Glucone-R"ific"!

Splash Page

This is Glucone-R's website, which I found on YouthDesigner's website.  What drew me to this website is how the photographs are the dominant item showing on the page, the arrows on either side.  When clicking on either of the arrows, it goes through the different pictures they have in their portfolio, each with a different background to go with the picture.  What's really neat is how the logo and the main navigation are glued there, even when the pictures change and they still manage to shine through.

Inside page

There isn't a real "inside" page because any of the links you click on top pop out a window, similar to the one above, providing the information needed.  I believe that there isn't anything wrong with this website because it's simple, has a continuous theme throughout, and it's definitely easy to navigate.  Bravo!

Andrew Lindstrom's Strong, Healthy Web Design.

Splash Page

This is Andrew Lindstrom's portfolio website, which I found in the book, The Web Designer's Idea Book Volume 2.  What stuck out to me about this portfolio website is that it's very simple with a very clever logo, using a plant to represent the hole forming the 'a' and also a strong, healthy plant.  I liked the idea of the speech boxes indicating the home page link and the e-mail me button on the corner.

Inside Page

As you go down below, you can click on either the left or right arrow to go back to the previous work.  Mousing over each of the pieces, such as above, you will get a description of the project or website that Andrew has worked on before.

Inside Page 2

As it indicates above, clicking on the logo in the homepage simply takes you back to the beginning text about Andrew.  It's a very simple and clean website, only having to load one page.  Even though it scrolls a little bit, it still works for me because there isn't that much to the website.  I would love to do something this simple for my portfolio!

You Spin Me Right Round

Splash Page

This is Spinlight's website, which I think is really clever and very simple to navigate!  The content is very noticeable, since it's in the middle of the circle.  Yet, they accomplish being able to have the links stand out and in a subtle way.  Because of the links being around the circle, I was glad to see that for the inside pages, t stayed within the same theme.

Inside Page

This is one of the sections in their portfolio, where the sublinks are in a darker blue right next to the link the user clicked on.  What's interesting is each of their portfolio pieces lie on top of the rest of the links, which usually wouldn't work.  But because they're much smaller than the rest, you know the hierarchy of what is important for the user to look at.

Inside Page 2

One of the pages I had the most difficult time with was the contact page, and this website accomplishes everything and much more!  I love how it's interactive and they allow the user to get directions from anywhere by using the Google direction options on the website.  Plus, the map is a very big help and is definitely customized!

The only thing that I don't like about the website is that you have to scroll down to see the rest of the content, which is just as important as the other links.  I believe they could've tried to fit in another link for this content, maybe making a slideshow for the splash page of the important content the user needs to know.  Other than that, I would say this is an excellent website!

Raise the Roof!

Splash Page

This is the website for RoofStudio, which I found in the March/April 2006 issue of ID.  This website creates special vinyl roofs with any style that you want.  This includes flags, guitars, flowers, and the list goes on and on!  I like how the splash page shows the roof unveiling as it loads the rest of the website; quite an interesting concept.

Inside Page

This is the landing page that shows off the many types of roofs; which there are tons to choose from!  The logo on the very corner allows you to upload or create your own design, search the roofs, and see your favorites so that you can possibly print off the design of your choice.  The website has the cars circling around, which can be irritating when you're trying to click on the car, but slows down when you mouse over the car you would like to select.  You can even click on the other cars below, where it will take you to a similar page as to the picture below:

Inside Page 2

When you do select one of the cars, it allows you to click on the i in the circle to give you the option choice.  Clicking on one of these words then shows all of the choices, as in the picture below:

Inside Page 3

I love how they show off the various roof choices as well as good color choices for the cars.  The only item I would change is the ability to buy them because they're all so cool!  When I get a car like this one day, I will definitely get it and make it geeky!

Pretty Loaded Is Right

Splash Page

This is Pretty Loaded's website, which I found in Communication Arts March/April 2010 magazine.  What I loved about the website is how they incorporated their name into the loading page, starting with being "fairly" loaded, then "kinda" loaded, eventually going into their name, being "Pretty Loaded".  I liked the play-on-words.  But then, once it loaded, it went right into their works, which is provided on the inside pages.

Inside Page

Since what Pretty Loaded does is creating preloaders for mostly video games, they of course had to show through their work by "loading" or going through the full preload transition, which is very nice and transitions into each preloader in a smooth way.

Inside Page 2

What was good is that there was a pop-out div when you click on the top-right link where it says "About PrettyLoaded".  It has a simple dark gray box which pops out, making it stand out from the preloaders which are showing.  Yet, the preloaders are very much covered so the user doesn't get too distracted as their reading the content.  The only thing I don't like about the website is that it all doesn't fit into the window.  Other than that, it's pretty loaded I would say.

Alyssa's Got A Glammin' Attitude

Splash/Home Page

This is Alyssa Pizer's website, which I found while looking on WorkBook.  I believe though this isn't the simplest looking splash page in the world, I believe that it makes a point.  I love the vector artwork, the overall color scheme is very warm and inviting, and manages to put her contact information for her management business on every page so it's easy for the viewer to contact her.  Also, the pictures for each of the photographers in her agency are very different, which makes each of them stand out in their own way.

Inside Page

When you click on one of the photographer's pictures, it leads you to an inside page like above that connects just like the splash/initial page.  When looking at the page, like the splash page, the light gray and the border around each of the pictures makes them stand out.  As you choose one of the categories from the inside page, it leads you to an inside page like below.

Inside Page 2

It's nice to see all of the photographs at once on this page, but what bothers me is 1) the horizontal scroll bar because I'm not a fan of the horizontal scroll bar and 2) it doesn't connect with the rest of the pages since it doesn't have the border around it..  Maybe if they would've had a similar format to the first two pages and as you scrolled over the pictures or clicked on them, made them bigger, it would've made it a better website.  Overall, I love the look and the feel of the website and will look here for inspiration.

Words Speak Loudly

Splash Page

This is Sharpe & Associate's website I found in one of my books I have, Designing A Digital Portfolio by Cynthia L. Baron.  What I thought was very cool is how simple the website is, using a very dark gray for the background so that the more "neon" yellows and blues can stand out in it's own way.

Pop-out Links

What gets better is on any page of the website, you can click on the words and it shows artists or other sentences that lead you to another page or, like below, a pop-out describing the artist/client with a simple picture.  I hope the pictures of some of the artists/clients were by choice though!

Client Description/Caption

Inside Page

The only thing that this website needs is more of a showcase of their work, not just showing one picture of them but a variety.  I don't know how they would do it though, but other than that, it's a very simple website using very bright colors to make a statement.