Opinions And Critique Wanted

DMDesigns

As the site is fully loaded already with details and images, I think its just the layout and I would be glad to take your existing website and re-tool it.

I dabble in web design as well as run a drafting firm.

Some Examples of websites I have taken existing material made this:

http://www.burginconstructioninc.com/

http://lermaandsonsconstruction.com/

http://phoenixconstruction.com/

http://www.giattinodesign.com/

You have a nice collection of information, I think it just needs a basic layout and design elements that will help grab your eye more.

I find that working with existing peoples websites are nice and easy as it already has the info a web designer needs to make it complete.


Dave

My Website: http://www.davidmichaeldesigns.com/

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DarrenB

Did a little bit. What do you all think?

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480sparky

What does "bath BY us" mean?

Why not 'baths'........plural? You can only do one bath?

Why is US capitalized?

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DarrenB

It means a new bath by us.

I debated plural or non plural when I came up with the name. Settled on singular form. Reason is the domain name and phone number were both available.

Of course I can do more than one. But, one at a time.

us is not capitalized. If it was, it would be the same height as BY.

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KennMacMoragh

I don't know, it made me happy, plus the manager I talked to sounded pretty smart, so I think it gave me confidence in them, maybe his art supervisor was just bored so his manager wanted to give him a little extra work. I was actually looking for someone like you when I was calling around, the agencies were geared for doing work with large companies like a Wells Fargo or something.

Darren, he gave you some good free advice, I'm not sure why you think spending $300 for a pro won't help you any though. I am a firm believer in letting pro's help with certain aspects of your business; such as letting an attorney write your contracts, letting an accountant help set up your bookwork, letting a banker help with your business accounts, and letting a marketing professional help with your advertising. I stick with what I know best, which is the construction aspect of the business.

cbscreative

Too much on the drops above, and definitely not the bottom one. More like the one below.

Color is PMS 294 for printing, C:100, M:88, Y:21, K:7 for CMYK process, R:0, G:56, B:130 for RGB (Hex #003882). You can experiment with color, that's the specs used. The one you did above looks like Reflex Blue which is still too bright IMO.

The reason I turned the droplet and made it more oval is to add a bit more visual interest. It's a small enhancement that makes a surprising difference.

You may want to check with your sign company for vinyl colors to get your vehicles lettered before finalizing your color choice. That way you can match the color to something you can get in vinyl. NOTE: Some sign companies show limited colors and aren't willing to sell what they don't stock. Ask to see color charts from the vinyl manufacturer.

So where do I send the bill?

Edit: Hmm, looks like my attached file displayed twice, so I fixed that.

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Steve Chittenden
Web/SEO Geek • Graphic Artist • Writer • Marketing Guy
One reason I know so much about the web and marketing is that I don't have to know as much about construction.

Cdat

The two drops above look too plain and the one at the bottom looks like a drunk drew it. Change the friggin' colors and use some shading or effects or something. Ten billion options available out there and you're sticking to just regular boring stuff? WTF, over? Just my 2 cents.

cbscreative

I respectfully disagree. Shading and effects in logos are a common no-no, probably brought on by all those cool toys in programs like Photoshop. Just because you can does not mean you should. Photoshop is a great program, but it is NOT a logo design program. Logos should be done in "vector" programs such as Illustrator (vector is point to point lines so the image can be resized from postage stamp size to the side of a building with no loss of quality).

If the design cannot be embroidered or Xeroxed or faxed, it is not a real logo.

Think about these logos:

IBM
The Golden Arches
UPS
Pizza Hut
GM
Ford
Mobil
Microsoft
Nike
Coca-Cola

And yes, big companies do get it wrong sometimes. The Anheiser-Busch logo is way too complex. But I guess if you make beer, your target audience doesn't care.

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Steve Chittenden
Web/SEO Geek • Graphic Artist • Writer • Marketing Guy
One reason I know so much about the web and marketing is that I don't have to know as much about construction.

Cdat

We'll agree to disagree. Fax? Who still faxes anything? Embroidered? You'd be amazed at what can be done nowadays and yes, they can make it look shaded.

Since when were we talking about the big companies? GM? They're changing their logo. Not to mention they're so far in debt, they'll never get out.

Xeroxed? Isn't your info a little dated?

Adapt to change old man.

Keep those websites looking like a 3rd grader designed it and wonder why people flock to the sites that look good.

SC sawdaddy

[QUOTE=cbscreative;758765
And yes, big companies do get it wrong sometimes. The Anheiser-Busch logo is way too complex. But I guess if you make beer, your target audience doesn't care.[/QUOTE]

Hey now, Lets don't get too personal.

