Need Help, This Design Is Killing Me!

Discussion in 'HTML & Website Design' started by joer80, Jan 22, 2008.

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  1. #1
    I am the webmaster for my local newspaper, www.texarkanagazette.com. I am moving servers and taking the opportunity to update the design some in the process.

    This is what I have so far.

    http://70.87.94.66/~texarkan/

    I have fixed some width issues, moved to use more standard banner ad sizes and am in the process of making code valid, but I have had a few comments about the site looking to gray, and blah.

    Their traditional logo is very gothic so its hard to make it look too modern and colorful. I can not for the life of me figure out how to add color to this site.

    I do not want to change the layout much, just mainly need ideas, hints, tips on how to make this layout colorful so they can choose what they like best!

    I think its hard because newspapers have this old look to them and I get no inspiration from them or the leading news websites. see new york times, they are just as blah as ours. haha

    Thanks for your help!
     
    joer80, Jan 22, 2008 IP
  2. RobertSharma

    RobertSharma Peon

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    #2
    as i said before, i am a graphic web designer like many on here right, but i personally think its very hard to determine where to put color on a page full of banners, the result would be a too "playfull" looking design. so you might reconsider doing that! add a maximum of 2 other colors to this page if you really have to, but even that could be wrong, depending on where you're going to use it !
     
    RobertSharma, Jan 23, 2008 IP
  3. Xavier_3D

    Xavier_3D Well-Known Member

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    #3
    Try lighter Tones of Grey in place of the Darker Ones, I like your Background Colour, that could do, and you can put White over it with Coloured Images. Moreover Get rid of that Banner and Add Something Colourful. Other things are ok.
     
    Xavier_3D, Jan 23, 2008 IP
  4. joer80

    joer80 Peon

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    #4
    This is what i have so far.

    http://70.87.94.66/~texarkan/indexjoex.php

    Do you think this design is an improvement? I decreased the ad size of the header so it may be hard to approve with my boss.
     
    joer80, Jan 28, 2008 IP
  5. nicangeli

    nicangeli Peon

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    #5
    Thats very nice, i like how you have injected colour into the design. Overall, a great improvement.
     
    nicangeli, Jan 28, 2008 IP
  6. fredkk

    fredkk Peon

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    #6
    http://70.87.94.66/~texarkan/indexjoex.php I think that this site is far better than the first version, what you might want to do too is to add color to your left sidebar to match your search bar. This would give it just a little more feeling and warmth. Good luck
     
    fredkk, Jan 28, 2008 IP
  7. joer80

    joer80 Peon

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    #7
    Great, I will look into that link color...

    I had someone else suggest moving the header ad right above the content. This IMHO looks much more clean, and the ad would be much more effective.

    http://70.87.94.66/~texarkan/
     
    joer80, Jan 29, 2008 IP
  8. joer80

    joer80 Peon

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    #8
    I added the red/orange as the link color with a blue hover, instead of blue with light blue hover.

    That was another good suggestion. I think I like it better this way...
     
    joer80, Jan 29, 2008 IP