Graphic Design Help Needed

Published on June 13, 2003 By -xino In WinCustomize Talk

hey guys. I know I don't post much here but some of you may notice my name from IRC. Anyway on to the point.

I'm in charge of a complete redesign for a website and I'm stuck currently. I would like to get some feedback/suggestions on which approach I should take. Now before anyone posts I am not asking for someone to do it for me. I just need ideas because as of right now I have no clue on what to do. If someone wants to do an image to show me what you may mean, then alright. But for me this project is pro-bono. Sctrictly a portfolio piece.

The interface for the new design is here http://www34.brinkster.com/xino/voodoo/voodoo.html
The image I need to make "fit in" is here http://www34.brinkster.com/xino/voodoo/pokey.gif

Now if you take the time to look @ the interface you can tell I know some graphic design. but as far as getting a "cartoonish" image to fit into that design is beyond me. I think I may just be overthinking it. Any comments/suggestions would definately be appreciated.
Thank you for taking your time (in advance).

Also: If I use your ideas I would give credit for them (as much as I'm allowed on the main website) but when I put my official website up I would give full & a rather lengthy credit for any ideas I *may* use.

Thanks.

Comments

Koasati

on Jun 13, 2003

First link looks great, very nice interface, loads fast on a slow connection (a big plus in my book)

Second link doesn't work "HTTP1.1 STATUS 403 Remote Access to this object forbidden This file cannot be directly accessed from a remote site, but must be linked through the Brinkster Member's site. "

Hard to make any suggestion at this point..........

-xino

on Jun 13, 2003

bah!

I didn't know brinkster did that. sorry.

here's the correct link.

http://www34.brinkster.com/xino/voodoo/pokey.html

thank you for looking and thank you much for the kind words

I appreciate them alot.

-edit
I tried to edit my first post but it didn't allow me to. oops
[Message Edited]

Koasati

on Jun 13, 2003

I see your problem ........

........ I'm thinking on it.......

[Message Edited]

Styl-X Design

on Jun 14, 2003

If you want the 2e image in the 1st, open the first in photoshop and paste the second on it, cut all the 'lines'away, so you only have the pop and the needles, and then lower the transparantie to say 40 % or something. If the 'screen' of the first image contains any glass/after effect, then put that in the layer above the 2e image...

Hope it is clear what I ment...

grayhaze

on Jun 14, 2003

I think the best approach would be to take away all of the colour from the second image, and make it quite a faint monochrome overlay in the corner of the 'screen' of your interface. Perhaps add some scanlines to the screen too to mask the contrast between the two graphic styles. Just so long as the second image is reduced in contrast and recreated in shades of the same hue used for the interface, I don't think it would look out of place.

grayhaze

on Jun 14, 2003

I'm a little unclear on what that second image is by the way. Is it the logo for the site, or just an incidental graphic that you'd like to incorporate. If it's the logo, then your approach to the interface (which is very nice as an interface goes) should have been from more of a 'cartoonish' perspective.

-xino

on Jun 14, 2003

well the original creator of the graphic is actually a programmer. he created a chat program called (of course) VooDoo. the second image is basically it's mascot, Pokey. Since he was an old friend he mentioned he hated doing webdesign especially since he has no artistic talent. I volunteered my services. He wants to move away from the dark (colors mostly) and cartoonish style of the old webdesign. You can see how it is now @ voodoochat.com . I do know how to add the image to the interface, but I want to recreate the mascot. I'm not entirely sure if I can do such a thing. Sort of update him if you catch my drift to make him fit in with the new "friendlier" design. I can easily just add some effects and convert the image as it is now to the new style, but I was hoping something more "dramatic" than that.

I think I may be forced to keeping the old mascot design unfortunately.

If anyone else has any suggestion, I'm open to hear them.

And to those that answered already, Thank you so much. It seems like we're all kind of stuck and on the same wavelength as where to take it.

Aqua.

on Jun 15, 2003

I'm thinking that the logo could be made into a watermark style background layered beneath the scan lines using CSS.

grayhaze

on Jun 15, 2003

I a good way recreate the mascot in a way which would fit in with your interface would be to redo him as something that looks a little robotic, and perhaps redered in 3D if you have the skills. I don't think I've actually seen a robot voodoo doll before.

I do think a 3D render would be the most logical direction to go in if you're trying to get away from the cartoon feeling and more in the style of the interface, although the way in which you reinvented the mascot would need to be something that the original users of the site would recognise.

-xino

on Jun 15, 2003

grayhaze : funny you should say that because once I get "pokey" remade there are several variations of him I need to make and one is a robotic version

I'm not quite sure how good a 3d version of him would be from me.

thanks for all the help guys.

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