Professional-looking design/layout

[yilduz]

I've been told many times that my layout and site does not look professional, so before I redo it, I'd like to ask. What makes a site look more professional? I want to make sure I do it right this time.

edit: 500th post!

 

[nasaboy007]

In most people's minds, a "professional" design is relatively straightforward. What do you imagine when you think of a businessman? Probably a cleanshaven, wellgroomed man in a nice white dress shirt, dark colored jacket/blazer, and dark slacks, with polished shoes, right? Well, even if your image may differ, it surely isn't a homeless man wearing a hawaiian shirt and bright blue and green swimming trunks, is it?

Just like that, when people say "professional", they want to see a color scheme that's usually mono or dichromatic (1 color w/ variations of the shade or 2 distinct colors + variations). They also want everything neatly layed out and they shouldn't have to go hunting for links to other pages. Many hosting sites, for example, have flash banner headers, but these too must be professional. They do not have giant pink scrolling text with glitter and stars floating around... it simply has a picture of a server or a technician slowly transitioning between other images.

Just think of it this way: you are asked to present your website to... Donald Trump (or insert some other rich businessman). Would you show him something crisp, clean, and "professional" or something flashy, colorful, and abstract?

Hopefully that somewhat cleared it up, but the concept in general is hard to convey with words.

 

[yilduz]

That makes sense. That's a good way to put it.

What about layout, though? I've been told my designs are unprofessional, but I've also been told just the way they're laid out looks unprofessional. How do you make that portion professional-looking?

 

[nasaboy007]

Having an unprofessional layout may include something such as too many graphics, too many animated images, or just too many advertisements, etc. It's much more difficult to explain without having an example. Do you have an example?

 

[yilduz]

Yilduz.net

I've finished all the coding I want to use and now I'm working on creating a new layout and design. I'm working on figuring out what's best before I start the design.

 

[nasaboy007]

Well, the whole 3-column layout like that seems more like a blog or something. Most prof layouts are 2 columns, left being navigation and main content on right.