Website Revamp/Overhaul

[Arsalaan Nazir]

Howdy folks.

I need some creativity to flow here so lets see what i can get out of from you fellas.

So i've been given the task to revamp the website of my organization (Jinnah Institute Home)

If you head on over to the link, you will find that the website gives off a very serious and dull tone to it.

I want to make it look more appealing, perhaps adding more flavor in some way can do the trick.

Now, the thing is that i could get the whole thing redone from scratch which means that i employ a good website developer which i dont know of.

Or i get the current website changed in a way that it does not give off that kind of feel that i've mentioned.

I mean if you look at it, you'll see that most of the page is white, the text (font and font color) perhaps also needs to be changed to add some appeal to the whole thing.

So i'm open for any and all ideas from you folks no matter how stupid you think they are or how amazing they might be.

Perhaps someone might also introduce me to a developer who might be able to help me out on this, but for that i need him to be based in Islamabad.

Thank you in advance for your constructive feedback on this.

 

[Shary Bhallu TC]

Looks kinda great in its current state IMO.

But if I were to make a change, I'd lighten up the site just by a teeny bit amount I don't think that the site requires a total face lift.

 

[ajk0123]

the site already has a good and well balanced look and feel and totally conforms with the context and the domain for what the site is about...

 

[ammarzubair]

i have to say it's an institute. the theme matches perfectly with the name and category

 

[devnull]

Yeah I agree with the others that the site looks good as is. BTW what you need is a designer and a developer. A developer doesn't know how to design a website and a designer doesn't know how to code it. So you need a website designer to do the graphics work and a joomla developer to convert it into a joomla theme. Yeah there exist people who can do both but they are rarely as good as the ones who specialize in one or the other.

 

[Arsalaan Nazir]

Looks kinda great in its current state IMO.

But if I were to make a change, I'd lighten up the site just by a teeny bit amount I don't think that the site requires a total face lift.

I'm not in the mood for giving the website a total makeover, just some bits of it here and there are do need work to make it look more lively.

As i have pointed out earlier, the site is a little dull and serious. Of course the nature of our work to that matter is the same but that does not need to be portrayed here.

I mean we could do something with the pictures bit but what kind of thing we ought to be doing with that is the thing.

Perhaps if you've gone through the website, to some of the pages in it, then you will come to know of what i'm trying to point out.

i have to say it's an institute. the theme matches perfectly with the name and category

The word "Institute" here means an organization, one that is in no way even remotely related to and educational institution.

So i'd have to say no to what you've said.

Now i dont know in what context do you mean by "theme" over here, maybe its the colors or the text or the material in there, either one of these or all three or a combination of these ?

By theme, the JI's theme is Blue and White as the website already fashions this color scheme.

Changing that is not an option but playing around with the other bits and pieces where i can manipulate colors in some way is something that can be done.

 

[Arsalaan Nazir]

Yeah I agree with the others that the site looks good as is. BTW what you need is a designer and a developer. A developer doesn't know how to design a website and a designer doesn't know how to code it. So you need a website designer to do the graphics work and a joomla developer to convert it into a joomla theme. Yeah there exist people who can do both but they are rarely as good as the ones who specialize in one or the other.

Oh and yes, what i need are design recommendations for the existing layout as i've pointed out.

Fiddling with the little bits can bring in some great changes.

For instance, there's too much white space on the sides which makes it look so empty, i would have liked for that to disappear.

Maybe the website can in someway adjust to the users resolution and remove the white borders on its own, is that even doable ?

 

[ammarzubair]

The word "Institute" here means an organization, one that is in no way even remotely related to and educational institution.

So i'd have to say no to what you've said.

Now i dont know in what context do you mean by "theme" over here, maybe its the colors or the text or the material in there, either one of these or all three or a combination of these ?

By theme, the JI's theme is Blue and White as the website already fashions this color scheme.

Changing that is not an option but playing around with the other bits and pieces where i can manipulate colors in some way is something that can be done.

in my opinion it looks really elegant and looks good. changing colors would ruin it. even adding colors would spoil it i think

 

[AsadAbrar]

It looks brilliant. I really like the theme and the whole outlook.

 

[Arsalaan Nazir]

Is there no one out there who can agree with me that the website needs some changes ?

Everyone's saying that it looks good and all, or perhaps i'm not getting the message across clearly ?

 

[Zlip792]

Just these suggestions:
1. Make About section in navigation bar beside Publications. This will reduce text from Home Page, which is making it too much text extensive.
2. Bring up subscribe newsletter above latest articles.
3. Take out Disclaimer and add it in black bar with small font like all sites do but it should be readable.

 

[umar]

well the link isn't opening for me, but if so many say don't change it then don't. maybe add a jquery slider or plugin to make the site look more alive.

http://www.smashingapps.com/2012/06/29/40-fresh-jquery-plugins-and-tutorials-available-for-free.html