PSGR is a solo effort by me, Rhiannon, a 23 year old from New Zealand. There's a lot to explore here, so take a look around and have fun!
Name: Tea
Site: Colorfilter Creative Designs
Review completed on: 25/12/06
SPLASH PAGE
No splash
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
First of all I might as well tell you that I find reviewing graphics sites a bit of struggle, mainly due to the fact that graphics aren't my forte. However, I hope that my lack of knowledge in this area will not reflect too much, and that I'll at least be able to give you something constructive to take away from this review.
LAYOUT
Well, eye catching certainly isn't a word I can use here, although my late Great Nana may be inclined to disagree with me on this score. That's okay though, we can't all have the same tastes, and whatever works for you and all that jazz. Although I can't help but think that your background looks like a bathmat that Carol Brady would simply adore! I do however, like the dainty floral motif you've got going down part of the right hand side - it looks nice and saves the layout from looking completely dull and old lady-ish.
It's a shame that this layout succeeds in totally blending in to my browser - in fact, the top navigation and the site title are almost impossible to read. I definitely suggest making these two elements darker - they're important after all and ought to be made clearly readable.
CONTENT
About
Your introduction is good and ensures visitors won't encounter any confusion throughout the navigation process. You've clearly outlined each section, explaining what they contain and how to get there. Nice work here.
Site - it was good to read about how dedicated you are to fulfilling visitors' requests. However, I found this sentence a little off - " And so I always do make an effort to listen to anything that visitors may want or need." You listen to your visitors? Oh, so they tell you their requests on voice chat or on the telephone? If you listened to them it would mean they conveyed their thoughts to you audibly, but obviously they didn't because it's all through the email or request forms. I think that "taking note of" would be more appropriate in this sentence, since you're following on something that is contained in a text format. Oh, made on Mac huh? Not surprising - they're the best for graphics, as I'm sure anyone who works in that field will agree. I don't work in that field - obviously - but you know, you hear these things around. I've had various Mac computers since I was 6, I used Macs at school, my Nan has a Mac...I first used a Windows computer only a few years ago.
About the creator - this was very interesting to read. Wow, you've been designing professionally since the early 1990s? Seasoned, man...how old are you if you don't my asking? You certainly have a lot of credentials listed here, and you've got a lot of design experience under your belt. On the third paragraph, change coordinating to co-ordinating. I know it's just a hyphen, but all the same.
Also, Other past projects also include hands-on visual merchandising/display design, large trade show presentation, fashion show organization, as well as, fashion graphics and design. would look better if there were no comma after the as in as well as. Just my opinion of course - even though I took English at a 6th form level in 5th form it was still my worst subject by far, but I tried my best and I only mention something if I know it to be correct.
Terms of usage - kind of longwinded, and I wonder if anyone would seriously adhere to the requirements you've stated. Of course they're fair enough, but still. You mention something about View Only Artwork which contains portfolio work and work for clients etc. I don't see a link for this here at your site, all I see by way of art related items are brush downloads and textures...
Support - oh, support as in giving you money for having this website online. Hmm okay...but you already have a donation button on your sidebar, why make a whole page about it? Discretion is everything my friend. I know you supply your work for free and you pay for your own domain and hosting, but so do I and I would never dream of asking my visitors for money. If you find it a struggle to pay for your bandwidth why not just delete your site? The rest of this page consists of referral schemes and the like, so I'm not going to go into this at length. Seems a bit out of place for a graphics site...why do you need the money if you are a language and arts teacher? I know teachers earn shit all, but still! Not to sound harsh or anything.
Services - Colorfilter.net custom services. It's all well and good being able to build people websites and design stationery etc but do you have examples of your work? A portfolio would be an excellent point of reference here, people wouldn't want to hire you if they couldn't see concrete examples of your work would they? Under the list of servies you provide, change stationary to stationery. I often get mixed up with this too.
Contact
Oh, different layout? Ok. How come, gurl?
Downloads
As far as your downloads go, nothing too amazing. Your brushes are okay, if not verging on mediocre, but they're useable. I'm not seeing anything here that I haven't seen elsewhere though - I guess I was expecting a lot more since you've got so much experience. As for everything else, well, nothing amazing either. I'm sure any creative individual could make everything you've got here with their eyes closed! I think a more creative approach to your site would make it a little more than just another freebies site for bored teenagers with illegal copies of Photoshop. You've been in this game since 1990 and yet there is nothing to suggest that you have tried to think outside the box and do something unique and original. Sorry to sound harsh, but I came here with high expectations that seemed justified by reading about all your experience, so I feel a little let down after discovering that you have nothing extraordinary to offer.
SUMMARY
I come away from your website feeling a little deflated - I was expecting so much more. You've got your web standards down pat, this is clearly indicative in your coding as well as the overall set up of your site, but what about creativity? You're a designer, you have an entire page listing all your credentials, yet all you have to offer are a few ordinary brushes and textures? Surely you must have some sort of portfolio you could put up for us to see? Sure, you've said you like art and design, but in what way is this really reflected in Colorfilter.net?
I think this site would be far more interesting if perhaps you made it into a much more personal site and integrated examples of your own work, perhaps in a portfolio type of style as mentioned earlier. To be honest, there is nothing on this website that suggests you can create competitive websites - you've got to actually show your goods, or at least some samples, before anyone could even think about commissioning you to work on their behalf. If I were a consumer I would not hire you purely because I can't see any examples of your work! I know this all sounds really harsh, but you're old enough to comprehend the idea of graphic design. It's all about putting yourself out there, and communicating with people. Look at how beautiful the work Hi-res.net produces, and they're just one lot of designers!
If you want Colorfilter.net to be purely personal, fair enough no criticism can really breach that. However, since you are trying to advertise yourself as a designer it's not butterflies and sunshine! Time to step things up if you want to be taken seriously.
