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Designer Talk: Opinions on redesign

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      CommentAuthorJJenZz
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2008 edited by JJenZz on the 30th June 2008 at 17:03:17 EDT
     
    I just released a new version of growldesign finally after months and months (maybe a year) of displaying just a boring holding page!

    I would love to hear what you all think and if you spot any browser bugs... I haven't had a chance to test as thoroughly as I'd have liked yet since litmussapp.com is having problems with it's browser selection sad
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      CommentAuthorSean
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2008 edited by Sean on the 30th June 2008 at 16:04:20 EDT
     
    Wow! That's awesome. I love what you did with the slider in the middle of your home page. You gotta love jQuery. Very cool indeed. The colors are also very sexy. I like, lots.
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      CommentAuthorNickyD
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2008
     
    Awesome look Jenna. I love it, and the colors are great.
    • CommentAuthorXSQueen
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2008
     
    Jenna, that looks STUNNING!!! Very very nice design. There are one or two bits of verbiage that are a tad bit awkward (or sound less professional than the rest of the site) but otherwise I have to say I am very impressed!


    One small suggestion? Perhaps choose a slightly less cheeky/sexy photo of yourself. You are marketing your amazing skills, not your looks (although you definitely have that too! ;) and may get taken a little more seriously if your "about me" information did not include such an impish and saucy photo or your age. Just a suggestion from someone who had to face a lot of "what is such a pretty girl doing in this kind of work?" comments when I was your age - yes it was a decade ago, but the world does not change quite so fast! :( Otherwise the website is stellar!
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      CommentAuthorSean
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2008 edited by Sean on the 30th June 2008 at 16:34:27 EDT
     
    @XSQueen: I think Jenna's photo is fine. I've seen more pictures of her besides this one and let me tell you that she has a lot more "saucy" photos she could have used... and to me, this one is nice and tame. It shows her personality, which is part of why someone would hire her, for her great skills both in coding/design and on a social level.
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      CommentAuthorJJenZz
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2008
     
    Thank you everyone :)

    As for the copy on the site... Yes, that is definitely something I need to revisit. I am NO good at that sort of thing. I will need to sit down and do some serious thinking there. Thank you for pointing that out.

    I have to say it does frustrate me that a picture of myself is seen as an issue though... I see many a professional/well respected designer with pictures of themselves on their portfolio's and not a word is said. The picture isn't cheeky either, I'm just happy?

    I have had the "what's a pretty girl doing in this line of work?" thing too but hey, I'm not going to hide just because I'm not ugly. For many years I avoided doing it for the exact reasons you mention but thought, why should I have to hide when no one else does? Everyone else gets taken seriously still so there is no reason why I shouldn't be. Also, the companies I have worked for in the past will show (to any UK resident) how serious I am about my work.

    Thank you for the compliments on the site design and stuffs :)
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      CommentAuthorJJenZz
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2008
     
    Posted By: Sean@XSQueen: I think Jenna's photo is fine. I've seen more pictures of her besides this one and let me tell you that she has a lot more "saucy" photos she could have used...

    Haha indeed.... oh dear!

    Posted By: SeanIt shows her personality, which is part of why someone would hire her, for her great skills both in coding/design and on a social level.

    Thank you, and this is exactly why I need to rework the copy for the site! I wanted to bring it to a more personal/casual level because before I was receiving a lot of CV's from people wanting to work for growldesign. I am trying to make it clearer that this is just lil me, on my own and not a web design agency.
    • CommentAuthorXSQueen
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2008
     
    @Sean: Maybe my age is showing? ;) I work in a very conservative environment so that is coloring my opinion .. but I do think the design is gorgeous and her personality shows through even before seeing a photo.
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      CommentAuthorSean
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2008
     
    You're welcome Jenna.
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      CommentAuthorOutsider
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2008
     
    Jenna, that site is bad.....



    BAD-ASS!

