Comments on: 30 Minute Redesign #76: Suruha Freespirit http://blogs.fanextra.com/articles/30-minute-redesign-76-suruha-freespirit Blogs.FanExtra - Blog Articles and Resources to Help You Improve Your Blogging Thu, 17 May 2012 09:54:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Tom http://blogs.fanextra.com/articles/30-minute-redesign-76-suruha-freespirit#comment-171 Tom Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:18:17 +0000 http://blogs.fanextra.com/?p=251#comment-171 Hey Su. I really think your blog is so much more readable now, and it's a pleasure to browse through. I love how you made my design suggestions into your own unique style too, as I didn't want you to lose that and end up with something non-personal and generic. My final suggestion would be to move up your blog content even more. For the text area '.....is my blog for digital design. This is my place for sharing my journey. Please, feel free to comment or contact me.' I would have that on a single line, and get rid of the 'please, feel free to comment or contact me' text, as that feels a little obsolete. Then reduce the padding under this text if possible, as that's also pushing down the content too much. Hey Su. I really think your blog is so much more readable now, and it’s a pleasure to browse through. I love how you made my design suggestions into your own unique style too, as I didn’t want you to lose that and end up with something non-personal and generic.

My final suggestion would be to move up your blog content even more. For the text area

‘…..is my blog for digital design.
This is my place for sharing my journey.
Please, feel free to comment or contact me.’

I would have that on a single line, and get rid of the ‘please, feel free to comment or contact me’ text, as that feels a little obsolete. Then reduce the padding under this text if possible, as that’s also pushing down the content too much.

]]> By: Tom http://blogs.fanextra.com/articles/30-minute-redesign-76-suruha-freespirit#comment-169 Tom Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:12:11 +0000 http://blogs.fanextra.com/?p=251#comment-169 Hey Gus, as I mentioned to Tim, within 30 minutes my main aim was to get rid of clutter and lay out the page more nicely. As you can see by the changes on Su's blog she's made the site far more usable and attractive, whilst retaining her own unique style. The man in the header was simple a filler, I would expect Su to put in her own personal image, making the site unique to her. Hey Gus, as I mentioned to Tim, within 30 minutes my main aim was to get rid of clutter and lay out the page more nicely. As you can see by the changes on Su’s blog she’s made the site far more usable and attractive, whilst retaining her own unique style. The man in the header was simple a filler, I would expect Su to put in her own personal image, making the site unique to her.

]]> By: Gus The Gamer http://blogs.fanextra.com/articles/30-minute-redesign-76-suruha-freespirit#comment-167 Gus The Gamer Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:31:55 +0000 http://blogs.fanextra.com/?p=251#comment-167 eeeeeeeeeeewwww no no no no, you just made a Blogger Theme. And that man on the header doesnt look like u eeeeeeeeeeewwww no no no no, you just made a Blogger Theme. And that man on the header doesnt look like u

]]> By: Su Hall http://blogs.fanextra.com/articles/30-minute-redesign-76-suruha-freespirit#comment-166 Su Hall Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:54:08 +0000 http://blogs.fanextra.com/?p=251#comment-166 Done! Thank you so very, very much, Tom! I was able to look at the blog from a reader's point of view after your redesign comments. That is what I needed - guidance! Though I toyed around with several backgrounds, none of the side panels lined up with my layout, so, a regular 'blog' template was useless. On a larger screen the side decor could be seen, but, I can't see it on mine, thus, I don't know how it would look for others. I liked your simple background in the .psd file with the redesign you did, but, while looking, lo and behold, one of the Blogger templates just happened to have the khaki color and I liked that simple design. I changed some of the text colors and a few other details and got what I have now. I am looking for another header image, something like you suggested - a FB time line header. I put in the balloon logo, but, it doesn't really work. I need to define and use one design for the brand. I adore the artsy font! <a href='http://www.thecoffeeshopblog.com/p/coffeeshop-storyboard-templates-and.html' rel="nofollow">The Coffee Shop Blog</a> has several, and I love that concept. I thought it would be nice to have a place in the header to switch out different images, again, as you suggested, without having to change my entire design. I am so please that you approve! Your help definitely worked! Thank you once again! Su Done! Thank you so very, very much, Tom! I was able to look at the blog from a reader’s point of view after your redesign comments. That is what I needed – guidance!

Though I toyed around with several backgrounds, none of the side panels lined up with my layout, so, a regular ‘blog’ template was useless. On a larger screen the side decor could be seen, but, I can’t see it on mine, thus, I don’t know how it would look for others. I liked your simple background in the .psd file with the redesign you did, but, while looking, lo and behold, one of the Blogger templates just happened to have the khaki color and I liked that simple design. I changed some of the text colors and a few other details and got what I have now.

I am looking for another header image, something like you suggested – a FB time line header. I put in the balloon logo, but, it doesn’t really work. I need to define and use one design for the brand. I adore the artsy font!

