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.

Threadless For Sure!

Splash Page

This is Threadless's website, which I found in the book, Fresher Styles for Web Designers: More Eye Candy from the Underground.  I love this website because they have the coolest shirts and I would love to one day go up to see their store.  The website is very good for a clothing store because they seem to change small details (such as the logo and color scheme) to make it go along with the daily events that go on.  This website is also easy to navigate, even with all the web pages they have on their website.

Inside Page

When you go into the shopping page, they have a lot of shirts in which you can categorize in many ways.  Of course, they changed the banner of this section to reflect the Halloween theme.  It's subtle, but intrigues.  I believe even in this page, like the splash page and the inside page below, it shows off the t-shirts very well.

Inside Page 2

When you go into the page to look at the t-shirts, they give you many user created or pictures taken by Threadless to see what the shirt looks like on different people.  I believe Threadless is a great success because of how viable they are with different designs the users create and vote on the t-shirts, hoodies, etc. they can create.  Also, I must say the logo is very simple but says it all.

War of the Worlds... Run and Hide!

 

Splash Page

This is the website for the 2005 movie of War of the Worlds.  I found this website in the HOW March/April 2006 issue.  I loved this movie (but have yet to see the 1953 version) and I love the website!  What made this very inspirational are the use of the images for the background and the interactivity between everything.  In the splash page, the links on the side are grayed out until you hover over them, where they then turn white (which was one disadvantage for the website).

 

Inside Page

When you get into the inside pages, it's very cool how they have the selection in the navigation menu highlighted while graying the other options out so that you can still go to them later.  Also, usually putting text on top of images wouldn't work.  I think in this case, it definitely works!  The only disadvantage again is if you browse through some of the pages, the title doesn't show since some of the pictures are very bright.  Then again, that's why they have two ways to give the user a way to see what page they're on.

Packed Full of Fun!

Splash Page

This is David Stark Design's website.  I was browsing through different websites and I happened to find this one.  What made this stand out to me was the overall theme, which is very colorful and friendly.  Not only that, but the navigation is cool, using a hand to point and interact with the rest of the website.  Speaking of interaction on the website, every page has a different theme to interact with the content on the website.

Inside Page

Take these two pages on the website.  The top inside page allows you to punch holes in the different pieces of paper, even the links and content!  The bottom inside page allows the user to grab the pen on the side and write anything they want.  But first, they have to turn the switch to off in order to see any of the content.

Inside Page 2

Overall, this website is very cool!  Especially for a Flash site.  Though I love how much the user can interact with the content, it may almost go too far.  Sometimes, it distracted me from actually looking to see what the content was on the page.

Oooohh.. Scary!

Splash Page

This is the ScaryGirl website, which are characters created by Nathan Jurevicius.  I found this website in the Communication Arts March/April 2010 issue.  What makes this page very cool is the background and how it extends the background and makes the Flash content in the middle as the browser gets bigger, which is something in itself.  Especially with the picture they have for the background!  Also, even though they have two navigation systems near each other, it makes it easier for the user to navigate around the site and doesn't really bother me.

Inside Page - About

When you click on one of the links, such as the About Page or Toys, what I like is how the ghosted blue background allows the user to see the picture but still read the content inside.

Inside Page - Game

On this page, what I really liked was how the theme changes into a dark background so that when the user finally gets the game loaded up, they can only concentrate on the game at hand and not get distracted by the brightness of the background.  It's also nice on the load page that they are able to give recommendations on the type of processor and a link to download the latest Adobe Flash.

Good Stuff.

Splash Page

I found this magazine while browsing through HOW April 2009 issue.  This is an agency called The Design Agency (I know, not a very creative name).  But I really loved the layout because the splash page starts out with a Flash video talking about how creative their work is by using very enticing pictures of desserts and saying they have the right ingredients to make a great design.

Inside Page

It then goes into the inside page, where the links are placed on the sides of the box, each link having their own Flash element (which can be quite annoying if looking at the page for a long period of time).  The right hand side of the website has a small section containing all of the information the user needs, the bottom side having additional information pertaining to the section of the link.  I believe that the website could've been centered vertically and horizontally so the user didn't have to worry about the scroll bars.  Overall, I would say this is a very nice, simple site.

So Many Questions, So Many Answers

Home Page

This is the March of Dime's website called "What Are You Wondering?"  I found this website in Communication Arts September/October 2008 issue.  The target audience was for those that had questions or concerns about pregnancy, taking care of a baby, or anything pre-pregnancy and I think that this idea serves the purpose well.  Though at first it may look confusing because you see all of these questions on the screen and the gray baby moving around on the back of the screen.

I think what made it very successful was the search tool, asking the user what they were wondering about.  They would pull down the drop-menu, selecting the topic at hand, and then get the highlighted questions that are throughout the home page.

Inside Page

Afterwards, the user would click on the question, which would lead to a pop-up window with the answer to the question from the March of Dime's official website.  This was definitely a very unique and amazing idea.  The baby in the background isn't too distracting, very affective with highlighting and searching for the questions at hand.  The only item I don't like is how the questions in the pop-up window don't correlate with the theme.  Then again, how can you correlate another window with this sort of theme?

Nifty Navigation

Home Page: True North

I found this website in Computer Arts February 2009 issue and it is, once again, all using Flash.  I really like how the homepage is very simple, with a really nice logo (although it's rare to see just a logo for the splash page).  What makes this really interactive is the yellow bar that says "Hello, welcome to the website" and then it goes into the different pages of the website.

Inside Page

Once you get there, you choose the selection and then the drop-down navigation bar goes back up to the top to show off the work.  I believe that it's very simple navigation with very little scrolling on each of the pages of the content and has a very nice color scheme that goes along with it.  The only negative is that for some of the pages, it flashes the background with it as well and on the client's pages, it's hard to scroll through the pictures with the arrows.

Inside Page 2

Flashy!

Home page

Inside Page

This is a website for Catchfire, a graphic design firm.  I found while looking through the HOW April 2009 issue.  I think that it's a really simply put website, where it has the least amount of content on it and, yes, it's a Flash website.  It gives it a simple depth into it.  Especially if you were to click on the HELLO link, it then gives you two options in front of the word.  Also, when you click on one of the squares from either of the three works they had done so far, it takes you to the main page where it then shows the work on the website via a horizontal scrollbar, as shown below:

I also like the color scheme (black, white, dark pink), is resizable so any browser can view it properly, modern, and a great way to show off!

I'm Needing Some Medication

Splash Page

Inside Page

I found this design firm while looking through Communication Arts November/December 2007 magazine.  When I first went to the website, it was boring because it had just the latest updates of the company and seemed to have lots of information in a little space.  But why I picked this as an inspiration is because when you dive into the content, it's very uniquely organized; using pills as a navigation bar and tying all of the elements (background, logo, etc.) together.  It sort of reminds me of a 1950's advertisement.  The only thing I really don't like about it is there is no way to scroll through the pictures like a slide show.