Help with my website's design

[Sunshine81]

Hi,I'm developing this website for a friend, it's for her journalism/PR. So it needs to look pretty professional. However what i've come up with so far looks like a children's book! I could really do with some pointers to help steer it in the right direction.This is the website:http://www.flatballphoto.co.uk/buzz-word/Here are a couple of variations on the theme i've come up with.http://www.flatballphoto.co.uk/buzz-word/template_v5-(3).jpghttp://www.flatballphoto.co.uk/buzz-word/template_v5-(5).jpgShe really likes the bee logo, the calm tranquil feel and the layout. However we need to work out how to make it look like a PR company and not a kids book!Any ideas/input would be welcome!

[cpugeek]

I think it looks pretty nice.what does she think?note: the links to the pictures are broken.

[Synook]

I think it is quite good, and I can see all the pictures :)Perhaps a symmetrical rollover effect for the links at the top would be nice, instead of the current bullet to the left.

[ste]

I think you are going overboard with the cute cartoon imagery for a journalist/pr site.instead of all these different things like the bee, the wraped text, the grass and sky. do up a clean business looking theme and include just one of those things, perhaps the bee. that on top of a neat business theme will be enough. look at a site like this: http://www.oaktreecreative.com/ there are a few cartoony elements but over all the design is businessy and professional looking. its a balanced juxtaposition of the two. if you go to any of the css website showcase sites you will find tons more examples like that.

[Kingy]

Very nice indeed but I'd personally use a different typeface.

[Sunshine81]

Thanks for the input, it really helped.I'm going to try a couple of different routes for the site and see if my friend likes them.oaktreecreative.com is a particularly good design. It's provided a lot of inspiration.

[Andrew K.]

I suggest you lose the rounded edges and make the type smaller to start.

[Sunshine81]

Yeah, that rounded edge is not something i'm a fan of but it featured in an early design she liked so it stuck around.Here are a couple of new designs i've come up with.http://www.flatballphoto.co.uk/buzz-word/i...late_v6-(1).jpghttp://www.flatballphoto.co.uk/buzz-word/i...late_v7-(1).jpgWhat do you think? Improvement?

[Kingy]

I think they both look really good to be honest.

[smartalco]

Yeah, that rounded edge is not something i'm a fan of but it featured in an early design she liked so it stuck around.Here are a couple of new designs i've come up with.http://www.flatballphoto.co.uk/buzz-word/i...late_v6-(1).jpghttp://www.flatballphoto.co.uk/buzz-word/i...late_v7-(1).jpgWhat do you think? Improvement?

first of those is better me thinks

[Skemcin]

I think I prefer the second of the last two:http://www.flatballphoto.co.uk/buzz-word/i...late_v7-(1).jpgA little big on the typeface but otherwise I like it.