Alright, so I was reading about re-branding and crap and it occurred to me that, for better or worse, I don't really have a 'brand.' I'm just me.

Through complicated happenstance, my web presence was created as markclarkson.com years and years ago. Etc.

So I've decided to go with it. If I only have a name, then that is my brand. It's one I've worked under for two decades and I stand behind that work.

I'm thinking of something like this:

Any thoughts, comments, or critiques on font choice and kerning?

idea is right......but your name should be bigger than "My Name..."

be loud and be proud

Good point. Thanks.

I'd ditch the "my name is my brand" text completely. It sounds a bit cowboy to me. Also, imho the language needs work - get rid of exploit and pretty.

If you're looking to create a brand (rather than a logo), the first thing you need to do is to determine what the brand core values are - ie. what the brand represents. Once you've worked out your core brand values, you establish the brand proposition and then create material (incuding a strap line etc.) to support that proposition. I'm not getting any of that from this layout. You're basically saying to me...I've got a name and I can do stuff.

All of the disciplines get equal space. If you are a better retoucher or 3d guy, then I'd be selling that strongly, with just a nod to the skills that you aren't strong in.

I question your use of mixed fonts.

ah! white text on black background! How am I supposed to read what those sections are!

I'll post useful feedback later. I just wanted to get that out of my system.

Thank you. It was like waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Better? Worse?

Overall - I like this better. Especially the name banner..

Nits... I would drop the 100% statement... to me anyway, it smacks of used car salesmen.

Also, not a big fan of whatever slab serif typeface you're use.

The indent on such small sentence/paragraphs looks odd.. I'd just left justify and be done with it.

7 books on what? Detective stories? How to guides for Shiatsu massage? I would specify.

Your sig looks like an FPO low res composite?

Last one - promise - what's with the computer? is that a rendering you did? Or just a generic graphic indicating you do computer graphics? Unclear to me. If it's rendering you might put in a small caption... or I could just be over thinking it.

I like the spatial relationships of the elements but you could tweak it just a little to look a lot better.

Necessary - Paragraph indents are a bad idea laout-wise & I'd move up your "statement" so it centers vertically between the mouse and your name/header, but leave the signature where it is.

Ditch the rounded corners on the bottom row, and extend the black bar all the way across like the header. Get rid of the fade soft bevel thing, or make it a lot thinner, at the very least not touching the text.

Optional - Make the bottom black bar dark grey.

Lookin' good, mon ami.

I've made some changes per suggestions here. (Thanks!)

Added a caption to the render. (still twiddling with that.) Re-arranged the text. Specified the books. Bolded up the sig. A few other odds and ends.

I tried the solid bar at the bottom, but I like the 'tabbed' version better. :shrug:

Right direction? Wrong direction?

I think #2 is better, but it's your website.

That's right. And don't you forget it!!!

A slightly different take.

//edit: And another:

Here are a few of my remarks:

• Design isn't bad but it's missing something
• Design looks a bit "old school" and depressing this way
• You can do real cool stuff with photoshop and 3D but i always miss that in your website. Show what you can. I already told you last time. Make a little 3D MC in different posses and use that on your website. it will show what you can.
• Don't show pictures of yourself on the website, isn't pro in my opinion. I don't care how you look like, i just want to buy some stuff from you.
• That 7 books thing isn't important enough to place on the first page, mention it somewhere else on the website.
• Show off what you do best and leave the rest behind.
• Loose the ugly font

Here is a little modification of your first design ( which i like best) to look a bit more up to date:

Sorry about being harsch but i hate it when people with talent don't show it correctly.

And think about the little 3D Mark Clason character, you CAN do this and it is pro and funny at the same time. And since your name is your brand it should fit just fine.

Hmmmm...

Thanks for all of that. I'll noodle around a little more.

Which font is it that everyone hates? The Mark Clarkson font, or the other?

The other awful slab serif.

FWIW I kind of like Germinals treatment of the 20+ years exp.

So you think I should go with the Latin, then?

So we all hate the Serifa. Do we prefer the Tekton?

Originally posted by: mclarkson So we all hate the Serifa. Do we prefer the Tekton?

Nah, try Century gothic or Gotham

I don't wanna use two sans serifs ...

then use one. Maybe a typeface that has a full set of condensed and regular, plus thin/heavy versions?

To the extent that I understand that question, I think that limits me to Helvetica.

Hey! How about Helvetica?

There are several good ones that fit the bill.. but it's hard to go wrong with a classic.

I'm digging on Chalet alot right now too.