July 1, 2008 | Life in General
Edit: Thanks to everyone for the criticism so far. Comments will be welcomed until Friday midnight, MST. Come back on Sunday to see if you won the Barnes and Noble Gift Card!
Okay, everyone. I still have yet to draw a name from the last feedback session, so I’ll just let it roll over to this one. I need your comments on version 2 of the YWP layout. I gave her another idea that I had, but she’s not feeling it. Of the two, which do you like better? Do you think the colors from layout 2 should be put in the first one? Do you think she needs to start over again? What do you envision a publishing site for teens to look like? Advice, suggestions, yadda, yadda, yadda, would be greatly appreciated. This is taking a lot longer than I thought, so I’m past ready to get this thing up. As before, all participants who comment here will be entered into a drawing to win a $25 gift card to Barnes and Noble.
CLICK ON THE THE PICS FOR BIGGER VIEW
LAYOUT ONE
LAYOUT TWOJust so you know, there should be red in the Layout 2, but I’m not seeing it. Do you?
Rae says:
Hey Celise,
Both are cute, but I think I like layout one better. My vote = layout one.
Renee Uitto says:
I like Layout 2 much better. It has a lot more color to it.
Elissa says:
I like layout #2 the best. I think the colors make the layout more appealing to a wider audience and it seems to POP off the screen a bit more.
jlsaloff says:
There are things about both to like and not like. On layout one, the font for the menu items is easier to read, but the location of that menu in layout two is easier to find. (I almost didn’t see it at all in layout one.) Although they are similar, layout one feels empty, while layout two feels busy. It’s funny how color alone can do that. I do not see red in layout two. This page and layout one are very feminine… a good thing if the site is aimed at girls, bad if guys are supposed to like it too. Hope this helps
The Book Muncher says:
i like the black in Layout 2. but i’d like it better if it had some brighter colors to contrast with it (eye catching, ya know!), like lime green, fuschia, and bright blue, for example. i like things bright
red would be good too. everyone notices red
Mimi says:
Definitely nr 2
Cool site by the way!
Angela Harms says:
What’s wrong with this layout? I think it’s effective… But both this and number 1 above seem like they appeal to teen girls, not boys. Number 2 is just too… black. Anyway, my vote is Number 1.
Or maybe start over. I have the feeling there’s a truly *wonderful* layout that you haven’t hit on yet. One where you won’t have to ask people, because you’ll just know.
Mici says:
Uh, no on Layout 2. I do like the silhouette outline and the olive green & orange colors. The letter style on Layout 2 is too “kiddish” (as in under the age of 10). Layout 1 is still young, hip, & stylish! (even your brother-in-law agrees on Layout 1). Love ya!
ellie says:
Thanks so much for your note. I really appreciate it. Um, I’m going for the pink layout.
Barbara DesChamps says:
I like the idea of the rainbow colors but the darker ones (green, blue and purple) are not showing well against the black background and the reds are coming out much too orange (there’s a good explanation of that in Chapter 2 of my latest book; see the ToC on my website.) With so little contrast between the dark stripes and the black background, the black silhouettes are adding to the problem. I would be able to solve these problems by tweaking the RGB values but I’d also suggest other changes to combine the best features from each layout.
Mom says:
I like No. 2 better because of the varied colors. Maybe using the font from No. 1 would make it perfect!
Luv ya
Kevin Scott Collier says:
Very nice site, Celise. Love the layout and colors.
- Kev
Fred Zimmerman says:
I like #1. #2 would be out of the question for me.
veinglory says:
I think the both run to a few too many colors that don’t quite mesh. IMHO #1 has a lot of pink and is quite girly and #2is rather dark and vaguely reminds me of the rainbow flag. I am not quite sure what the site is for and neither design gives me a good basis to guess?
LH says:
I’m not fond of either one. I, too, think there’s a brilliant site you haven’t quite hit yet. However, if you must choose from one of these, I’d go with #1, but have the colors tweaked so they match this site better, for the sake of cohesiveness site to site.
Amy says:
I prefer layout 2. Layout 1 seems washed out to me.
Staci says:
I have to agree with Angela when she says that maybe starting over and finding that “umph” in THE one that you don’t have to ask opinions on. Your website design is beautiful but I don’t think either one of these layouts are you. I like the coloring of number 1 but like others say it can be too girly and it doesn’t really pop. Number 2 just doesn’t do it for me. I think its too much black for me and I don’t like the font.
Hope you were really wanting honesty.
I just think you and you’re books are awesome and I want your layouts to rock like those do.
Rinda says:
Asked my seventeen year old. She likes the first layout better, but says it needs a brighter color or two. That was my opinion, too.
The Compulsive Reader says:
Hm…I really like the layouts, but I think the first one’s color scheme just looks nicer. However, if your hopes of attracting any guys with Layout One is pretty slim. The second one would appeal to a wider audience, but I don’t really care for the colors…if it were just the orange and green, it’d be fine, but there are too many conflicting colors in the second layout.
Hope that helps!
TCR
Inanna Arthen/Vyrdolak says:
I like Layout #2 much better.
#1 is almost monochromatic, in the sense of being shades of similar tones, whereas #2 immediately has more depth to draw in the eye.
The design of the header on #1 looks like a certificate or diploma. Layout #2 looks more like a business logo.
The nav bar is much easier to see on #2, and typically it would be below the header and above the content window. Viewers won’t automatically look for the nav bar above the header, as it is in #1.
I like the font used for the company name on #2 much better–it immediately invokes a publishing company. Popular design today uses a lot of “fonts that make a statement.”
I like the silhouetted figures on both layouts, but they’re more effective in black, on #2.
