Contest!!
I have a new obsession…my blog design. Although I love the simplicity of the current Style Me Pretty site, it just doesn’t seem like THE design. You know what I mean? So, I am going to enlist help from the people that care the most…the readers! Let’s face it, although my husband “reads” (ie…he opens the blog on his computer each day), he is the last person to care about how pretty it is.
So each week, I am going to give you two designs to choose from…think eye doctor style: Version A or Version B, version B or Version C. Hopefully, we will all settle on the perfect design within a few weeks!
Here are the first two (version A at the top, version B at the bottom)…
Make sure you click on them to see the full sized versions. I admit, they are ROUGH drafts, but since you guys are the readers it only makes sense for you to look at something that you love! And, you can always say that you like the current design the best.
The person that gives the best feedback in terms of design, layout, additional items they want to see, etc. will win a $25 gift certificate to IOMOI.
60 Comments about “Contest!!”
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I say version A. Visually I think the two black bars of version B cause the space on the webpage to feel smaller and boxed in. In viewing websites I like the feel of wide open spaces and I hate feeling like a website is "crammed" in...it feels overwhelming. I think version A is more approachable and open plus I like the softer feel of the swirling lines.
I like version A better also. I like the fonts in version B, but the black bars are a little harsh... maybe a little too bold looking for the more romantic style of the fonts and blog material.
I also say version A. The black bars in version B are very distracting, not only because they box the site in, but also because they are so dark. The darkness of the boxes detracts from the other images. I like the birdy on the version B, but because he is black, he looks a little bit like a crow! Perhaps he could show up in version A in in brown. The things I like about version A are the softer colors and design. I also like the juxtaposition of the block font of the heading titles with the scripted font of the Blog title. Finally, I like how the scrolling design in version A gently draws your eyes across the page.
I like version A as well .... it feels cleaner .... and I feel that the inspiration boards were too big in B .... just my two cents.
I too like Version A. It seems to be more cohesive with the style that you are already accustomed too but taking it in a more designed direction. The black bars are very limiting to the space and while it is a nice reference to the ribbons you see on an invitation they are too heavy and mess up the balance that you have started. I would like to see the ribbon element brought in with the robin's blue color and possibly centered on the page since right now the layout is very divided left and right.If you want to keep it on the left side I would usggest making your title "style me pretty" heavier in font or design or some element because the images get the most attention on that side right now. .
I definitely vote for version A as well.
- Layout: It's much cleaner and will help visitors focus on the content, rather than large blocks of images. Version A is how I envision my wedding; flowing, beautiful, and spirited. Version B looks blocky and hard-edged. Some brides certainly are more hard-edged, but I bet the majority will relate to Version A!
The template is also one that can be used across multiple pages. I wonder if Version B would get repetitive after one or two page views?
- Color: The colors of version A are cleaner and more universal. Maybe if the bands in version B were a lighter color they would work, but the black is too heavy and choppy in my mind.
- HTML/CSS: As a web & blog designer, I work with HTML layouts all day. Version A is straightforward and will be easy to implement from an HTML & CSS perspective, while still looking gorgeous and unique. The design of Version B, while easy to implement on paper, will be much more difficult to translate into pixels.
In summary, I would definitely vote for Version A. Good luck!
Another vote for Version A here. I think the black bar on the lower right corner of Version B really blocks the flow of the screen, and will be distracting if users have to scroll down. One of the assets of your currentl layout is that it is clean and easy to navigate - Version A maintains that while adding a little visual interest in the title and nav bar.
version A! .. simple simple simple. :)
Version A. Without a doubt. I think the swirly design helps things flow. It draws your eyes towards the navigation and content of the site. With Version B, the black banner seems very harsh with the script font. It just doesn't scream "Style Me Pretty!"
Version A! I love the swirl design as well. Version B is wedding-like because of the bows at the top and bottom, but I just don't like the black.
I have to say that i reallly like version B. I have been bird crazy this spring and i love that the page is wrapped like a pretty little present. The one suggestion that i would make is that the ribbons might look better in a softer color, like chocolate brown and could be a little slimmer.
I definitely prefer version A as well. It just looks, well, prettier. There are two things that bother me about B: the title on the diagonal and the birdy. I'm not an expert, but I don't know of many brands with a diagonal logo - having it horizontal just makes it easier to read!
As for the birdy, I know it's popular, but I'm not sure how it relates to "send me the scoop" unless you add something like "Peep inside the free guide" or something that relates the action to the bird.
Both look great, but I read your site from inside Bloglines! Keep it up!
I vote version A! I like the girliness of the flourish up at the top. However, I also really like the bird motif on B, as well as the font for the horizontal menu up top and the font for the vertical menu on the right. I would agree with the other posters that the black horizontal bars are too distracting and bold for such a fun, fresh, funky site. Hope that helps!
i also vote version A.
