A few things. (1) The most valuable real estate is the top of screenplay of the page since it might be the only one people read (in transit to go to the menus), so it need to make a statement or be useful. As such, the circle takes up way too much room and gives little information or a feel for what Monero is. Also, the “[Insert Crypto] Means Money” slogan is a bit of a cliche and is claimed to apply to many crypto. If you want to keep the slogan, at least make it more Monero specific like “Monero Means Private Freedom Money” or “Monero is mind your own business money”.

(2) I’ll agree about the criticism of the black background. While it is true that some people complain about a white background burning their eyes, the “burning” problem would more likely apply to white text since it makes the text blurrier…especially if the text is smaller. The point of text is to be read. White text is “hole” in the background. It’s easier to read text rather than a hole where the text is supposed to be. For my text editor, I tend to use off-white (so it’s not bright) and dark gray text. IMO, using a graytone background of any colour plus and off-black text is the best best compromise, but if you want to have a dark theme in addition to the white theme, please make the text bigger and bolder and off white so it’s easy to read. Firo.org (which I don’t like the design of) has an example of the dark theme with bolder/slightly off white smaller bolder text and a white theme for subsequent pages with a gray tone rose background and dark gray text (although it should be a bit darker gray).

(3) I assume this is for https://www.getmonero.org/. IMO, a good replacement should be easy to read the first time and be a good resource that you to return to and want to return to again and again. Here’s how I evaluate some of the competitors: (short version, I think that firo, bitcoin cash, and the current monero web site all have good ideas that would help the new design once you eliminate the problems in each).

https://www.getmonero.org/

• Cons: It’s childish and doesn’t onboard new users well.
• Pros: It prominently promotes community and merchants along side exchanges.

https://imgur.com/a/monero-redesign-homepage-d1-PcoYHcs

• Cons: It’s harder to read and makes it look like just another exchange payment token and not a community driven project. It also makes “Get coins” look like the only way to get Monero is through exchanges (which is not) and the only way to use Monero is to send it to someone else (which it isn’t).
• Pros: It attempt to onboard Monero users and looks professional.

https://firo.org/

• Cons: The front “slide” takes up way to much space. While it is good for first time visitors, repeat visitors will get annoyed skipping to the content they want. The subsequent slides are also way too spaced out sit it is harder to find what you need.
• Pros: Clean design that is relatively easy and pleasant to read. Making the first section different looks nice.

https://bitcoincash.org/

• Cons: It puts too much content directly on the front page. If it wanted to have this, it should make it list 4 to 8 popular choices along with a “see more” bar which presents all the choices. There is very little mention of the community. There are too many FAQ questions. If they have to be on the front page, at least make them progressive disclosing (i.e. click to see the answer to each question).
• Pros: A very clean and design with some use of an off white background and gray text. Once progressive disclosing is put in place and community is added, it can be a very good website.

https://z.cash/

• Cons: Looks both plain, uninteresting, and not useful.
• Pros: Nothing significant

https://litecoin.org/

• Cons: Looks both plain, uninteresting, and is not made for people who have trouble with contrast. The top page takes up way too much space for little value.
• Pros: It gives the basic information that’s needed and mentions a community.

https://zano.org/

• Cons: Way too complicated, unpleasant to navigate, and hard to find what you need.
• Pros: It has a lot of information…it just needs to be organised and presented much better and the community should be emphasised more.