For a while I have been aware of the ‘plain’ nature of this website. At the moment it is simply a container for the cartoons that I post on it. This is something I would like to change, as I think it is possible to create something more visually appealing.
I call upon the readers of this website to approach me with any offers of help that they may be able to provide. I’d be keen to work with someone with the relevant web design skills to get the redesign onto the web. I’m very open to ideas – from a new WordPress theme, to something more sophisticated. My hope is for a clean, fast-loading, functional website without too many bells and whistles, with a certain graphical charm.
Email me your ideas and state your terms. I’ll delete this post once work is underway on the redesign.
Comments (21)
the simple nature of your site is part of why i like it. what’s wrong with the current design?
I would still like to keep it simple, but maybe incorporate some of my art into the layout.
Also, I would be interested in allowing the cartoons to be viewable within the main structure of the website, rather than having to link to a HTML file which I manually create for each cartoon. Unfortunately I haven’t come across a WordPress theme that supports images as wide as my cartoons, so I have to put them on those separate pages. That is annoying for readers who may have wanted to quicky comment on cartoons, or jump to other relevant cartoons using tags.
I love your web site. Tough I wish you posted more frequently.
Don’t succumb to the ‘fancy web site’ syndrome. Keep it simple.
I like it the way it is… simple and to the point, like your cartoons.
Your work would be a great section on the SWFL Green Directory. How may pixels wide would you like your art / cartoons to be? It is a Drupal site that is highly customizable (by me). Think feature section in a local newspaper. Contact me through http://www.swflgreen.org if that sounds interesting.
I wonder what program photographers use for their slideshows. Have seen some good ones out there.
I concur with the others – your site is easy to navigate and view from the visitor’s perspective.
Hi Stuart,
Im a big fan of your comics and I’m also a web developer so I might be able to help.
Send an email to christopherjnewton {at} gmail {dot} com If you want to have a chat about some options.
Hi Stuart,
I agree that the simple and very clean site you now have is appealing – I don’t think it needs ‘fixing’ at all.
That said, if you’re wanting to try something different maybe taking up some tech offers posted here to animate your cartoons in much the same manner as a slideshow with soft cross-fade transitions – would need to relate to content/reading speed. A loop until click operation would allow the ‘toon to repeat until the viewer decides they’ve seen enough?
Hey, Stuart!
Here is what your website is FULL of; I found the words on your “Bands I Like” cartoon:
CHARMING IMPERFECTIONS.
Don’t change anything! It’s clean, simple and charming, and has the Zen of Clarity. The world needs that today! Thanks for a cool site.
Hi Stuart,
I am a web designer and a recent fan of your comics. Please check out my website and let me know if you believe that my style will be compatible with your vision.
Here’s a link:
http://tianheyang.com/
Keep up the good work!
Tread wisely. Your style is wonderful and needs a simple canvass.
Squarespace.com is the perfect platform (not wordpress) and can handle the images.
Happy to help – I am not a professional designer but I know squarespace very well and it can import this blog (probably)
Stuart, please contact me. I like your art, and I think we can help each other out (unrelated to site design.)
Love the comics and wouldn’t change the site a bit! Except maybe to give the icons for this comment form text labels as well.
Hey Stuart,
I’m by no means a programming expert, but I am a fellow comic author who just completed programming a website to hold my strips. Our styles difer quite a lot, but I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have.
I used a wordpress theme called Comicpress, which is specific for comics. It even has a Graphic Novel-mode, which might come in handy in your particular case.
Here’s how my site looks: pigeonsrule.com
If you want anything else on the site, like articles, I’d be happy to contribute.
Hi Stuart. I just discovered your incredible art. I have been looking for someone to create a visual representation of a song I’ve recorded about global warming. I hope you might take a moment to check it out. You can hear it at my website, http://www.deborahlevoy.com and on my FB (deborahlevoy) (see Band Tab). The song is called After the End.
Deborah,
While I (almost) always celebrate artistic expression and welcome anything that will add to and build upon the body of music that humanity has been crafting for millennia, I just listened to your catalog of music and fail to see how your current direction could possibly be beneficial to the total sum of art that humanity will be defined by. I would suggest a creative writing class (or three) or possibly a more genuine and interesting subject matter.
“My hope is for a clean, fast-loading, functional website without too many bells and whistles, with a certain graphical charm.”
You already have what you wished for.
i agree with dennis’ comment before me, what i suggest you do is upgrade this WP theme instead of starting from scratch.
Love the work, btw.
Stuart,
Some minimalistic themes to consider:
1. http://jimbarraud.com/manifest/
2. http://www.wpshoppe.com/2009/06/17/cleanr/
3. http://www.themelab.com/2008/03/06/free-release-20-clean-minimal/
If all else fails, you can modify the Simplr theme with some knowledge of CSS.
I love it the way it is. It is perfect.
As so many have said above, what a silly idea to try to “improve” a design which suits your work perfectly. But this is well demonstrated by the ones that have suggested you copy them. What utter, irrelevant distracting rubbish web designers dream up in their attempt to gild the lily. KISS, as they say. You could, however, add labels to say what your comment slots demand!