My suggestions for improvements upon it would be to remove the links to the right, adding them into the menus at the top. It seems to me they are given center stage instead of your content! Maybe a 6th button on the bar, possibly even a written in a different font to set it apart slightly. Maybe call it blog therapy, or link therapy...(maybe not, its kinda dorky) it took a min to figure out exactly what they are. I also think the flourish should be a little larger lending more weight to your "brand", also with the "therapy" menus moved to the menu bar, the blog will have a little more space and not feel so squeezed in. I definately think you are on the right track!
I LOVE version A -- I think it really fits the personality of Style Me Pretty -- especially with the swirl design in the upper left corner. I love how it is simple & clean, like your current layout, which I like as well. But if you want a change, version A is the way to go. Version B is not as freindly and open looking as version A. Version A is very welcoming.
Version A is similar to my business cards, so I am definitely biased toward that one!
I am parroting most of what has already been said, I like Version A too. But there are lovely elements in Version B, particularly the font, which could be used in Version A. I also love the bird and to respectfully disagree with another reader, do not think it looks like a crow. Its legs could be shortened just a bit to look more sparrow-like. Maybe "send me a chirp" would sound less harsh than "send me a screech" but do you send chirps? Does it matter?
I am a big fan of the blue/brown motif in Version A since that seems to be a common theme in a lot of your inspirations boards. Finally, I might put a teeny tiny bit more space between each of the inspiration boards, just to set each individual board off a little bit more.
Oh, this is so much more fun than prepping for a hearing that starts in an hour.
Thanks for this site. It had become my absolute favorite blog and the first thing I check in the morning.
I love your current color scheme, so I vote for version A. The pink and black just doesn't seem "pretty" enough for your site!
I vote for Version A. Version B is also cute (adore the bird) but the eyes are immediately drawn to the black stripes, taking away from the content of your blog. Version A flows very well and the text is easier to read. HTH!
both are great designs. i like the header from A and the rest from B - especially the larger images. Nice, clean design like Calvin Klein, Zen. Who designed them? I'm ISO a good design for my Wordpress blog.
Wow - surprised to see I am so in the minority here. Version A is lovely but a little ho-hum. It looks too similar to other pages and stationery design I've seen. But B has a pop to it, and a little bit of an edge. I immediately got that the bird was like a carrier pigeon, winging the guide to the reader. and the black lines will help focus your eyes on the text, while still reemphasizing and branding your blogname. And I really like the tag line, which you could change around, ala dooce, if you wanted.
But I think this is harder to look at without knowing what color/size/font the main text of the blog will be.
Also, given that it is your brand, I'd be careful with that font. I love the look of it, but I might slightly tweak it to make the P more P-shaped.
Happy Birthday Abby. Any design you choose for Style Me Pretty will be beautiful :)
Version A hands down! Can you integrate the little bird into Version A - then it would be perfection!
Version A!
Wow. I am totally going against the grain here. I love version B! For these reasons:
-The colors are brighter, the black and pink show up much better on a monitor than the soft pastels in the first one.
-It looks fresh and up to date, especially with that darling little bird.
-It is clean. Font is easy to read, lines are clean. Love those little ribbon banners across the corners.
-All in all this one is just much more visually stunning. (The first one is just so much more expected and typical of the wedding industry.)
hi abby,
first and foremost, thank you for all you contribute on a daily basis! it is truly appreciated! i love option a. and it just seems so "you" :) looking forward to many more sweet abby postings.
Definitely version A. It's much cleaner and let the beauty of the photos shine through. Version B is too cluttered in my opinion and the diagonal lines are distracting.
i vote for version 'A'. I surf on the DL when i'm supposed to be working (YIKES! Don't tell my boss but i'm obsessed!) so version 'A' works better for me since it is easier to read and the more elegant design looks like what I'm supposed to be working on anyway! :) i love your blog, i read it everyday...i hope i don't get fired!
Love A.
A...simple, clean and beautiful.
definitely A! I love your site - thanks for keeping me inspired!
Well I have to say version A for me as well. I think A does a good job of seamlessly blending together the girly aspect of style me pretty, along with a clean modern feel. The swirls and the colors soften the page up, while the more blocky font choice keep it from being at all overly sweet.
A seems to be more of a growth out of your overall design style. It reminds me of your invites (good thing).
Version A. Dislike the birds and black banner on Version B.
I think before we can judge which design suits you best, we should consider how you're positioning/branding the site. Branding first, then design. Essentially you should answer the following: who am I? what do I do? why does it matter?. From those answers, you'll get a better idea of where you fit in the whole bridal landscape--you have to differentiate. I'd say, with a name like "Style Me Pretty" you're taking a feminine/preppy/luxury stance--if that were the case, then the first design works. The second one has an "edge" that I don't thin suits you.
A without any doubt. Simple and elegant.
i like look of version b, but i think it would look better w/ the colors from version b. maybe you can also include a search or subcatergories (on the side) so ppl can look @ inspiration boards based on color and style.
Definitely A, I don't like the black in B at all. One of the things I love about the current website is the simple design, but I think A would definitely update it
Definitely A - it's so simple and elegant!
