Upcoming Free Design

[davemcnally]

I will be doing a series of free downloadable blog layouts and I am in the middle of sketching out the very first one.

Feedback would be greatly appreciated. Ultimately, the question that needs to be asked is - Would you download and use it?

Thanks :)

Please click to view preview (http://www.vertexity.com/blog_layout_001.jpg)

[smittenbite]

well no i wouldnt personally use it. the layout and idea is nice but the color scheme seems too 'old' and boring for me

[deronsizemore]

I wouldn't use it because I design my own, but I like the design. Colors are good and everything is easy to read.

[davemcnally]

Thank you for your feedback :)

I may look into a new colour scheme.

[HAWK]

Yeah, I like the layout as well, but not the colours.

[ses5909]

Same as above. The colors just look kind of muted. I think with a different color scheme, it could really pop! Looks nice overall though :)

[davemcnally]

I think that's enough interest shown in changing the colour to warrant me doing so :)

[davemcnally]

I have since done a couple of variations on the color scheme. I'm not too sure on either so please let me know if they are an improvement on the first. I think I may have looked at this one too much. May leave it to one side, move on and come back to it after another couple of designs.

Links below for the updated versions:

V2 (http://www.vertexity.com/blog_layout_001_v2.jpg)
V3 (http://www.vertexity.com/blog_layout_001_v3.jpg)

Thanks for any feedback :)

[samwoodfin]

Definitely liking the black/grey/poppy/rust/khaki combo!

[ses5909]

hmmmm. I think maybe the sidebar is too wide. I do prefer the colors in version 1 but i'm not sure. Sorry...not very helpful im sure!

[davemcnally]

hmmmm. I think maybe the sidebar is too wide. I do prefer the colors in version 1 but i'm not sure. Sorry...not very helpful im sure!

I see what you mean. I have now moved over the sidebar, giving enough room in the content area for full entries rather than exerpts. I have done this with each version to compare the color schemes again:

V4 (http://www.vertexity.com/blog_layout_001_v4.jpg)
V5 (http://www.vertexity.com/blog_layout_001_v5.jpg)
V6 (http://www.vertexity.com/blog_layout_001_v6.jpg)

Thanks for the help :)

[adalante]

Personally i like V5, try to make the theme stand out a little, maybe some emboss would do the trick.

[davemcnally]

Thanks for your feedback :)

[armchaircritic]

As a helpful sitepoint mentor once pointed out to me (that's our Datura) Reds are extremely difficult to pull off well. It seems the reasons are that being such a strong emotive colour, it 'sounds out' too much against other colours.

I've found greens easier to work with, if a little too overdone, yet I've seen a few of your designs Dave and I know you are capable of some really awesome work. These designs just don't 'meld' to me, so much contrast within them I'm not sure where my attention is meant to be.

I hope this helps you a bit budd, Just trying to be constructive without being hypocritical (which means I have no Idea how you do some of your best work)

All the best,
Andy

[davemcnally]

No problem ;) All critiques are welcome.

This design doesn't look much like my others as it was only intended to a free download.