Just looking around on my hard drive, and thought I would post these.. I wonder if people remember what Sumea used to look like [:)]
[url="http://www.sumea.com.au/simagesmisc/SumeaV1.gif"]Version 1[/img]
Version 1, only a few people got to see the site like this I think.. It went public around June 2002. It was at it's barest state, no design, lots of test text in there, and still fixing up a lot of things. The site had essential file links - I think I was heading towards the site being more mod friendly (provide news about tools etc). Thumbnails in news posts are there, and the site is still capable of them. It's just not worth making thumbnails for news posts when they usually fall off the main page after a few days. I was happy to get 5 visitors a day at this stage. [:)] Chilloutroom was the name for the forum. It's a long story.
[url="http://www.sumea.com.au/simagesmisc/SumeaV2.gif"]Version 2[/url]
Version 2 had lots of unecessary javascript code and graphics for rollover navigation icons - it looked nice but who wants to download all the icons and their rollover images everytime they visit. Picturepad was supposed to be a "pic of the week" thing, and a link to Digital Media World when we were talking a bit with them. I still prefer the current design - it's extremely slimmed down, and looks much cleaner I think. And hey look, here it is. [:)]
[url="http://www.sumea.com.au/simagesmisc/SumeaV3.gif"]Version 3[/url]
sumea has gone through a lot of transformation for the past year and a half [:D] the second one is kick arse although the first one i still found it was good and served its purpose.
If it wasnt for this site and souri i wouldn't be where i am right now. Great job.... and thank u [:D]
can't wait to see the next design..... [:)]
quote:Originally posted by Aven
Haha. I know what you mean. I have been working on a website for myself for the last two years :) It just comes down to a point where you just have to shove it out and hope for the best. Besides, you can be like most netbased design groups and have a site re-design every 2 weeks.
That's the thing with design portals or design-related websites. A lot of them are heavily influenced by the design fad of the moment (previous ones include a mish mash of grunge/collage, pixel type/borders/art, 45 degree angles, arrows everywhere, chunks of 3d blocks/models sprayed from a distant point). Soon everyone does the same thing, it gets old quick, and it's time for another redesign.
I think if you do something simple, clean, uncluttered, it'll last a hell of a lot longer..
Remember, if you can't even load all the images on a dial up connection then you are cool.
It just annoys me that so many flash users dont even use the vector aspect of it any more. They just load up bitmaps and now movies :/
I agree completely with the simplicity side of it. Loads quickly, doesnt date as quickly, easier to navigate around, and doesn't overshadow the end product. Although I do like the 45 degree designs, it did become way overused, yet only a handfull of designers could do it well.
You missed out on the otherone that is starting to gain momentum now. Pasting tattoo designs all over the place. I saw it here (www.endeffect.com) a few years back, and now everyone on DeviantArt is doing it.
I have to admit that the more I look at the v.2 design for this site, the more I like it. It is just so clean and simple :)
Just a note on what I'm currently working on for Sumea, I'm actually going ahead and redesigning the whole site. The current design has lasted a few years, and it's a simple and clean design. Sumea's had so many features added since that went up and the new stuff was either tacked on top of it or nudged in there somewhere. The new design layout will have everything fitted in and the entire look will be more cohesive. Anyway, here's a [url="http://www.sumea.com.au/simagesmisc/SumeaV4.gif"]early look[/url] at the new deisgn.
Anyway, I'm going to take it relatively slow with it and making it the best designed website I can, and hopefully it'll up by June.
You will have to wait and see [:o]
quote:Originally posted by MoonUnit
sumea got wings! i feel like a old time member now :P ive seen it through a design faze >.< Looking cool souri (btw whats the font used on the large "sumea launchpad" title.. i think i have that one somewhere)
You're definately an old timer around these parts, MoonUnit [:D] The font is Rosewood std (standard). It's bundled with any Adobe CS product.
version 2 was the layout you had when i first came across the site.
...however,.,.it does look different. i dont remember that typeface etc.