    Very sweet, sexy, and sleek. And why aren't you up on my facebook? wink
    • CommentAuthorXSQueen
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2008
     
    @Jenna: Was not meant to be negative at all (again I guess I am showing my age ;) but much of my professional life has been a case of having to hide the friendly/social/cheeky side because people assumed things from it and more often than not it had negative consequences for me. But then I work for a big corporation (and have most of my life been in companies of 500 employees or more)where your professional image seems to be valued more than the work you produce. I wish you many great contracts, your work is very impressive and my commentary was not meant to be negative at all, just a word of caution based on my own xp. Hope that helps!
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      CommentAuthorSean
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2008
     
    @XSQueen: I don't think you said anything bad, as you said, just expressing your views through different eyes and age group.
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      CommentAuthorJJenZz
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2008
     
    Yeah I second that, I don't think you said anything bad... I pretty much expected someone to bring up the picture thing! It's all difference in opinion at the end of the day and there is nothing bad about that.

    I have worked for big corporations too but here in the UK, in some (most) cases, it doesn't really matter how skilled you are if your personality sucks and you're hard to work with. They are less likely to hire you if that is the case! Employers like to hire people that they'll get on with and know that others will feel comfortable working with too so I want my clients to know that they can feel comfortable working with me!

    I'm a casual, friendly person with the motivation to get the job done and to get it done well bigsmile
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      CommentAuthorJJenZz
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2008
     
    Posted By: OutsiderVery sweet, sexy, and sleek. And why aren't you up on my facebook?

    Haha thanks mister! Erm, I have no idea why I'm not on your facebook!! Add me smile
    • CommentAuthorDeanStev
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2008
     
    Wow! That's all I can say!

    p.s. just bought all of your bronze templates on $1 templates... keep up the good work!
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      CommentAuthorcoollew
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2008
     
    Very cool indeed Jennabakie
    I would not change a thing.
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      CommentAuthoricyone
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2008
     
    sweet and plenty cheeky for me, great and fun.
  18.  
    I love it. It's a very refreshing design, one that akes the viewer think, "This girl knows what she's doing."

    I like your pricing system, I've never seen it done that way before. Just a question though, on the services page, you say layered PNG... I've never heard of a layered PNG before (whenever I save as PNG, I have to flatten the image)... do you mean PSD?

    Correct me if I'm wrong :)
  19.  
    Fireworks creates layered PNGs.
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      CommentAuthorgnome
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2008 edited by gnome on the 30th June 2008 at 23:08:20 EDT
     
    Sam: I know that fireworks will let you layer .png files, or you can use a bunch of them...

    Jenna: great design. I think it has been a bit longer than one year that you have had no site for.

    Edit: Aaron and I posted at the same time...

    Edit2: November 2006 was the last time Jenna had a site, according to the Wayback Machine.
  21.  
    Ah. Thanks for the explanation(s).
    • CommentAuthorMattKern
    • CommentTimeJul 1st 2008
     
    Your sites look great and I look forward to spending many "1 Bucks" in the future - but on that topic - you should have your services in dollars also. I always get confused trying to make that conversion.

    Just trying to get you work from across the pond.
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      CommentAuthoraaroncampbell
    • CommentTimeJul 1st 2008 edited by aaroncampbell on the 01st July 2008 at 01:22:26 EDT
     
    Posted By: MattKern... but on that topic - you should have your services in dollars also. I always get confused trying to make that conversion.

    Just trying to get you work from across the pond.

    Being in the US, I understand where you are coming from. Having said that, with the way our dollar has been tanking, I would recommend that she leave as is. Otherwise she'd have to keep updating it to keep the exchange rate right. Currently it looks like it's about 1.99 to 1 and if you ever need to do quick conversions, just Google £__+in+$
    • CommentAuthorMattKern
    • CommentTimeJul 1st 2008
     
    Or she could put "based on a NNN exchange rate" disclaimer.

    The idea is more of a marketing ploy than wanting to be an actual currency exchange.
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      CommentAuthorgnome
    • CommentTimeJul 1st 2008 edited by gnome on the 01st July 2008 at 02:07:00 EDT
     
    Or one could go all out, and use php to find the current exchange rate, and do the conversion all by itself.

