critique early design stages

[juventus]

I'm not sure about this one, it's in its early stages and is still just a big png

http://www.scorch-design.com/fbla/

i like the feel, but it's also real dark and colorless
it needs to be professional, bold, simple

any design critiques and suggestions are greatly appreciated

also, any links you can suggest for relevant inspiration would be helpful

thanks

[juventus]

bumpski

[juventus]

anyone? 60 views, no replies

[WoD]

It's a very strange blend of low contrast graphics set with incredibly high contrast text. It doesn't get any more high contrast than blue on yellow, interestingly.

I'm not sure whether I like or dislike it, visually, but what it most certainly achieves is being incredibly neutral and easy on the eyes. Flipping back to this forum to post after looking at it is actually a little jarring and uncomfortable by comparison.

Find just one more colour that works and use it to add some accenting to important components of the design.

Furthermore, there's currently nothing to visually separate static text from navigational devices. I wouldn't normally suggest using only colour to do so. I would make the "Next " link and the tabs on the right stand out just a little more.

Finally, the setting of your content text is a little off. I would probably go for a serif font, but that's my own personal preference. Either way, it definitely needs to be a tiny bit smaller and your line height should be 120 to 140% greater.

I can't figure out if the logo says Comira or Lomira, but the font is otherwise attractive. If it is, indeed, an "L" I would make an effort to tweak it.

[juventus]

thanks for the reply WoD,

The logo does look like Comira, i noticed that before, but forgot to fix it

"Find just one more colour that works and use it to add some accenting to important components of the design."
- i've been working on this for a while but it's proving difficult. I've thought about a green, somewhat light - but i've yet to implement this

"nothing to visually separate static text from navigational devices"
- so far, every thing not navigational or titular is in browser-friendly verdana. you've suggested a serif font (probably wise) and better color differentiation. I will consider those suggestions.

i'm not sure what you mean by static text versus navigational, is static also what you later refer to as content text?

anyway, i updated it (http://www.scorch-design.com/fbla/)

maybe a pattern in first bg?