Please critique my new site design!

[JimOfferman]

Hi everybody!

I've been created my first ever custom WordPress theme, to give my site a fresh (and not so run-of-the-mill) look. If you have a moment, please tell me what you think of the new design:

Jim Offerman

In particular, I would love to hear where I could improve on the ease of use, if needed.

Thanks!
Jim.

[ellie]

Hey Jim nice clean design.

For me though, it's just a tad too bright. It wouldn't be a major issue if it wasn't for a blog. When trying to read the text the bright header font and background is too distracting for me, even though it is very clean and simple.

My eyes also gravitate towards the lights, rather than the text, maybe it would make a difference if there was more body copy, it's a bit hard to judge fairly with minimal text.

Anyway, I say tone it down, even though I love the colours and design. Still your almost there. It's really just the colours that concern me.

Well done.

[kpugh]

Jim, I agree, it's a nice clean design. However, the colors don't work. Not in terms of my personal preferences, but in terms of some basic layout/design principles. If I remember correctly from my undergrad degree (which was in Communications), you've got what's called a "vibrating color scheme", which basically means you've got a color combination which causes the eye to sense a distracting vibration. Another clear example of this would be red text on a dark blue background. Vibrating color schemes make text difficult to read, and can really distract from your content. Also - I love your logo at the top, but the light gray text beneath it is a bit difficult to read. Gray works well there, but maybe a little bit darker.

To use your analogy of remodeling and painting...you may want to use that green color for an "accent wall" instead of the floor. Know what I mean?

Functionality - seems to work just fine! It's clean and simple, navigation is intuitive. Again though, when I went to "About Me" and saw your picture, it just didn't seem to fit with the green. I like that you strayed from the much-overused black of many music-oriented sites, but a talented musician is not something I'd expect to find in the middle of an IKEA store...which is what that green makes me feel like.

I think you're on to something cool, and I'd hate to see it drive people away simply because of color choice! Just my 2.5 cents!

[Jenny]

Hey Jim,
Have to agree with the others. Not so keen on the color combination - it felt like stepping into the sun after leaving a dark theatre - overwhelming to the eyes.

Your site is quite easy to navigate though. Nice and clean. I like that. Only other suggestion I have is that you add a personal photo (you know a random one with friends or you caught at an odd moment). But that is just personal preference

[CeciL]

The colors are a bit extreme. Reminds me of that puke green 70's fashion

[JimOfferman]

Aaahw... now I feel like singing Kermit's It's not easy being green

But I agree that the color scheme shouldn't distract from the content and I couldn't really test that myself... so thanks all! Guess I still need to find my True Colors

@Jenny: I like the idea of including some personal photos, but I really don't have many of those - at least not with me in it. Outside of concerts and photo shoots, I'm apparently very good at avoiding the camera.

[Jenny]

Originally Posted by JimOfferman

@Jenny: I like the idea of including some personal photos, but I really don't have many of those - at least not with me in it. Outside of concerts and photo shoots, I'm apparently very good at avoiding the camera.

Yeah, me too

[Tim Brownson]

Don't want to pile in Jim but I just went blind for 30 seconds!!!!!!!!!

Ditto what everybody else said ;-)

[Ali from The Office Diet]

I won't mention the colour ;-)

Something that did occur to me is you might want to include some/all of these once your blog gets bigger:
- Archives page
- Search functionality

It may be worth thinking about those now so you can decide where to fit them in. I had to bump down the ads on my blog to ram the search box back in, once I got to the point of being unable to find my own posts...

Also, the place I look for an RSS feed icon is in the top right, not buried down at the bottom. If you want people to subscribe, make it more prominent.

I like the minimalism of the layout, though, and the tabbed navigation.

Best,

Ali

[z1freeride]

Structurally, the site looks great. The subtitle could be a little darker - "hold on to your dreams and make them real" is a little hard to read.

[JimOfferman]

Thanks for all the suggestions!

I've drastically altered the color scheme... it's much more subdued now (and a lot less green), check it out: Jim Offerman

Hope you all like this one better!

[Jenny]

Awww, now I feel bad writing this but the color is kind of "muddy" - not clean to the eye. Sorry

Just my opinion though, take it as you will.

[JimOfferman]

Originally Posted by Jenny

Awww, now I feel bad writing this but the color is kind of "muddy" - not clean to the eye. Sorry

Lol. You are a difficult one to please, you

While the old color scheme was arguably too bright, the new colors do not look muddy on any of the half a dozen monitors I have tested on, so I'm going to put this down to taste and personal preference - you just can't please everyone.

Thanks for taking the time to look at my site, though!

[Jenny]

Originally Posted by JimOfferman

Lol. You are a difficult one to please, you

Hahaha, I like the music though.

[JimOfferman]

Originally Posted by Jenny

Hahaha, I like the music though.

Thanks!

The business-man-in-me has to ask: what's holding you back from a purchase?

[kpugh]

Jim - I like the new color scheme. Much more inviting and warm...you know, like you! Thanks for being so receptive to all the feedback. It makes it more likely that I'll give feedback again in the future if you ever need it.

[JimOfferman]

Thanks Kevin!

[Jenny]

Originally Posted by JimOfferman

Thanks!

The business-man-in-me has to ask: what's holding you back from a purchase?

Aww, my inherent unwillingness to spend any extra money as I am saving away for two big holidays this year.

[JimOfferman]

Originally Posted by Jenny

Aww, my inherent unwillingness to spend any extra money as I am saving away for two big holidays this year.

That's a very good reason!