Long story short - make new blog for client. Client likes. Client wants other blog re-designed to match first blog.

But then, I outsmart myself. Blog is about kids 10-13 years old. I convince the client that we should have a real graffiti artist do the header art. Client likes the header art.

But it does not fit with the clean, simple design that the site has, viz:

Any ideas what I can do to better integrate the graffiti into the rest of the blog? Backgrounds? Color changes? Re-draw the logo?

Any help appreciated very much!

Jesus Fucking Christ

Listen, I don't mean to be a bitch but that's all just way too clashy clashy. Too many colours and soforth. Also that writing is so toy it's embarassing. My writing is still shit but even my stab at wildstyle is more convincing, I think, so here's a freeby for you since I'm pretty sure you don't do graf style.

slight variation:

I'd play with colours and fill some but I need to go to bed.

vector pdf version here and here

Though now that I think about it, graf is probably way too visually demanding for the rest of that layout anyhow.

There's nothing with the layout grid of the elements, but the logo is too busy and the drawn blocks too confining. I think if you roughen up the the graphics so that the thumbnails is skewed, and the boxes has more of a painted feel, but maintaining the layout grid it should make a big difference

Originally posted by: Napalm There's nothing with the layout grid of the elements, but the logo is too busy and the drawn blocks too confining. I think if you roughen up the the graphics so that the thumbnails is skewed, and the boxes has more of a painted feel, but maintaining the layout grid it should make a big difference

I'm ... not following you.

The layout of the text and thumbnails in a grid is good, but the regular shaped blocks around it doesn't work. Drop the white blocks around the text, and replace it with irregular shaped boxes, that doesn't necessarily sticks to the strict order of the layout grid.

Translation: The visual organization is good but make the boxes less boxy.

So I take it you didn't like my take on the logo?

But basically, Napalm's point is a good one - graf is too visually demanding for the crisp, modern look you have going. Graf would work if you messed up the boxes some.

compare the clean grid ofwww.nick.com versuswww.ytv.com 's chockablock off-kilter look. Both work. Choose your weapon.

I'll let Ari advise on logo...

I quite like CBBC's Blue Peter site.

I think the idea of the background image used to enhance, distract and in some places INVADE the content works really well and would be relatively easy for you to do.

Also, different textures as well as colours (the lined paper, bulletin board, cardboard, neon lights, post its in blue peter site for example) work really well on a kids site. Having a video or a game right on page one is a must for any kids site IMHO. It NEEDS movement, kids are fucking stupid! Blinking lights and moving text are KEY; treat them like chimps.

A simple solution to the logo issue is to blow up that logo so large in the header box that it no longer looks like a logo, just a squiggly lined background (It is indecipherable anyway). Then overlay a different logo (aka one that doesn't suck ass) over top of it... maybe in white and to the right?

That way, graffiti boy's feelingses don't get too hurt and you still get cred for coming up with the graf idea. Client isn't gonna be too happy to pay out for that logo only for you not to use it... you may be stuck with it; the least you can do is hide the "I am" and the "Z" as they are especially terrible.

I agree with Napalm but I'd go further, I don't think there should be a square corner on the entire site. You need slants and curves! A major pain in the CSS, but normal rules don't apply on kid's sites matey. (Dependent on what they're paying you of course )

Check out Lazytown, the Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon as well. Obviously, yours will be a much simpler site, but the same basic rules apply to all kids sites: Movement, Video, 3D, Colour, Curves.

One other thought, if you want to use Graf... use a photograph and crop to your box - but let it really push out the edges (a very tight crop, losing part of the letters). That will let it work with the current structure.

But get good graffiti.

I'm with rogue on that one. Cropping the images so you don't show the background, you'll be set.

Plus the graffiti you have now, is noobish. I can help you out if you like?

not believing the graf - i see mullets and airbrushed t-shirts from Panama City - not young, hip, 'urban' vibe

and if you're going to go with something as vibrant as fuchsia, get some more primaries or brights in there (small doses) to offset its dominance.

Good point

Yeah. I'm not slighting your stuff at all, Ari. Just trying to figure out how I got myself into this and how to get back out again.

I appreciate all the help!

To tell the truth I think oregondave has presented you with a very simple fix that improves things greatly... Though I'd reposition the "I AM" and "Z" so you could fill up the space more.

Yes, I am suggesting you make the logo bigger.

I would perhaps take that first bit of graf and photoshop it into a photo of a brick wall. If the character and his light blue color are gouing to be a constant element, I prefer that as a secondary color much better than switching the graf element to match the fuchsia... most importantly for me, the elements need to allow our eye to quickly connect the dots—in these cases, for me, the "I am" statement is completely lost [for me it doesn't eeven need to be in graf... simple text, "I am..." then, "Generation Z" wants to be connected somehow too—all that stands out is "GENERATION"