    Comments: the home page causes me to scroll slightly in FF 3.0. I am running at a resolution of 1600x1200; the rest of your site fits in the top half of the screen; I think that the sticky footer needs a touch of calibration. Also, 200kB is a bit big for a single image (big background spotlight is one huge image). It is still gorgeous, just a bit on the heavy side.
    • CommentAuthorwfiedler
    • CommentTimeJul 1st 2008 edited by wfiedler on the 01st July 2008 at 03:46:03 EDT
     
    Jenna is OD's cutie. What shall I say? Great job you did. As usual...heartsabove
  27.  
    Excellent artwork. And you know how to code, that's for sure! Maybe you also want to add a low-tech piece to your portfolio. Don't know if you it see it the same way: I feel that everything is so perfect and e-commerce oriented that it may shy away the retailer next door from being your client.
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      CommentAuthorJJenZz
    • CommentTimeJul 1st 2008
     
    Thank you everyone and especially thanks to gnome for pointing out the slight scroll issue in Firefox. I think I have fixed that now :)

    Posted By: MattKernYour sites look great and I look forward to spending many "1 Bucks" in the future - but on that topic - you should have your services in dollars also. I always get confused trying to make that conversion.

    There will be many more "1 bucks" in the future but as it is only little me running the site at the moment (I have had help with a few of the designs but on the most part they're my designs and every single one is my code) I am having trouble spending as much time on it as I would like without becomming a workaholic. My boyfriend has already told me I need to stop and take a break! haha.

    As for the dollars thing... since the exchange rate is so bad it would more than likely scare the life out of potential american clients if I were to quote those prices in dollars haha. I do not believe an american resident is likely to fork out that much cash when they can get it a hell of a lot cheaper from someone next door. I am really only aiming at UK residents especially since they understand the cost of living here is insanely expensive.

    Posted By: gnomeAlso, 200kB is a bit big for a single image (big background spotlight is one huge image). It is still gorgeous, just a bit on the heavy side.

    Yeah, it is definitely a big file but unfortunately I am unable to cut down the file size without sacrificing aesthetics to an unacceptable level and the site doesn't really take that long to load.

    Posted By: wundertypeI feel that everything is so perfect and e-commerce oriented that it may shy away the retailer next door from being your client.

    Thank you but, no no, not at all... I still get a lot of emails from Joe Bloggs asking for a full website redesign and recode with a CMS for $100 :P they're not shying away! The whole idea of adding my pricing and redesigning the site in the first place was stop those kind of emails landing in my inbox. I only want serious clients, who understand that this industry is worth more than $100!

    There are a few low-tech pieces in there though... e.g Flaming Media and my free templates bigsmile
  29.  
    Don't get me wrong. I like it fine, of cause. I felt that it could be a little to abstract for some of the "private individuals, businesses and non-profit making organisations" you address on the frontpage. My 50 cents. - The One Dollar project will work anyway ;-)
  30.  
    That's hawt.
  31.  
    Posted By: JJenZz
    Thank you but, no no, not at all... I still get a lot of emails from Joe Bloggs asking for a full website redesign and recode with a CMS for $100 :P they're not shying away! The whole idea of adding my pricing and redesigning the site in the first place was stop those kind of emails landing in my inbox. I only want serious clients, who understand that this industry is worth more than $100!

    There are a few low-tech pieces in there though... e.g Flaming Media and my free templates bigsmile


    I know whatcha mean The client I'm working with now expected a full site design, 6 page site including store for $100. But then again i got an email today after we lanched asking why we werent on the first page of google yet. lol.
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      CommentAuthorJJenZz
    • CommentTimeJul 2nd 2008 edited by JJenZz on the 02nd July 2008 at 04:49:20 EDT
     
    heh, yeah there are some real mick takers out there!

    growldesign was on the first page of google for the term "Freelance web designer" yesterday but it seems to have slipped onto the second page today... NOoooooo! sadtongue

    It is on the first page for "freelance design" though... so is Christopher's edg3 bigsmile

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