The central “shield” logo is a bit…Harry Potterish, or at least, academic. I’m not sure how teens would respond to it–it might be a positive factor. Are you going to use that for your colophon?
I recently heard that multiculturalism has become common and expected in Young Adult fiction. The rainbow colors on #2 definitely invoke that feeling.
Chris Marie Green says:
I like layout #1 better, but I agree with Angela in that it might appeal more to females (but the “female colors” are appealing to me, ).
ForstRose says:
Celise-
I can’t really pick one over the other. I’m not a teen either but here’s my thoughts.
Layout 1: Orangey/Peachey colors are pretty gender neutral but the contrast in the navigation for the menus at the top of your page is almost negligible and makes the headings hard to see. Maybe use browns/creams for better contrast. The magents/pink makes it come across as girly (maybe that is what you are looking for though?).
I love the banner background the swirly design adds some eye appeal. I also love the silhouettes in both layouts but the coloring in with a fade of color in 1 is my favorite of the two.
Layout 2: I don’t see any red only orange. The “orange/red” and yellow show up well against the black the other colors are too dark. This is definitely less girly though. Navigation contrast is better than 1 but font is hard to read.
I like the silhouette and colored stripes ideas but maybe take the silhouettes in this layout and pick colors from the stripes in the banner to fill them in with a fade like in layout 1. Use 2 or 3 different colors so each silhouette is one color family. For example: 1 silhouette green, 1 purple and 1 yellow then repeat with others. However if you’re going with the black BG bring out the colors by lightening the shades and brightening them to a more neon look with the blue, purple and green which right now blend in to the black. Also adjust the orange to a deep red but keep it bright enough to stand out from the black like the yellow and orange do now.
I try to go for high contrast without clashing colors.
The concepts are great though and with some color tweaks and minor changes either one could be cool and I think either one would appeal to teens.
Melissa
Mama says:
Aunnie - layout #2 is far more eye-catching, the colors pop!
cate says:
well, i like layout two better… and i’ll try and add the name/url option too, i removed it because some time ago i got mean anonymous comments, and if i added name/url, the anonymous option would be included again too… but i’ll give it a shot.
Cheryl Druley says:
It’s not about what we like, it’s about what your audience will like. I think you’re on the right track with the black version, but that tan background kills it. If you’re gonna do something, don’t do it half-way. Make the whole thing black! If teenager times are anything, they’re extreme. I think neon colors might make a bolder statement in those color bars than the colors selected. But for a really good lesson in what your audience likes, take a look at some of the other media they purchase and immerse themselves in for ideas: do a lookup of the ten most popular music groups and check out the covers on THOSE. That’ll give you a lesson in what they’re used to seeing!
Cady Lola Cep says:
#2. Nope, I don’t see any red, either. But I like it better than #1.
Cheers.
Lindsay says:
I like #1, the colors in it are better.
Kathy says:
I like Layout 2 but with Layout 1 colors. Although that might make it a little “girly”.
Liz says:
Hi Celise,
I think both layouts are cool, but then I’m not your target market. Who do you want to have visit the site and buy the book/s? Girls? Boys? Both? Parents of a particular age children? Ask *them*!
Best of luck,
Liz
Celise says:
Hello Everyone!
Thanks so much for your honest opinions. Youthful Wisdom Press is a publishing company that will publish work written by teens. The imprint, Youth-Full, Too Books, will publish YA fiction written by adults. I want this site to appeal to both males and females. Just to you know what you’re voting for.
Ellis says:
I like layout uno (:
Joanne Dimenstein says:
I think option 1 has a better color scheme. It looks more professional. Additionally, the yellow outline on the figures in option 2 looks pixalated. I think the layout is good and the figures are universally reprasentative on current youths.
Hope his helps.
-Joanne
Joy Delgado says:
Celise,
I like what you have now, but of these two I like the second one better because I like lots of color. I don’t see any read either. Maybe some of the orange is supposed to be red.
Joy aka Zebee, or is it the other way around?
Joshua Prizer says:
Layout 2 has my vote. In Layout 1, you lose sight of the navigational structure where it is at the top. The silhouettes in Layout 2 also stand out more against the bright colors. But definitely get feedback from some teens, if that is your target audience. Hope that helps!
Chelsie says:
My favorite is definitely layout one… it’s so much more cheerful, I think.
Sara Hantz says:
I prefer layout 1, though if you want to appeal to boys as well layout 2 might be better.
charles dodd says:
Neither hits the mark in the way your website design does,so go for fresh ideas or a fresh designer. If you have to choose, then No.2 at least has some impact (but certainly no red!) while No.1 is nothing.
Alex says:
I liked layout 2 best
Susie Sunshine says:
I love this one so much more than the other one! It fits more of a teen. The colors are like cotton candy: bright, cheerful, and upbeat. It makes me want to smile!
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to help you make such a big decision.
Susie
Susie Sunshine says:
OOOps I meant to say Layout #1. Sorry.
Susie Sunshine says:
How about layout #2 with layout #1 colors?
Joy Smith says:
i think Layout 1 is more appealing.
Suzy :) says:
Even without the Red on #2, it feels like a Gay / Lesbian Pride thing going on. Fonts and logos seem disjointed.
With both #1 and #2, I still like the silhouettes, but feel like the whole header thing is too big and bulky. What about breaking the silhouettes down smaller and separating them?
Just as they are, I think #2 would appeal more to both genders. I also find the newspaper / typewriter style font a little edgy. That could be good or bad depending on what you’re going for.
I’d try #2 with fewer colors and less graphics at the top.
The swoop on #1 is catchy, so I’d still like to see #1 with a different color scheme.
I’m not really sure WHAT a teen publishing site would look like… informative and clean I think. Fast loading and easy to navigate.