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Critique request: Branching Out Designs

 
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All Forums >> Web Design >> Site Critiques >> Critique request: Branching Out Designs
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bgrizzlybear66

 

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Joined: 4/1/2006
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Critique request: Branching Out Designs - 4/1/2006 10:25:09   
I'm new to this whole thing. I'm starting to promote my new independent business. Any suggestions would really help. Feel free to be as honest as you need to be, don't hold anything back. Thanks.

www.branchingoutdesigns.com
Donkey

 

Posts: 3915
Joined: 11/13/2001
From: Blackfield United Kingdom
Status: online

 
RE: Critique request: Branching Out Designs - 4/1/2006 12:16:47   
Nice looking site, I like the colour scheme.
quote:

Branching Out Designs is a Christian based graphic and logo design business.
I have a problem with statements like this. I think it is unnecessary, and quite offensive to parade your religious beliefs on a business website. Very few UK sites would do this because you are alienating more people than you are attracting. Personally I avoid all business sites with such unwarranted religious statements. I must also ask why you think your religious belief makes you a better designer?


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(in reply to bgrizzlybear66)
womble

 

Posts: 5702
Joined: 3/14/2005
From: Living on the edge
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RE: Critique request: Branching Out Designs - 4/1/2006 12:49:41   
/agrees with Donkey

Nice simple design. It's effective.

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dpf

 

Posts: 7126
Joined: 11/12/2003
From: India-napolis
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RE: Critique request: Branching Out Designs - 4/1/2006 12:57:34   
quote:

Very few UK sites would do this because you are alienating more people than you are attracting.
In the US, such "branding" can effectively establish a niche business.

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Dan

(in reply to Donkey)
Donkey

 

Posts: 3915
Joined: 11/13/2001
From: Blackfield United Kingdom
Status: online

 
RE: Critique request: Branching Out Designs - 4/1/2006 14:43:43   
quote:

ORIGINAL: dpf

quote:

Very few UK sites would do this because you are alienating more people than you are attracting.
In the US, such "branding" can effectively establish a niche business.
You are so far behind us is so many ways. :)

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:)

I have a higher and grander standard of principle than George Washington. He could not lie; I can, but I won't.
Samuel Clemens

(in reply to dpf)
dpf

 

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From: India-napolis
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RE: Critique request: Branching Out Designs - 4/1/2006 16:02:11   
quote:

You are so far behind us is so many ways.
yes but not in "live and let live"...:)

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Peppergal

 

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RE: Critique request: Branching Out Designs - 4/1/2006 16:09:14   
quote:

ORIGINAL: Donkey

Nice looking site, I like the colour scheme.
quote:

Branching Out Designs is a Christian based graphic and logo design business.
I have a problem with statements like this. I think it is unnecessary, and quite offensive to parade your religious beliefs on a business website. Very few UK sites would do this because you are alienating more people than you are attracting. Personally I avoid all business sites with such unwarranted religious statements. I must also ask why you think your religious belief makes you a better designer?



Perhaps he wants to specifically attract Christian clients. Where did he say his religious beliefs make him a better designer?

I'd also like to know why you feel it necessary to shoot down every person who posts on here with a religious "bent" to their site. Your remarks are often rather volatile sounding, rather than just a "by the way, some people might find it offensive."





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BeTheBall

 

Posts: 6381
Joined: 6/21/2002
From: West Point Utah USA
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RE: Critique request: Branching Out Designs - 4/1/2006 17:46:55   
Peter, I have to disagree with you on this one. Did you look at his portfolio of graphics? The graphics themselves are all religious in nature. Clearly, his client base is exclusively practicing Christians. In that light, his statement on his homepage seems to me very appropriate.

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Duane

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(in reply to Peppergal)
Donkey

 

Posts: 3915
Joined: 11/13/2001
From: Blackfield United Kingdom
Status: online

 
RE: Critique request: Branching Out Designs - 4/1/2006 18:10:01   
quote:

ORIGINAL: BeTheBall

Peter, I have to disagree with you on this one. Did you look at his portfolio of graphics? The graphics themselves are all religious in nature. Clearly, his client base is exclusively practicing Christians. In that light, his statement on his homepage seems to me very appropriate.
You do have a point, perhaps I was a bit hasty in my comments. We live in different worlds, I still find those sort of statements on web sites a bit worrying.

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I have a higher and grander standard of principle than George Washington. He could not lie; I can, but I won't.
Samuel Clemens

(in reply to BeTheBall)
golfer

 

Posts: 1803
Joined: 1/5/2005
From: Bath, Wiltshire, UK
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RE: Critique request: Branching Out Designs - 4/2/2006 5:23:56   
Anyway back to topic.

I like the clarity of the site. Simple, effective and easy to navigate.

Maybe a bit more in the way of content.

Bright green is not one of my favourite colours but it is certainly very unique and memorable.

Well done.

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Ian

'You'll miss me when I've gone'

(in reply to Donkey)
spitfire

 

Posts: 424
Joined: 8/6/2005
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RE: Critique request: Branching Out Designs - 4/2/2006 7:32:01   
Hi Grizzly
That is a very good effort for someone who is new to website development. It is simple yet unusual - you have your own style, which is more than can be said for legions of folks who try to emulate other designs.

There are some points you may care to look into:
The design breaks in IE if you increase the text size. It also breaks in Firefox but less spectacularly;
The portfolio images are good but the page takes quite a long time to load on dial-up, so you could consider saving the .gif files as .jpeg and optimise them for the web;
A bit of old code has crept into the Pricing page where you have <menu></menu> on the second list. Just to be safe, I suggest you make this <ul></ul> as you have on the previous list;
You are using the font "Berlin Sans FB", in places, without a fall-back font family. I don't have that font on my system so I can't see the effect you are trying to achieve, I just get the default font in my browser(s). I appreciate this font is part of the special MS Office install, but it is not included in the "typical" install and I wonder how many people actually clutter their computer with every font available.
Edit: I have just noticed it is not installed at all with MS Office XP.

I like the font in your header graphic, what is that one?

Nice work - you are well on your way and good luck with the new business :)

(in reply to golfer)
d a v e

 

Posts: 4177
Joined: 7/24/2002
From: England (but live in Finland now)
Status: offline

 
RE: Critique request: Branching Out Designs - 4/2/2006 13:14:50   
i like it. it has a distinctive feel to it. red-green colour blind (er, visually impaired??) might find it all looks a bit muddy but they can still access the info ok ;)



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David Prescott
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Mango Himself

 

Posts: 1904
Joined: 11/28/2005
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RE: Critique request: Branching Out Designs - 4/6/2006 0:49:27   
Nice site! I wish you success in your new venture!



Donkey, my man!!!!! You is back!!!

(in reply to d a v e)
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