Latest Attempt

I'm working on a project with a friend, he wants me to design it.

Imagine if this were a RZ/Sythe profile, what would you think of it? Basically the first image here would be the default theme, but then you can go in your account settings and edit the theme to one of hundreds set by administrators. The only things that would change is basically the background content.

Profile Page
Default: http://i50.tinypic.com/33b2wqh.jpg
Explose: http://i47.tinypic.com/11tssv6.png
Nebula: http://i45.tinypic.com/16by60z.png

Review Page
Default: http://i50.tinypic.com/f0agwn.png

Discussion Page
Default: http://i46.tinypic.com/25zm7f9.png

How can I improve these guys?


Older Designs
v1: http://i.imgur.com/YoigA.png
v2: http://i.imgur.com/YkmvT.png
v3: http://i.imgur.com/o8myg.png

 

8 hour bump.

Edited the original post with the latest.

 

Try uploading with TinyPic or puush, I think they do PNGs. Also, what's this from? Or is it just a sample of something?

 

It's a design I just did in Photoshop for an upcoming project my friend and I are doing.

 

Just looks like backgrounds you found on google or deviantart. Not much to see, but add whatever you feel will make it look nice. I can't say anything by looking at it because there's nothing much there.

 

it looks pretty good...Nice and simplistic...I am not sure what it is supposed to be for...but other then that, I like it...

 

The default background is just a simple texture, the second one is one that I paid to have made here on Sythe, and the third is from RScript, just basically to see how different backgrounds would look with it.

I'm more-so looking for criticism on the website as a whole, not just the backgrounds.

The website is basically a Facebook for gamers. You make a profile, find friends, meet new people to game with, share your screenshots, discuss games, review games, etc. You can see Raptr and Playfire for examples of these succeeding. I felt like it would be a fun project to try, and would also improve my PHP skills. Even if it doesn't succeed, that's fine by me, it's fun to design for it, and also to make it.

 

Oh, it's not bad at all. I feel as the "beta gameplay" should have a text that's eye catching. Pretty sure it's arial atm.

 

Yes, it is arial. I'll see what else will look nice there. Any suggestions?

 

Also as a side note...NEVER take what nero says about templates seriously...he is one of the worst template designers I have ever seen...

 

That's not very nice. Especially since he isn't here to back himself up. And just because someone doesn't have the skills in Photoshop to design something, doesn't mean they don't have a good eye for design.

Nero and I were talking yesterday, he asked me for my .PSD so he could try something to fix it. I sent it to him, and he hasn't replied since. Now I'm curious as to what he wanted it for. =@

 

He has the skills to design what he wants in photoshop...He just sucks when it comes to templates...

I am not saying he isn't decent at graphics...His templates just suck ass

 

Pretty nice

 

If I were to make a list of things which you are a complete amateur at, I don't think you'd take too kindly. Nero is neither 'one of the worst' template designers nor someone whose view should be disregarded - if anything he's passionate, respectable and learning incredibly fast. I'm surprised you'd be as pompous as to insult his abilities being someone of your level too; I could hypothetically justify my belief of you being the worst template designer I've ever seen with countless reasoning, yet I give constructive criticism where I can because it's far more helpful and productive.

Also, some of the best advice can be taken from those learning - every teacher has to be prepared for his students to better him, teaching has nothing to do with ego.

Next time you think to insult somebody due to your wholly subjective opinion, think about whether you're in a position to be judging their skill or ability.

Whilst the design seems pretty organised, it is anything but aesthetically memorable and seems pretty generic/common.

Firstly, start work with a swatch/a few colours that you wish to work with. At the moment your whole site is comprised of b&w (or dark grey and white, which achieves practically the same effect), which isn't particularly effective and is boring to the eye. I like the icons though I'm presuming they're downloaded - look at how colour is used to separate the icons and make them some of the most prominent elements on the page, regardless of the fact they're one of the smallest. Try use colours or other techniques to emphasise and simplify.

Arial is also not the most respected of fonts, and generally treated as the 'poor man's helvetica', so regardless of how cliché helvetica has become, it's still a good starting point. Type-wise, I don't think you have really considered the type on the page - whilst there are obvious differences (such as some elements being bolded), there needs to be a degree of consistency with the type. On the 'profile' page for instance, the top simplified info (username/name/location/online) can be far more effectively laid out. Try reading some tutorials on type theory such as this and once you start coding, you can always use tools that make typography far easier, such as this (if working with css).

Overall, it isn't bad, but it's a tad bland and I don't really see the appeal in these designs compared with the countless default designs that're commonly used.

Well done though

 

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Please...Even my most pathetic attempt at a template after almost 2 years of barely making anything in photoshop is miles ahead of any template I have seen from nero...

Like I said you tool, he is pretty good at graphics..He just sucks ass at templates...

 

That's completely subjective, I personally prefer his work as he doesn't whore layer styles, use too large radii on his rounded rectangles, etc.

Thus, he doesn't 'suck ass' at templates.

 

Again, it was my first template in almost 2 years, but no. Nero is terrible at font choices for templates. Even me using a portable photoshop with only default fonts could pick better ones (which is what I used to make that bleh template). His everything is way too big and the templates normally lack texture or really any sort of structure...

I understand that the template is just that, the template for the site and after it is coded it will mostly look a lot different, but still, presentation is the key.

You should stop doing graphics for 2 years then make a template using defaults only and some stock images you mashed together and see how it turns out.

oh and at least I know how to make my own layer styles. Even if they were dated and simple. Something I am sure nero lacks as his templates are really flat.

The ironic thing, is that your current tag is riddled with layer styles..

 

Seriously dude? http://sythe.org/showthread.php?t=1433897

You wonder why people hate you. Nero isn't even here to defend himself. He hasn't said anything to you. You're insulting him and TRIBAL for doing nothing. Instead of insulting him on my thread and his work, why don't you give him constructive criticism on his showcase threads?