Best Architects web site.

It has improved immensely with USB 2.0.

I always have used SCSI kit myself, so avoiding all of that horrible USB 1.0 rubbish.

USB 1.0 is a 1997/98 technology and was badly due a good firm kick in the you know where.

Just on colours etc, I think this site has a simple approach to colour and style – it is a site maintained mainly by part timers – and has a minimum of ad banners and such.

http://www.aceshardware.com/

I.e. they do it cheap in order to keep the views expressed etc independent. However, it does have a very recogniseable front page, that you grow familiar with.

Like a soccer strip I suppose. I understand the argument about showing the photos against a neutral back ground etc, but I still think it means you lack that identity component.

Have you thought about perhaps integrating a small, but recogniseable logo, as part of your name on the site perhaps? Which could ultimately appear on letter heads too etc?

Or even just doing something with the font, which distinguishes you?

Thing is ros, you do have an identity at the moment, but unfortunately it is presenting the wrong image for you.

That of, a big institutional front page, online database of images, to do with the built environment – no matter how large, you make your name on that site – it still doesn’t make you out to be anything individually identifiable.

That is something, I think you shouldn’t shy away from – but try to cultivate somehow. Most architects in Ireland now, like the MOLAs etc do take this ‘branding concept’ very, very seriously, and after a while, you do begin to recognise the MOLA colours, font, standard image etc whenever you see it out of the corner of your eye.

That is one hell of a job, for an organisation as spread out and multi-faceted as that. Think about it.

really nice small logo/lettering design here at bottom middle:

http://www.bauton.com/home.html

This logo animation, is a bit in one’s face to say the very least, wait until the end of the flash anim.

http://www.kissel-net.de/

One I actually quite like this as an arch site formula:

http://www.grahamgund.com/

Whacky?

http://www.keleide.com/

Agreed, fast as hell too – web designers definitely knew how to optimise their code for download speeds in that case.

Pity other sites aren’t able to do likewise.

Something even more badly needed too, in alot of cases – the whole IT thing is a pretty mess at the moment in the architectural profession here in this country.