Comments on a new site 2

[FesterSXS]

Hi all,

I'm in the process of updating an old table based site I wrote about 6 years ago. The new site is being done with CSS instead.

Just after a little feedback really on what people think of the layout/usability/general look and feel.

Be brutal, I don't offend easily

http://www.spiraxsarco.com/student/

Thanks

Tony

Spirax-Sarco - steam traps control valves heat exchangers
Sun Villa - Luxury Florida accommodation

 

[FesterSXS]

I'm aware that it doesn't validate completely yet - just working on those now

Tony

Spirax-Sarco - steam traps control valves heat exchangers
Sun Villa - Luxury Florida accommodation

 

[Foamcow]

I kind of like it.
Looks a bit plain, but that's not a bad thing.

The one thing that bugs me is the fact it expands to fill the window width.
Whilst I appreciate this can be a good thing, if you've not got alot of "stuff" on the page it sort of spoils it.

Perhaps keep the layout flexible but give it all a bit of space on the left and right sides. Maybe even make it fixed width, I normally work to 750pixels.

From a typographic perspective, it's harder for people to read long line lengths so it's not a bad thing to force the lines to be shortish... normally around 7-12 words is ample and more readable that very wide paragraphs of text.

The gray on yellow text might be a little low contrast too, but could just be my eyes today!

I would also add a bit of air above and below the navigation text, make the yellow band deeper. Perhaps even make the nav text a bit larger. Some icons in there would be nice actually.

Thinking of the target audience, i.e. students maybe consider making it a bit more... ummm... wacky, for want of a better word. A bit more "street".

Foamcow Heavy Industries - Web design and ranting
Target Marketing Communications - Advertising, Direct Marketing and Public Relations
I wonder what possesses people to make those animated gifs. Do you just get up in the morning and think, "You know what web design r

 

[Foamcow]

Incidentally, are you or your other half responsible for that nice jewellery? chat in TTUK?

Foamcow Heavy Industries - Web design and ranting
Target Marketing Communications - Advertising, Direct Marketing and Public Relations
I wonder what possesses people to make those animated gifs. Do you just get up in the morning and think, "You know what web design r

 

[FesterSXS]

thanks for the comments

I thought about a fixed width layout but created the fluid template before I received much content from the site owner. It turns out that there isn't going to be a great deal of additional content so I may well try the fixed width and see how it looks.

I take your point about the low-contrast grey on yellow - I will darken the text a little and make it clearer.

I also like the idea of putting icons in the nav menu - thanks

I will mention the "wacky" suggestion to the site owner - he's mad as a badger anyway so he'll probably love the idea

As for the jewellery - no idea what you're on about

Tony

Spirax-Sarco - steam traps control valves heat exchangers
Sun Villa - Luxury Florida accommodation

 

[FesterSXS]

ah - just seen it - i put the wrong url in the footer - DOH!!! I'm in the process of registering a new domain name so havent got used to it yet

The jewellery site has nothing to do with me.

Tony

Spirax-Sarco - steam traps control valves heat exchangers
Sun Villa - Luxury Florida accommodation

 

[Foamcow]

lol.. ok ignore the thread in ttuk then

Foamcow Heavy Industries - Web design and ranting
Target Marketing Communications - Advertising, Direct Marketing and Public Relations
I wonder what possesses people to make those animated gifs. Do you just get up in the morning and think, "You know what web design r

 

[jazz88]

>> I would also add a bit of air above and below the navigation text, make the yellow band deeper. Perhaps even make the nav text a bit larger >>

Those are really good suggestions. I like your design, it looks good. The only thing that sort of buggs me is that I want to click on the thumbnail images and when I discover I can't I kind of feel disappointed.

 

[Foamcow]

You can click on them all you like!
Whether or not anything happens as a result is a different matter ;-)

Foamcow Heavy Industries - Web design and ranting
Target Marketing Communications - Advertising, Direct Marketing and Public Relations
I wonder what possesses people to make those animated gifs. Do you just get up in the morning and think, "You know what web design r

 

[FesterSXS]

I assume you mean the thumbnail images on the homepage, not the ones on the Houses page. The Houses page thumbnails should be clickable.

Yes - also agree about the nav bar height - I'll change that now.

Tony

Spirax-Sarco - steam traps control valves heat exchangers
Sun Villa - Luxury Florida accommodation

 

[jazz88]

Sure I mean home page.