[mcullinan]

I just finished my company website (at gunpoint by me wifey) for Mental Pixel. Take a look, let me know what you think (Dont be too harsh!)
http://www.mentalpixel.com/
Peace.
Mike

[ebag4]

Mike,
I like how you show past projects on the web and print tabs although the ads could be larger.  The white text is unreadable on the home page, I had to highlight it to be able to read it.

Just my $.02

Best,
Ed

[mcullinan]

If you click the ads, they get larger. Just an fyi.
Mike

[jrebman]

Mike,

Can I suggest that you use some alt text in the links?

We may well be talking later this summer .

-- Jim

[bpape]

Agreed on the front page text.  If the background graphic was more like a watermark rather than that higher contrast, it would be easier to read.

Bryan

[planet10]

I don't have trouble reading the front page, but a bit more contrast wouldn't hurt. The text changes size in a behaved manner so that is good (you'll never choose a font that starts out the right size by everyone).

Is it hosted by Apple (me.com/aka mac.com)?

dave

[Mariusz]

Very nice Mike!

Cool, Mac-like photo gallery.

As to the contrast - few notches down would make the text pop out a bit better. IMO

Talk to you soon.

Mariusz

[fiveoclockfriday]

Mike,
It's a good start and I like some of your work. I work full time as a web designer/graphic designer, so I wanted to share my thoughts, but please understand they're just my thoughts.

I have to agree that the type is tough to read on the pink background. There's also not a real clear hierarchy on the homepage. I would like to see a simple large description of exactly what you do. As it is the headers are all the same weight, and your eye doesn't know where to begin.
The rollover state for the text link is extremely hard to read; basically looks like the link disappeared.

The site width seems kind of arbitrary. It's ~800px wide. That is too wide for an 800x600 monitor (you only get ~760 px viewable in the browser) but doesn't fill the space you have on 1024 or higher (~960 and up). That may be purely an aesthetic, but you could make the site wider and display more if you wanted.

You should implement an active state, to let the user know where they are. For example, Home should be 'on' by default, and then if you click 'Web' it should stay on, etc. Also, it would be wise to include your contact info on every page; you don't want a user to have to spend time and effort figuring out how to contact you, it should be obvious (unobtrusive, but obvious). I would also consider moving the navigation to the space in the white bar at the top. It works where it is, but it's widely accepted practice that that's where navigation is, a user will instinctively look there first (or possibly to a sidebar).

Description of projects/responsibilities. It would be wise to include some description of what each project was, or what your role was, or what was special about it. For example if I want to include e-commerce in my site, and I see in several of your sites you've built that, or a CMS then I might be inclined to contact you. If I just see a single photo, it doesn't help me understand what you did, how you helped the business, etc. You want to sell your knowledge and your expertise. It would also help for printed examples - did you write the copy? did you take the photos? did you do the art direction and design all by yourself for all of them? You don't want to imply something  or step on someone else's toes.

There are some validation errors and some coding styles which could use help too (mainly use of tables for layout), but that's outside of my realm.

Best of luck with your site and the business,
Eric

[BobM]

A couple of similar thoughts as others on the text - yes, definitely fix the readability of the text. It's your message that you're trying to get out. You woundn't bury a client's message where it wasn't clear and eye catching, would you? Same comment for your logo - it needs to pop more off the page so the viewer will remember your name.

The tabs/navigation at the bottom (Print - Web) ... I didn't realize that "print" meant the print media until I clicked on it. My initial thought was that it would print the page. Perhaps you might make it "print media" and "web media" or something like that.

I think you need a little more depth to the site. Something clickable from within the home page text perhaps to bring the user more into the sales process, like drilling down on a few key points and showing them an example of each (i.e. graphical design, logo design, eye catching layouts, novel approaches to a targetted audience, broad mass appeal, quirkiness, humor, etc.).

A good start though.

Bob

[mcullinan]

Thanks Guys I will lighten the background and fix the highlight when you are in that section.  It is short and sweet and perhaps I will work on a Cababilities section to explain more about the services MP offers.
Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!
Mike

[BobM]

... perhaps I will work on a Cababilities section to explain more about the services MP offers.
Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!
Mike

Not all of the "services" I hope. Please keep those exotic massage ads in the back of the mag's where they belong. 

[mcullinan]

... perhaps I will work on a Cababilities section to explain more about the services MP offers.
Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!
Mike

Not all of the "services" I hope. Please keep those exotic massage ads in the back of the mag's where they belong. 

hehehe!
M