New layout design, any thoughts/ideas?

[Gamergirl87]

I'm currently trying to make a new layout for my website http://www.hmfarm.com/. That one is plain/good, but it's really old and I need a new look! I came up with a new layout idea in photoshop, here's a link to a screen shot of it..

http://www.hmfarm.com/HMFlayout.gif

but I'm not happy with it! It seems too boring/plain! Does anyone have any ideas that could help me! If you saw my site, you'll see I have a LOT of links, I'm thinking of doing where you click on a link and it makes more links pop up so that it's not too overly cluttered all the time!

[Synthesis]

Originally posted by Gamergirl87
I'm currently trying to make a new layout for my website http://www.hmfarm.com/. That one is plain/good, but it's really old and I need a new look! I came up with a new layout idea in photoshop, here's a link to a screen shot of it..

http://www.hmfarm.com/HMFlayout.gif

but I'm not happy with it! It seems too boring/plain! Does anyone have any ideas that could help me! If you saw my site, you'll see I have a LOT of links, I'm thinking of doing where you click on a link and it makes more links pop up so that it's not too overly cluttered all the time!
Personally, I like both designs. BUT I do have one suggestion. The "HMFlayout layout" is cool, but I dont like the font you used on the "HMFlayout layout" so I suggest you take the font from your current site and switch it with "HMFlayout layout's" font. But otherwise I think your site is (and still will be) awesome. ;)

[Synthesis]

Harvest Moon itself rocks!

[SilentKnight]

Originally posted by Synthesis

Personally, I like both designs. BUT I do have one suggestion. The "HMFlayout layout" is cool, but I dont like the font you used on the "HMFlayout layout" so I suggest you take the font from your current site and switch it with "HMFlayout layout's" font. But otherwise I think your site is (and still will be) awesome. ;)

personally, I like the second font better

[shwaperia]

I like both designs. I'm note sure if you took this into account but do you think your second design would appear a little too light on a mac computer? oh and i'm personaly like the first font better.

-jake

[shwaperia]

Hey what programs did you use besides photoshop to make your webpage?

[Gamergirl87]

to Shwaperia:
I'm on a mac, and it doesn't seem too light to me. IT's still in adjustment faze. Also, I just used photoshop, and then I just wrote the HTML myself in BBedit (bbedit is good because all html tags are in gray, links are red and images are green so it's easy to see what you're writing/editing)

[y3kchip]

Your design in the screenshot looks nice. It converys the meaning of your site with the fantasy stuff and long flowing curves with a bit of technical stuff weaved into it. It is nice.

I think I might move the "News & Updates" down a little bit and use your first fold for a main feature of your news & updates that you really want to draw attention too. Remember, your first fold is prime real estate. You want to make the most of it to draw the visitor in and make your first impression, without overwhemling them with too many details. Then the rest of it can be below it. You might want to make it a little less wide, although maybe this is just how the screenshot came out.

Speaking of screen shots... how do you make them?

[manperez]

Beautiful designs! Both of them are great though I understand why you are tired of the first one: it's too loaded with info.

As a previous message mentioned, make that first page count!.
For that reason, on the "HMFlayout layout" I would also make the site's name stand out more.

My congratulations..................... Manuel

[Gamergirl87]

ok, so do you guys think if I make the hmfarm larger and do some of your other suggestions, it would be good to set it up? It will be easy to change my page to the layout so I'm not worried about that. Thank you!