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BCConstruction

That logo reminds me of my old plumbing supplier.

DarrenB

Thanks again for all the contributions to this thread. I definitely agree that the website needs a designers touch. I am going to try and get this done in 3-5 weeks.

Another thing that I got from this that I didn't expect was a wakeup call on the logo. I've talked to alot of people and showed them a printout of multiple side by side comparisons. CBSCreative everyone liked your color. Only 1 out of 9 people picked up on the droplet, other 8 actually thought it was an error. Personally, at first I liked it alot.

6 out of the 9 preferred the yellow circle instead of a solid blue with white letters. 9 out of 9 thought a color change to the deeper blue was the proper thing to do. So, I am sticking with the circle and toning down the color.

1 person suggested on certain occasions for signs and print to put a tub angled behind with an appropriate tagline for the particular purpose. I liked that idea. So, here it is. What do you think?

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cbscreative

Just when you think those time tested rules no longer apply, you will find situations where they still do.

The fax is not dead yet. Maybe for wood inlay, you might not have the need come up. But for a member here who does restoration, it's still possible a homeowner would have to fax a quote for insurance purposes. Or, they may throw it on a copy machine and mail a copy.

As for bringing up the big companies, they spend the big bucks on market research. I'm sure a company like IBM could afford to have a Photoshop guru add some cool effects to their logo. Let me use iPhone as another example. They're not behind the times. I'd guess they've adapted to change well enough. Where are the special effects in their logo?

Feel free to disagree, you have every right. But if being an "old man" means I won't think of myself as being smarter than the big companies who aren't daring enough to add cool effects to their logos, I can live with that.

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Steve Chittenden
Web/SEO Geek • Graphic Artist • Writer • Marketing Guy
One reason I know so much about the web and marketing is that I don't have to know as much about construction.

cbscreative

Darren, I probably should have mentioned the logo sample was very open to tweaking. I just put that together very fast. In a design situation, I would play with it a lot more. If it served to stimulate your ideas, then it served its purpose.

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Steve Chittenden
Web/SEO Geek • Graphic Artist • Writer • Marketing Guy
One reason I know so much about the web and marketing is that I don't have to know as much about construction.

DarrenB

CBS, I've definitely benefitted from this thread and mostly from your input. I really appreciate you taking the time to add your contributions. Thank You very much.

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Aaron111

great themes here really good layout for contractors..... is this flash.........

DMDesigns

Hello Aaron,

Yes, I use a ton of Flash and CSS on my websites. I find it very useful when designing as the normal HTML does not let you use font and images the way you need to to make the website pop.

I should be starting with Darren soon and we can all give future feedback. Test this Jedi's skills..

Dave

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joshua1

Logo me holeo. I do chuckle when i see new companies setting up with jazzy logos, embroidered polo shirts and beautifully signwritten new vans, lovely new websites and the best of new and shiny equipment. I also chuckle a bit when they go wallop due to lack of work and being financially overstretched. Get the contracts and feck the logo, when you have branches in more than your local town, you can doodle one up on the back of an envelope, and if you are any good, a turd with a feather hat will do, -the client only cares about results, and the bank manager only cares about cashflow.

BCConstruction

Im gonna end up doing a site like my mate has had done. It's pretty simple but classy. Im just trying to put together enough content to fill my site like he has. Check it out as it might give you some ideas.

http://www.davonport.com/Default.aspx

danh

I agree with "Joshua1" on this for a few reasons.

1. The bottom line is you have to make money
2. I am the one working on Darren's site

I was actually doing some searches and ran across this thread....Now my thoughts...The logo I sorta like it. Darren made it and to me it makes sense and sticks in your mind (color blind but I think it's good).

Now the site...Nope not all Flash Bang or will win awards for the "amazing" design category....

But, like Joshua1 said it's amusing to see people all wraped up on logos, shirts etc..when if you don't get the work then it really does not matter.

Here's my example. This is a site I worked on for a contractor in the area:
http: //tinyurl. com / n6hvkq (have to take out all the spaces to go to the site). Now to look at it you might say "hmmm kind of boring", or "not to appealing"...But it has made thousands upon thousands of dollars for the owner. The reason for this is search engines. First page of google for 4 different search terms people use for his business.

I see people showing examples of sites etc., but how are those sites doing in search engines. Bottom line is you can have an award winning designed site "but" if nobody can find it then who really cares. People go to work and then look for the contractors they want to provide services to them. How many pages deep do you think they will go to find you?

I would rather take "decent" and first page of searches then "amazing" and page 10 of searches.

Bottom line is "amazing" does not equal $$$$. First page of search engines does equal $$$$.

Just my 2 cents worth.