Love:
- lots of pictures that load fast and are easy to browse
- easy contact/location info
- lots of info that gives a sense of who the tattoo artist is, how he likes to work, what he likes about his work, favourite pieces etc...
- links to other stuff the artist does

Hate:
-Moody Flash navigation that dictates how the site can be explored
- heavy-loading backgrounds and design elements that overshadow the info on the site
- cryptic contact info

A great list. Thank you,Jill.

I'll respond after some more. Keep 'em coming!

I think Jill provided an excellent list. I'd like to reitereate my hate of restrictive flash navigation (it's really nice to be able to use the back and forward buttons on my browser!). Also it seems the vast majority of tattoo artists' sites have poorly designed galleries. Images are frequently too small, and for some reason tatto artists seem to love either showing their images as popups or showing a slightly larger version when you rollover the thumbnail.

As far as what I love, I like hearing about what motivates a tattooist artistically. I like examples of their other work. I like links to other artists that they like / are friends with / are inspired by.

I love to see new work, in progess work, and time-lapse work which shows the process in its entirety.

I dislike small, grainy, flashed-out images of tattoos.

Easy navigation is key.

I too think that images on most sites are way too small.
Its just not interesting to look at tiny pics of mush.
I also think that it would be good to see sketches followed by stencils then a final piece in order.
It may be too much to ask for but see what you could do.
By the way. Your blog keeps me checking daily.

On a studio site, you want to see well-lit, good quality pictures of their best work. I especially like pics that show enough of the body to give you an idea of how the work is placed, as this is a big part of the effect of a tattoo.

Your blog is very interesting, hope you have time to keep it up.

Jill and Mykle summed a lot of it up for me too. I like to know what makes the artist tick. Seeing if they do other art besides tattoo art. Fine art/gallery show stuff. Like Shawn Barber's paintings, etc... let's me know that they arent just a scratcher with a tatgun and a wall fulla flash, trying to make a fast buck.

Looks good so far bro.

Without reading the other comments (hey, am in a hurry) and thus with the risk that I say things others have said -

- lots of photos
- photos in clear categories
- clear, structured menus and stuff. Don't like having to search for the 'gallery' button for five minutes.

what do I hate?
- too much Flash. Ugh.
- illegible fonts
- photos that are so small you can't even see if the tattoo's good or not
- too many images so the site loads slowly
- I don't mind galleries that open a new pop up window for the image you click on, but some scripts manage to do it so that if you don't close the first, it'll open a new one.. and a new one... and another one. I think if you work with pop ups you could easily add two arrows to browse through the photos, no?

hmmm that's it. Hope that helps any. :)

Looking good. I think it would look nice if on the ABOUT page the top pic (press/awards) didn't cut off as it does and be the whole image. (hope that makes sense) - it would give it a little more depth. The way it is now, the page is screaming to be left justified.

I REALLY like the way you have that gallery set up. It leaves the user wanting for nothing.

You are all the best. I'm still working on the site and will follow up this post with some responses to your comments.

I cannot thank you enough. Any chance to see from another point of view is invaluable.

David Allen   on October 12, 2006 1:10 PM