http://ghc.ithium.net -- development

splinter · #1 (**permalink**) 07-12-2004, 09:30 PM

I am currently working on my local hockey teams website and I was wondering what you guys think of it:

http://ghc.ithium.net

I decided to make my own logo. It's my first ever proper graphic :D It's alright I suppose. A lot better than the previous one though :P

I'm mainly looking for how accessible you think the site is, have I got all the sections you would expect and what to add/remove.

Any errors means I haven't created that page yet :P

Thanks a lot.

Pegger · #2 (**permalink**) 07-13-2004, 08:19 PM

Good job on the design! The site is clean-looking, easy to understand. Just a thought: How about changing the red borders to yellow, so they will show up better? Red against black is a no-no. I know this is asking a lot, but if you were to slice up your header into maybe three sections, you could make the parts of the logo that are red into yellow or white or a color that shows up against black. Good luck, you're on the right track.

splinter · #3 (**permalink**) 07-13-2004, 08:39 PM

The whole colour scheme is based on the clubs strip. It gives the site an identity.

Also, the background is actually a dark blue. I copied the exact colour from the shirt (by scanning it) and I originally used that. It was too dark however so I lightened the colour. Seems like I'll need to lighten it again as you are not the dirst to say it's black.

Maybe I have my monitor brightness settings higher than most people as it looks blue to me?

elfdesign · #4 (**permalink**) 07-13-2004, 08:41 PM

I'm a logo design specialist, so I'll keep my comments confined to that.

The logo is a great start, but the areas where the writing is not against the white circle are very hard to read. So perhaps putting the whole of the text inside the circle would be good, or choosing a different text or background color for the page.

Also, consider looking at a few different fonts, or seeing if this one has a bold version - it seems pretty dainty compared to the subject matter and the look and feel of the rest of the site. But, perhaps dainty is what you're going for... :)

splinter · #5 (**permalink**) 07-13-2004, 08:57 PM

I've lightened the colours a bit. Has it made a difference?

matthewdean · #6 (**permalink**) 07-13-2004, 09:52 PM

Hi,

The "GR" in the main logo is illegible because it's almost the same colour as the background and should be changed.

Also, the "Sponsors" links both gave errors.

What did I want to see? A history page would go down a treat. Maybe just cobble together a nice, informative "About the Club" page including a map or two, info about the grounds you play at, stuff that people can relate to even if they don't know the club or a member personally.

Cheers,
Matt

splinter · #7 (**permalink**) 07-13-2004, 10:08 PM

There is a history page :P It's under the Extra menu.

"Any errors means I haven't created that page yet :P"

On the fixture page there will be a link to a page detailing where each ground we play at is.

**incrediblehelp** · #8 (**permalink**) 07-14-2004, 12:03 AM

Nice work splinter. I made a quick Ice Hockey website last year for my local league. I haven't updated it since last season so the content is very old on there:

www.toledoelitehockeyleague.com

JMac · #9 (**permalink**) 07-14-2004, 03:29 AM

I had similar issues when producing graphic work on my Mac - the light output of a Mac screen is slightly greater and makes the colours brighter.

Are you working on a Mac?

Although, viewing it now, on my PC, it seems red on a slate blue. It's soothing and grown up looking.
I like the layout and even more so your choice of images.

Nice work, Splinter.

Have a great day!

JMac

flashfast · #10 (**permalink**) 07-14-2004, 03:34 AM

i think the site looks very professional, though I would agree that the heading graphic/logo would be better if the brown were lightened, not the background as i think u did. I am using a mac powerbook and can ardly see the G and the ..lub bits. I would simply select that colour in photoshop (or whatever u use) and lighten towards a brown/orange. the other solution would be to give the letters that exist over the dark blue an outline of white or grey.

Do this and I think u have a perfect site look.

Good luck.

J

http://www.flashfast.com

splinter · #11 (**permalink**) 07-14-2004, 09:13 AM

I've lightened the Gr...lub bits.

I'm using a PC but I have my monitor brightness up fairly high as I play computer games and it allows me to make out the detail more easily.

voodooboy · #12 (**permalink**) 07-14-2004, 09:21 AM

I think the issue is that you are using a non-web safe blue for the background. The background color is purple on my monitor and mine is calibrated to work with Pantone standards. Remember that monitor colors are brighter than printed colors because of the light coming through the color instead of reflecting off of a colored surface. I would suggest changing your colors to match web safe colors and just get close to the original printed colors. This will remove the washed out look of the colors and add more pop to the site.

splinter · #13 (**permalink**) 07-14-2004, 09:34 AM

Surely we've moved on from 1500 or so web-safe colours?

How about I create a single pixel image of that colour and place that in the background?

DrTandem1 · #14 (**permalink**) 07-14-2004, 09:38 AM

Does your site have anything to do with this site?:

http://www.fun-house.demon.co.uk/GHC000.htm

I would recommend geting your own domain, rather than a sub-domain. I wouldn't call what you have a logo, but it is nicely done. I think of logos more as icons rather than a long title bar. I'm not a fan of frames, PHP or otherwise.

No need to take up the entire top portion of the screen with your title. Smaller logo to the traditional top-left would allow for more functionality. The smaller space will also force you to improve the graphic into an actual logo.

Good luck.

splinter · #15 (**permalink**) 07-14-2004, 09:49 AM

That site you mentioned was the old one (not made by me). We do have our own domain (http://www.greenockhockeyclub.co.uk) but it points to the old site until I finish mine.

I think I'll just leave the logo as it is for the moment. I may lighten it up a bit later.

Are there any other areas that could be improved?

voodooboy · #16 (**permalink**) 07-14-2004, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by splinter

Surely we've moved on from 1500 or so web-safe colours?

How about I create a single pixel image of that colour and place that in the background?

We have. But when you are dealing with team colors and a mass difference between viewer monitor settings, do you really want team members comeing up to you and asking why the site is purple instead of blue? By using web-safe colors you are guaranteed that the color will be the same across the board. Even a single pixel graphic image is not the same on every monitor.

elfdesign · #17 (**permalink**) 07-16-2004, 02:28 PM

I've revisited the color issue, and if you want to keep the original, more saturated and more accurate colors, another option would be to use the white outline that you've used on the inner letters on the outer letters as well. That would make them more legible.

- Erin

splinter · #18 (**permalink**) 07-16-2004, 05:42 PM

OK. I'll try doing that.

There? Is that better?