some well placed pictures like a Boatwheel, anchor, compass, southern cross, seabirds or something like that.
Keep the client involved in ever step and brainstorm with them. This ought to take some pressure of you.
 
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The reference site looks quite good,softer background,good contrast,clean fonts
 
Okay, give me an hour, let me work some magic. Will post when I'm ready for more views
 
I don't think the site is "bad" but I don't think it's fitting for the product you are trying to sell.
 
For us older people, small writing in grey is hard to read... if i had 9mil or more I might go to another site with clearer text :p
 
The site just doesn't gel well with itself.. esp given the value of the products they're selling.

Try make it alot cleaner and slicker.. the menu should be part of the site, but not stick out like it does atm... also the layout could be better.

What about a menu down the side of the site instead of across the top?

And that banner, tbh, looks like it was done by a 5 year old in Word.

Also, you seem to have stuck to a fixed width design, you should be trying to get it to work in a variable width design as well so that it fills the screen of whatever monitor is being used.
 
I'm no web designer but your buttons needs to be a bit more 3D. The flat grey buttons look cheap.
 
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droid said:
Maybe try a aqua marine /white theme with the navigation bar. Try some swatches on the buttons.
The logo should be sharper and maybe something like a old white boat stearing wheel to replace the "o" on the boat.
Keep this one theme right through and try to stay clear of brown and gray.
Might also work if you added some well placed pictures like a Boatwheel, anchor, compass, southern cross, seabirds or something like that.
Keep the client involved in ever step and brainstorm with them. This ought to take some pressure of you.
Click to expand...

Good tips, I like the Aqua idea, specially relating to the product and water! Colour is important to create or assimilate the correct atmosphere and aesthetics relating to the product.
 
Decrease the size of the boat images, and increase the size of the grey text below.
Move the menus slightly to the left to center them better.
Change the grey text to Justify instead of Left Aligned.
Have the grey menu blocks show behind the light blue menus when they appear.
Move everything up halving the white space above.

Possible spelling error?
From re-building, new builts from 2.1m to 22m in length and customizing options to create...
Click to expand...
 
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NomNom :D

Wow, these people are full of grammar errors...Going to have to go over everything with a fine-toothed comb...
 
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