Site confusion....

[flashwiz]

I have a question for all as its something that i cant make my mind up on, but its starting to bug me a little of late and was raised again by one of the users on here...

What seems to be happening is that people will either like my work or come to my site to have a look around... but they are NOT realizing that www.scandinaviandesigns.co.uk is actually me! They all think its the company i work for and therefore the companies work rather than mine. If i get the chance to tell them its ALL my work they are shocked... often getting me the work, HOWEVER im thinking about all the potential work i could be losing out on with the confusion...

so my question is..... the name, do i need to change it to something else to make it more personal.... Coultdesigns, Coult45.com and so on..... (thanks to Toon for the latter) or do i just make it MORE obvious that its all my work....

Personally i thought it states clearly in the opening paragraph that its MY site, but this doesnt seem to be the case.... so its got me thinking about the name...

Thanks Maya for raising this to my attention.... been thinking about it ever since your message...

thanks in advance

[Toon]

I don't see a problem like you say it does state it's your site, you could...

Scandinaviandesigns is the home of freelance designer Brian Coult specialising in website design, web development, new media design and development based in York, North Yorkshire, UK. As a freelance designer, i specialise in designing and building award winning, usable, accessible, standards based web sites. What i lack in size, i more than make up for in creative talent and drive.

I don't see it as an issue, the Coult 45 which was just a little gag reminds me of the nightmare that was Colt Suppliments....

http://www.logosauce.com/competitions/28

I like it as it is unless you're planning a full over haul (which would be a lot of fun for us all to help with) I'd leave it. My thoughts on the issue.

[flashwiz]

Well im doing a complete overhaul of the site and the logo and everything so yes.... thats why i thought i would ask now... before i start... :-)

A part of me is liking the idea of something new, next stage, new logo, cards, letterhead etc etc....

[Kelly Creative]

My first impression of it as a name says 'we design for people in Scandinavia'

I don't mean it in a nasty way but when you put a place name in a title it makes it very localised if that makes sence..

Whereas a name that says 'great design for all' seems a little more inviting.

[flashwiz]

But would you have your own name contained in the name or not...

[Kelly Creative]

No unless my name was really unique and said something about design. (PS my daddy's name is not Mr George Creative!)

[flashwiz]

But that is going to give me the same problem then... its not the name thats the problem.... its the fact that with a name (that doesnt contain your own name) people dont realise the site is all about you and you alone... people keep thinking i WORK for Scandinaviandesigns....

which in effect i do... as i own the company, but i need people to know that the work and the site etc is all my work... therefore briancoultdesigns.com or similar would obviously help portray this.. yet KEEP the company appeal which some clients really do look for...

[James Jones]

briancoultdesigns sounds good to me

[Toon]

With out taking this too literally it doesn't have to be your name for it to desscribe a one man team.

If you get what I mean something like...

sole-designer.com
solitary-designer.com
one-vision.com
designwithme.com

Not serious examples but if you brainstormed it or even brianstormed it (ha ha) you may be able to come up with something along those lines.

There's been the passing trends of the 'work with.....' and '.....loves you' amongst designers lately I wouldn't advise following but again they are used as ways to include a name but have a bit of style.

'Work with Brian' or 'Brian Loves You' do not work for me. But I hope you get what I'm driving at.

[flashwiz]

Yes mate totally... and i think its the way im going to have to go to be honest.... Scandinaviandesigns for a number of reasons is just not working anymore.... too bloody long too... amount of people that spell it wrong when emailing me...

brainstorm hat on i think..... :-) although simple is often best too....

for example Mark Boulton... just gone to MarkBoultonDesign which i like to be honest.... thing is people know me.... so perhaps BrianCoultDesigns would work best.... but the jury is out...