After a few weeks of tweaking this site, I’ve (mostly) finished a new layout for JimMacLeod.com.

The idea behind the last version of the site was to create a portfolio site that would be easy to update. Many of my recent projects have been big, so I haven’t been able to add a lot of content to the portfolio section. So, to make up for that, I have worked to add design tips that I use or have recently learned. But, as this site was becoming more text-focused, I was losing the portfolio aspect. Switching to this new theme will help to showcase the portfolio pieces, as well as general design information.

Originally I spent a lot of time on a flash animation that would be the header of the home page of the “red and white” website, but it ended up being too small and I was going to have to start over. A better solution was to re-evaluate my theme and see if I could make this site more reflective of where I currently am as a graphic and web designer.

This new layout is based on the Infinity theme by yichi. I found it via the Smashing Magazine website. This site also incorporates a couple of icons that I picked up from ThinkDesign. I have spent a lot of time reading and studying other design blogs and it really opened my eyes to all of the opportunities that are available with web design. I recommend the sites listed above, plus the sites that are listed to the right. (Of course, when I change this theme in the future, those links might not be there, so you’ll have to look around.)

This is actually the fifth layout that I’ve used for my personal website. As usual, this site is my testing ground for learning new web techniques, so you if you didn’t see the first few iterations of this site, consider yourself lucky.  As for the design, I wanted to keep the majority of the elements from my previous website (logo & red background color) because I recently printed up some new business cards.  No sense in breaking brand standards and having to incur new printing costs. 

There are still a few minor things that I will update, but now I can get back to focusing on creating posts for new pieces that have recently been unveiled. The X-Men 150 project will soon have an update, and I will give everyone a breakdown on the Lowell Spinners logo redesign, as well as the re-launch of Envision Radio Networks’ website.

If you see anything that you would recommend that I change or fix, let me know. I’m always looking to improve.  And please, feel free to subscribe to this feed and/or follow me on Twitter.