Made a few changes

[SidekickWD]

Hi again. So I made a few changes to my site, and am ready to hear what you all have to say about it. The only thing I ask is to please have constructive comments.

The last spot I asked to take a look at my site seemed to thrive on how mean they could be without actually helping me learn anything. One of my favorite things about this site is that you all truly seem to want beginner designers to learn.

So hear it is.... My Site.

And is it normal to still be learning so much and doing biz as a designer at the same time? It feels so strange to me. Good, but strange.

[zumojuice]

The day you stop learning design is the day you retire...

Anyway, on to the site...

I'd say it really have come on a lot, but there are a number of issues to address which could just make it better:

Top Bar: Your top bar is perhaps a bit too present for me. You've correctly made your name stand out but I feel this is a little too big as a logo. I'd drop it down and make it still stand out, but not so much in your face...and make that gradient a little more subtle too.

Navigation: I'll be honest. I nearly missed that there was any. By placing it under your logo, it visually looks like a strapline. Give your navigation the space it deserves and your users will be able to surf happily. A lot of web design is about how users will interact with it, so the more you can do to help them, they more they'll come back and use you for business.

Logo: The little man is a nice visual element. If he could be the same technique as the 's' then it would fit together better. The S and the little man clash in style to me.

There may be other bits that need tweeking once you've looked at these. You've made some positive moves, so keep trying...

[SidekickWD]

Zumo, thank you so much for your input. The navigation thing, you were so right! I dropped it down a bit and added a few more links to help users define it as a nav.

And yah...the whole thing was pretty friggen big. And thanks to your suggestion I discovered a new thechnique I had no idea how to do before, which led to changing the whole logo and the little blue people.

Thanks Zumo, still tweaking here and there, but I like the direction it's going.

[zumojuice]

That 's' is much better. I'd still bring the navigation down a bit more, maybe into the blue bar? Try it and just see what works and remains clear to you...

[blueocto]

A little nitpick, but, I would widen the area that you have your main text
"In today's market, having a well designed web site is so important!....."

To get rid of those widows (one word on one line). It just makes it more pelasing to the eye.

[SidekickWD]

That's not nit picky at all really. I tried it and it does layout much better. Not so squished. Thanks!

[mikefortuna]

love the guy as a visual element. really adds interest for users to interact visually.

Top: Try messing around with the "Sidekick" text at the top, you may be able to get it to look a little less beveled/embossed. (that's just my opinion)

Right Navigation: I love the idea of the side navigation, however in order to separate it from the rest of the page, it needs a bit of a visual element to make it stand out just a bit more, since it is to attract your clients. Maybe something along the lines of image rollover? Or just adding to the design of the table? Whatever that element may be, it'll boost your site big time. (and maybe even sales, although i'm a graphic designer, not a marketer..)

PS: check your image bg results in IE as well, they seem to come out off-white.

[jeffross]

Looking good! My only comment about the main navigation at the top is to try it centered. Seems like everything else on the page is aligned to the center, and the nav bar seems to be aligned left. I'm thinking if it is centered, it might feel a little bit more cohesive overall.