Abby,
My vote is for Version A. There are elements of 'B' that are nice (I'll get to those later), however 'A' is going to appeal to a greater crowd. It's elegant, but not stuffy. It's like a beautiful letterpressed invitation, and who can deny that?!
The 'Therapy' section (I'm talking 'A' here) is a bit distracting. As much as you like to give kudos to like-minded friends that's not why you are here. Your blog is YOUR blog, keep it that way. When the sites are LEFT JUSTIFIED (as in 'B'), they seem less distracting. I also like how you used the lower case script as headers in 'B' as well. I would do that in 'A'.
The Inspiration Board, is also a bit distracting as well. It feels heavy, and sharp in comparison to the rest of the site. Maybe subtract some of the picture squares with blocks of color. Or round the edges of the squares. Maybe it needs a flourishy border? Not sure, but it needs a little work. It's a little out of place now.
Really a great start. I'd love to chat more about this. Keep it clean and simple, and your blogging will speak for itself.
best,
Allison
p.s. Birds are WAY over-done. I'd leave the icons out, even if they are cute.
p.s. Birds are WAY over-done. I'd leave the icons out, even if they are cute.
TOTALLY loving the ALPHA version. It just rules..don't all ALPHA's! :-) The BETA version is - as another put it- distracting and to me a bit more "older" looking. I think I was 4 when BETA was replaced by VCR and video. Oops, I digress. Anyhoo, you have a great eye for what looks good. I say go with your first instinct (that was A, right?) I'll keeping reading your blog daily anyway. This one rocks!
So sorry, I meant to say RIGHT JUSTIFIED!
VERSION A
Version A. The "therapies" font is much easier to read in Version A. The black bars of Version B are too harsh. I think your website is beautiful and I'm so glad I found it. You're quite inspiring. Thank you for your work.
Version A for me
Version A is better - softer, more inviting.
Version A -- just more the style I appeal to.
I definitely prefer version A -- the flourishes complement the style of your site so well, and the fonts are clean and stylish.
I also love love love the idea of always having inspiration boards on the left-hand side of the page. Those are my favorite posts -- just seeing some of the gorgeous photos that you find online is...well, inspiring!
Oh, wow, version A for sure! Your blog is all about finding the perfect way to express your individuality through the smallest detail of your wedding event. Not that I know you very well, but Version A seems a lot more "abbey" to me.
The black heavy bands across the two corners of version B are much to heavy and dominating for the sparse center of your page. My eye was drawn away from the page content and only registered the heaviness of the bands. It detracts from the content.
I prefer the blue in version A to the pink in version B. It's important to remember that there are many women out there, like me, who are worried about making their weddings too feminine, and silencing the groom's voice. An all-pink page is an immdeiate turn off. I am more drawn to sites that help me remember that I am only 1/2 of the equation.
Version A - - - "Less is MORE"!
i choose A. hands down.
the best way i can describe the feeling i get when i come to your site each day is that it's like this little sweet refreshment, calming, soothing, easy on the eyes. so i like the top one because it seems to be in the flow of what you do. the black ribbon seems to harsh and although i am all for adding a bird accent the black bird seems a bit menacing.
i say keep your site in the same direction it is now, beautiful, soft and refreshing.
Thank you for all your information on this site. I'm the mother of the bride, so it's interesting to read all the comments on the pages.
I really like the design style of A best. The lettering style for the main topics of A is easier to read than B. You've left plenty of room for topics in the center of the page.
The soft blues and browns are calming and not quite as harsh as the heavy black bands.
Whatever you choose, I'm sure we'll all enjoy it.
Version A has my vote. The call for scoops on version B is a good idea.
Hi Abby -
I like version A the best - LOVE the header design in that one - and the overall simplicity. But I do also love the side navigation on version B - with the scripty font as the title for each section. Maybe you could try a marriage of the 2 - version A header with version B side nav...but the way you have the side nav of A now totally works too. I just love that header so much :) Nice work!
Version A's "style me pretty" at the top of the page with the swirls are definately PRETTY!
Version A feels light and airy and thats the feeling I have when I have my "feeling pretty" days.
Light Happy Airy Fun Stylish - Thats what Version A is saying to me
I think the inspirational board (font) of photos on Version A could benefit being a tad bigger.
I think Version B's font would be better suited on Version A
As a designer I'm putting my vote in for version B. It is hands down more elegant and the color combination is magnifique. It reminds me of the success of Tiffany's packaging. Version A bores me and just speaks to typical girly mushiness. blech!
I think you can do feminine with intelligence. If you are worried that the color combo is too harsh try a baby blue and chocolate brown. And if you are worried about overdone birds change it out for a different icon perhaps rotating icons with flowers that are in season for that month.
Good Luck
My vote is version A. It is simplistic but very elegant and very precious. It all in the details ^_^
Version A. It's simple and elegant, and also going to be the most timeless-looking of your choices. As a designer, I can tell you that you will also want something that's user friendly as well as something that reflects your personality. Version A fits that bill the most accurately on all counts!
VERSION A without question!