Re-design and Re-brand Review

[DSMdesign]

Hi there, we have recently re-vamped and re-branded our business to better focus our corporate identity and strategy. We are aiming to target small to large businesses with professional CMS based websites. Our previous design was dated and look old fashioned.

Our new logo and web design is designed to freshen up our image and re-position us to appeal to CEO's, MD's and buyers of other corporate firms. We are also aiming to increase conversion through proper "call to actions" and easy navigation with relevant, usable content!

The new wesbite was also launched in our brand new Enhance 2 CMS which utilizes the latest coding for ASP.net and CSS validation. Our CMS is a custom built solution that we use to build all of our clients websites and are very proud of it.

So...What do you all think? Honest opinions please.

www.dsm-design.co.uk

Thanks

[DSMdesign]

Oh and also our twitter page to match our web design!

DSM Design (dsmdesign) on Twitter

[bluestagstudio]

Hi,

I was going to write a quick review but I got distracted by your heading text on the right turning into background images when loading a page?! And seperate images at that? Made the page jump around in firefox... What on earth is that about?!

Cheers,
Matt.

[DSMdesign]

Hi, yeah - its a piece of javascript that converts the text into an image for styling purposes.

We wanted to use an unsupported font...hence the javascript plugin!

How long did it take to load?

Thanks

[VLAHAKISA]

I'm not loving the blue patterned background on the right in the content area to be honest, I think it feels a bit 'dated' and makes you feel like an old fashioned firm. I think it's good to seem well established, but not to seem old fashioned.

The layout is easy to follow on the whole, but I think you should strip out graphic design from your portfolio pages (the 'graphic design examples' link isn't a link to anything like the other links) until you have something in there - it's a bit odd having an empty portfolio section.

Amanda

[DSMdesign]

Thank you Amanda - We are currently building the Graphic Design Portfolio which will be linked soon!!!

Thank you for your comments re: the background design...I will discuss with our designers!

[bluestagstudio]

Hi Again,

its a piece of javascript that converts the text into an image for styling purposes

I see...

We wanted to use an unsupported font...hence the javascript plugin!

My designer is exactly the same, doesn't like 'normal' fonts! Not sure if this is the right solution though, in my view if it's non-critical text and it's just there to look pretty then use an image, if it's critical text use a supported font and don't mess around with it!

How long did it take to load?

Took a couple of seconds to load and then just as I'm reading the tagline, it moves. Just tried it in IE too and it's the same. On every page.

Try clearing your cache and seeing what happens!


In other news...

I like the content structure. Not too much on the face of it but easy to get to more information if you want. It's something that's very difficult to do but works great when you pull it off.

Don't quite get your references to oranges and apples etc. Think you either need a fruit related tagline or you don't need the fruit!

Not so fussed on the design. Share Amandas thoughts on the background. It's too much hard work to try and read the text on top of it.

Love the valid XHTML and some good use of CSS too.

I think potentially it could be very good but at the moment it's not there. And believe me I know how that feels (anyone who saw our website a couple of months ago will know what I mean!)