"Logo Change"

I like the logo change. That's different since I was here this morning.

Sharon

Thanks. It's a temporary thing, though. My wife and I are trying really hard to find a nice and pretty logo that we'll all be proud of.

If anybody has any artistic talents and want to contribute to a logo for us - please do!!

Dave

Let me know if I can help.

Sharon

My problem is that the logo is too dry. It's not friendly enough to make people realize that we are a really friendly group of people.

It's the same problem that I have with the entire layout of the site. It is extremely functional, but I think that it isn't "pretty enough".

I want to start with the logo - make it look really nice and pretty while describing in a picture what it is that Dave's Garden is all about.

Then I want to use the logo as an inspiration piece to make the entire website much prettier and enjoyable to use.

Any ideas?

Dave

I think it needs some ivy.

Ivy, or some flowerig vine swirling through the DG would be neat. Maybe just changing the tint on the background from bright white to a softer shade (light green or cream like is in these boxes)? I think whatever you come up with dave will be WONDERFUL! And if people need pretty artwork to find out we're nice, well...

I visited a site yesterday that had a light yellow background with white text headings. It also had hyperlinks in bright yellow. On screen, the hyperlinks were hard to read. I printed this page out. Of course, the background color of light yellow didn't print. And the white text headings didn't print because they were white. The hyperlinks were still just as hard to read in printed bright yellow. So don't use those color combinations!
http://www.nccpg.freeserve.co.uk">http://www.nccpg.freeserve.co.uk


Here's a site you might check out:
http://www.sharonslittlegarden.homestead.com">http://www.sharonslittlegarden.homestead.com
My Site!! LOL! I just published it yesterday. There's a lot more I want to add to it. But it's a start.

Fonts for headings can really set the mood of a site, fun, serious, pretty. And the color too. Do you want cool relaxing colors such as blues, greens and violets? Do you want bold exciting colors such as bright reds, yellows and orange? The background can make a difference too. Will it stay in the background or will it reach out and touch you or will it distract you? A lot of graphics elements takes time to load too. Will you use a lot or a little bit of graphics? Will they be regular graphics, animated graphics or some of each? All are tough choices and they all play on each other.

If you need any suggestions, let me know.

Sharon

Here are the priorities for a well-designed site (in my opinion):

First be fast and functional.

Second be attractive.

I see animated images as extremely annoying, distracting, and wasteful (bandwidth-wise).

The same goes for extreme colors.

My ideal design is a minimum color-palette with cool and relaxing colors (hence the green I've used since Day One on this site).

Graphics are to be kept to a minimum (the logo and perhaps a few small icons to assist with navigation on the site).

Graphics should not be used to assist in formatting (again, this is my opinion).

I won't use a heavy background image, but I will entertain a very light, very minimal background color or image, as long as I can continue using black text in the foreground.

Since moving to Tennessee, I'm on a dialup for internet access. When I sometimes load 200 pages per day on this site, it's important that it's nice and speedy. This will become increasingly important this spring when the Gardener's Journal is in full swing.

Dave

It sounds like the best way to accomplish the goals you've just oulined is to make the logo the main graphic. I personally like the green cool color.

Do you have a desktop publishing program to design the logo in?

Sharon

The only graphics program I have is "The Gimp", which is the main graphics program available for my computer, which runs Linux instead of Windows.

I made the logo above using the gimp.

Dave

I've never heard of it, but I don't know a lot about Linuix either. Which type of program is it, a paint or draw type of program?

Sharon

It does all of the things most graphics packages do (as far as I can imagine).;

You can paint and draw, do text, manipulate images, etc.

I still think there should be some ivy ... :-)

I think so too, Granny. Maybe some vines with flowers in the boxes on the right. Just a little touch.

Dave,

I really really think that speed should be the first 5 priorities. I think the next 5 should be a good layout. I hate sites that have lots of graphics and take forever to load. If a site takes very long to load I cancel. If a site is really pretty but takes 30 seconds to load each page I for one won't look at it.

BTW I really liked the "old" logo. I think that anyone that vists this site will quickly realize that we are a deep and caring bunch of weeds. Anyone can have a cool catchy logo BUT will they, do they have any substance?

I think you are doing an awesome job Dave! And I really agree with your point of view on how a website should be administered.

If you really want to do something helpful may I recommend that you automatically sort everybodies seed list by type. I think it would be very helpful.

Sari

I like the logo, but now where is the reference to "Dave's Garden"? I think a font change could do wonders to spruce it up a bit - I am just a times roman hater. I actually like the ease of use with the way the site is set up now. I also like the recent changes to the menus and personal pages. Perhaps if you experiment and change the site slowly as you have time, then you can test the effects of each change in the design elements as it happens. I think the majority of us are a pretty patient bunch and have fun seeing what your up to. If something doesn't work the way you like, then you can just yank it :) Merry Christmas all!!!

I agree with Granny, it needs some ivy. Just a little touch of some kind of plant or flower to soften it.
Merry Christmas to all.
PJ

Dave, Hi! I like the logo now, but when you had the pea (I think) it was an eye catcher. Ivy would probably do the same. I love the idea of the cool colors. It really makes it a nice place to spend time. Some sites really hurt the eyes after a while. Keep up the great work and thanks a bunch! Have a Merry Christmas everybody!

How about the logo "Dave's Garden" with some ivy as outstretched arms with little ivy leaf hands encompassing/embracing the world?

I'm just new here, but how about a graphic of a seed germinating (check out the Territorial Seed website or catalog and their little seed picture), which would apply to almost any and all types of plants, whether it's veggies, ornamentals... you name it!

As for the layout of this site, I've only been here a whopping 5-minutes, but something easy to read, not graphic-intensive, and fast would be my vote, in other words, just how it is right now!!!!

Happy New Year,
Andi

Andi,

What you see today is the launch of the new site. You weren't here for the old site, but it looked very different than it does right now.

Welcome aboard. I hope you enjoy Dave's Garden.

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