The Coffee Shop Blog has several, and I love that concept. I thought it would be nice to have a place in the header to switch out different images, again, as you suggested, without having to change my entire design.

I am so please that you approve! Your help definitely worked! Thank you once again!

Su

]]> By: Tom http://blogs.fanextra.com/articles/30-minute-redesign-76-suruha-freespirit#comment-163 Tom Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:11:52 +0000 http://blogs.fanextra.com/?p=251#comment-163 Hey Su. So sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. WOW, just wow! I'm absolutely loving your redesign of the blog. Before I wanted to leave the site it was so hard on my eyes and now I want to stick around and read it! It's 1000% better and I love that you've given it your own personal touch. My one main suggestion now would be to scrap the 'all links open in a new tab' button. It's killing what is an otherwise awesome design. The button currently pushes all your important content down the page, whereas it should be as high up as possible so that more people read it. Get rid of the button, move your blog content up the page and you're onto a winning design :). Hey Su. So sorry I didn’t get back to you sooner. WOW, just wow! I’m absolutely loving your redesign of the blog. Before I wanted to leave the site it was so hard on my eyes and now I want to stick around and read it! It’s 1000% better and I love that you’ve given it your own personal touch. My one main suggestion now would be to scrap the ‘all links open in a new tab’ button. It’s killing what is an otherwise awesome design. The button currently pushes all your important content down the page, whereas it should be as high up as possible so that more people read it. Get rid of the button, move your blog content up the page and you’re onto a winning design :).

]]> By: Tom http://blogs.fanextra.com/articles/30-minute-redesign-76-suruha-freespirit#comment-161 Tom Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:06:32 +0000 http://blogs.fanextra.com/?p=251#comment-161 Thanks for the feedback Tim. To be honest that's one of the constraints of 30 minute redesigns. Most of the time is spent fixing errors in the previous design and getting everything positioned correctly. If I had more time I would definitely add more unique details/style to the page. Thanks for the feedback Tim. To be honest that’s one of the constraints of 30 minute redesigns. Most of the time is spent fixing errors in the previous design and getting everything positioned correctly. If I had more time I would definitely add more unique details/style to the page.

]]> By: Tim http://blogs.fanextra.com/articles/30-minute-redesign-76-suruha-freespirit#comment-160 Tim Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:59:10 +0000 http://blogs.fanextra.com/?p=251#comment-160 It's okay. Clean with a focus on content, but also quite generic. Looks like it was grabbed straight from a theme forest or something. It’s okay. Clean with a focus on content, but also quite generic. Looks like it was grabbed straight from a theme forest or something.

]]> By: Su Hall http://blogs.fanextra.com/articles/30-minute-redesign-76-suruha-freespirit#comment-147 Su Hall Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:57:46 +0000 http://blogs.fanextra.com/?p=251#comment-147 Hi, Tom! So, I have been playing around with my blog and made some changes based on the suggestions you gave me. I took all the 'blinkies' from the side bar and put them on a separate page. I added a bit more of my art, but, again, on a separate page. Then, I changed the background and the header. I would like you to have a look when you get a chance, if that is okay and you don't mind. I know it is still quite bright, but, it is a lot less cluttered, I think. (I am mesmerized with color - my dad used to own a paint store! LOL) Here is a link to <a href="http://www.suruha-freespirit.com/" rel="nofollow">Freespirit</a> Thank you so much! Su Hi, Tom!

So, I have been playing around with my blog and made some changes based on the suggestions you gave me. I took all the ‘blinkies’ from the side bar and put them on a separate page. I added a bit more of my art, but, again, on a separate page. Then, I changed the background and the header. I would like you to have a look when you get a chance, if that is okay and you don’t mind.

I know it is still quite bright, but, it is a lot less cluttered, I think. (I am mesmerized with color – my dad used to own a paint store! LOL) Here is a link to Freespirit

Thank you so much!

Su

]]> By: Tom http://blogs.fanextra.com/articles/30-minute-redesign-76-suruha-freespirit#comment-131 Tom Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:29:13 +0000 http://blogs.fanextra.com/?p=251#comment-131 Thanks for the suggestion Kathy! I'll definitely include your site in tomorrow's poll. Thanks for the suggestion Kathy! I’ll definitely include your site in tomorrow’s poll.

]]> By: Tom http://blogs.fanextra.com/articles/30-minute-redesign-76-suruha-freespirit#comment-128 Tom Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:24:56 +0000 http://blogs.fanextra.com/?p=251#comment-128 Yeah that's typically what people do. They'll use a really large image to cater for 95% of users, then for the final 5% of people with mega huge screens (very jealous btw! haha) an image fade is used. Yeah that’s typically what people do. They’ll use a really large image to cater for 95% of users, then for the final 5% of people with mega huge screens (very jealous btw! haha) an image fade is used.

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