Hmm... How candid can I be David? I'm only deciding to participate in this critique because I do really like some of your industrial design work and I don't think this site does your work justice. If I thought your work was crap, I wouldn't even bother commenting. I don't like your website at all. Your work deserves better than this. I'll try to keep my comments constructive. Using Flash is fine, I have no problem with Flash. Your industrial design work has dimension, in the most literal sense. You could consider applying that to your site. The site is very flat, in all senses of the word. Perhaps you could have a look at Swift 3D by Electric Rain (exports 3D models/animations as Flash files). There is a standalone application (it can import DXF files) as well as a plug-in for 3D Max and Lightwave. This would allow you to show some of your designs in full volume if you choose. For example, I could see a split screen layout with a hero shot on one side and a rotating model on the other. That's just an idea... explore. Secondly, your typography is terrible... where to even begin. The inconsistent kerning: loose (lower right), tight (navigation), regular (bottom center), force justified ("portfolio" and "guestbook"). And that's just your navigation! You're all over the place. Changing fonts from paragraph to paragraph, and page to page, and changing color from page to page and paragraph to paragraph as well. Piece of advice: Invest in a new font. Do some research. Goto http://www.Veer.com , use their "Flont" tool and try out the words you need for navigation or your headlines in some different typefaces until you find something with some impact, then buy it. At least one good headline font. This is your book— your identity online. Spend the $200 for a unique font. That doesn't mean it has to be freaky, loud or edgy, just a font that isn't something pre-installed on every machine on the planet... or if you honestly, truly cannot afford a font of your own... continued >

...you can just stick with the Helvetica family (What do they say? ...nobody ever got fired for using Helvetica Bold). Whatever font(s) you use, establish a hierarchy- nav font/color, headline font/color, body copy font/color and stick with it throughout the site. And while we're talking about typography, let's discuss your motion graphics. Do not do what you're doing: don't slit the type in half the way it slides in front either side. Not because it breaks the rules (who cares), but because it looks bad. It's not working for you. If you want a motion graphic transition (and isn't that the reason to use Flash), then goto some sites like http://www.coolhomepages.com/ or http://www.thefwa.com/ and have a look at some award winning sites and perhaps something will inspire you, but what you're doing is just awkward. Also, the fact that your portfolio vanishes if you so much as roll off of the tiny little number is not a good thing to do. I really like your Bacardi shot glasses. They're excellent. You should consider showcasing them on your homepage. You have good 3D work. Your website does you a disservice.

Fixed the website file size, so this "should" fix problems for those who mentioned about long load times and problems with slower processors. Jeremy, I like the idea of something more on the preloader page, done deal, its on the preloader. Currently working on trying to make the martini glass a reality, keep all of ya' in the loop. If it is a success, it would be a good example to all on how this site can help increase professional networks and increase members professional performance. I'll be sure to post how it came about. But, there is still a ton of work to do on bringing that item to market.

Some of your designs are really stunning. But I almost feel as if you're burying them. Some people who go to your site may never review your portfolio, and you haven't done much to draw attention to it. I would recommend adding some of your stunning product design visuals earlier in the site experience. A pre-load image, for example, would help. And when we're brought to the site, instead of the clean, all white design, I'd consider showing off some of your design images up front would go a long way towards teasing your audience to hang around and wait for more. Your designs are quite remarkable, so let us see them sooner. And I'm not sure that the text effect you're using shows off your obvious design acumen to its full advantage. Best of luck!

looks good, but my computer is a bit sub par and the flash really put the hurt on. i see what you're going for and it's a cool effect. in the "about" page check the 2nd paragraph for a double space between "on" and "increasing" as well as between the period and "A" in the third line. also, where can i get my hands on a set of those slick martini glasses?

visual revisions have been made, you can see the direction I'm gravitating towards; let me know if in your opinion it's working yet........still working on content, it's the hard part.

I like the cutting edge overall feel. I'm on a cable modem also and it loaded quick for me--can't speak to dialup. I agree with those below about the transitions though, parts of it become readable earlier than others and I kept starting to read only to wind up with my eyes painfully crossed while the rest readjusted. "services" never actually finishes aligning for me, the word "dmd" and the monochromatic rust colored photo column stay a little off. Why the parallel number themes for both your main nav and your portfolio nav? Complicates it a bit. Your portfolio nav is a little hidden btw since it's so far to the right even on pretty high resolutions--I lost it just having my favorites window open. Consider integrating the two navs? If not maybe preview more of each project in a vertical thumbnail based format in that same column it's in now...it can still be a teaser but give us a hint whether it's by category, material or whatever and a little thumb to whet the appetite. When I say same column though I still recommend you either fix the whole at 800 pixels wide or do something else to make sure that column stays in view for everyone. I tended to want the page to change on click rather than mouseover since, as easy as it was to get back, I wound up leaving a page unintentionally about half the time.

Kewl, I like the comments; first off, thank you everyone for taking the time to evaluate the site..........with these comments in mind I am working on a revision; I feel visually it will look minimal kind've old school site but taking advantage of the smoother flash transitions (much more subtle flash presence). I should have a revised site up by the 28th. Only the visual layout, content will take a bit longer. The site should be considerably smaller in file size also (roughly 60% less). Thanks and keep the comments coming!

Agreed with everyone below. My preference, if you're going to use Flash, use it mixed in with your traditional HTML. Movement isn't bad, just when the entire thing moves its hard to read, the words don't align quick enough, and there wasn't a lot of information someone may find useful who would be checking it out. Take a time out, think of yourself as a client, and ask yourself what would you do to sell yourself the best. The integration between your copy and design is essential, as would be with any client you're selling to, so really take some time to figure out what content you can offer, a more creative approach to sending your message, and a layout that really connects with those ideas - not just flash for flash's sake.

23 seconds to load and you lost me at 48%, on cable modem. You have a business audience so be business like in your first level presentation and save the creative stuff for your portfolio section. This will get your message out fast, and give you time to tweak the creative parts. Good Luck!

I dig it. There needs to be a bit more contrast between the copy and the background, especially on the nav bar. Also it is running kind of jerky on my box (A 1.8 G5 running firefox on a T1) If you could smooth out and speed up the transitions it would help. Time to bust out the big ass action-script book.

It's hard to read ... the whole site has words partially concealed and moving around. Visually interesting, but not giving me the information I need.