check out my site, tell me what you think...

[JamesOtwo]

Hi folks,

This is the first site I've built, it's a personal site plugging my artwork, it's designed to be an online portfolio...

http://www.fadetogloss.com

Let me know what you think!

James.

 

[GUJUm0deL]

JamesOtwo, Hiya...nice site...
A few comments:

1) On the main page (splash page), you need the words 'Enter' or something to that effect...you have an ALT tag over the image, but the actual text should also be there...

2) On the 'main' page, on the top you have the menu, try to fit all that one line, 'concrete', 'biography' and 'links' should go above...you cna try by making the fonts smaller

3) Under 'Canvas' you have all the links there (like current work, recent work, etc) left align them, and on the right side have the art works, it cuts back on redundant 'back' links...

4) For 'contact' you're using the mailto: tag, DON'T...if someone accessing your site from a public computer wants to email you, but can't access the email client then you might loose a potential client...instead have a page with the contact info. like: email, phone, fax, etc...or a feedback form I have not failed; I have merely found 100,000 different ways of not succeding...

 

[cian]

Hi,

Apologise if I repeat what GUJUm0deL has said:

1. On the splash page, to echo what G said, you need an enter or something. Even better would be some thing like "Click here or the image to enter site" it's short enough and fully explains what the visitor must do.

2. On your first page, i'm not crazy about the way you have only centered the top section but the rest sticks on the left. I'd keep it all centered or all on the left.

3. The top links, unless you look at the status bar it's impossible for the visitor to tell if that is one huge link or six individual links. It's always best to have a rollover os somekind. Instead of an image map who not use the image as a table background and use text links instead so you can easily have a color rollover or text-decoration.

4. Under Canvas, you need better navigation. I personally hate to have just a back button, try to provide all those canvas links on each page.

5. On Blackbook, same as above, also center that scrollable area under the main section.

6. Concrete, same as 4.

7. Contact, make this a page of its own and show your email address. I always prefer to copy and paste an email address rather than open my mail client.

8. Links, the links open in new windows! Good!


For your first site i'd say you made an excellent start! Don't be disheartened if we are too critical, it'll help you improve.


::

http://www.endamcg.com

 

[blueark]

Hi,

Very good first site! I think there are a few usability issues to be addressed, though.

Personally (and according to many usability tests, this probably applies to many web users), I don't like to be kept away from the pages I'm looking for. The main page, other than the alignment issues mentioned above, does a good job of setting the tone of the site. So why give people an extra splash screen to figure out first? It will turn many people away, especially as it's unclear what to do.

Same thing applies when you click on any of the links. Instead of seeing what I might be looking for, I see more links. Again, it's giving people unneccessary work. I would suggest dropping the second title for the page, highlighting the section you're in on the navigation bar in some way, and put introductory text and thumbnails (perhaps smaller) onto the one page. For example, when you click 'concrete', the word might change in some way (maybe a different shade), and the main content might begin with the text rather than a second title.

I would also use some sort of link to the main page in the top left corner. 'Back' isn't always obvious. For example, if I'm in 'concrete', then press 'canvas', then press 'back', why do I end up back at the main screen rather than back at concrete? People have adopted certain conventions when using the web, so it's probably best not to confuse them too much.

But besides these issues, I have to say I love your work, and the overall tone of the site reflects it very well.

hth

 

[theredqueen]

02 is a mobile phone company in the uk.
if you get big they're gonna sue your arse.

 

[JamesOtwo]

Thanks, but I drop 'O.two' as my name, not 'O2'. I'm not a company, I'm an artist in a completely different field to mobile communications, and I doubt I will ever reach the market domination and level of consumer awareness that the company formerly know as BT Cellnet have.

It's also the chemical symbol for oxygen. Let's hope mother nature doesn't decide to 'sue my arse'.

 

[theredqueen]

ahh, but this is the company that claims to own the copyright on hyperlinks