Please critique this website 7

[TulsaJeff]

I am in need of a critique on this website. I volunteered to build a site for the church we are attending here in town and even though most of the congregation feel that it is the neatest thing since sliced bread... I really would like to get some oppinions from a designers perspective.

Any and all comments, suggestions, etc are welcomed.

http://www.lifetab.net

Thanks,
Jeff Ya' Gotta Love It!

 

[oculus]

Virt2001:

Yes, the intro is my preloader. I know it's common on Flash sites to add a loadMovie action to the last frame of an intro, but in my opinion all that does is add extra total download time. My intro is indeed a separate scene (actually 3 scenes) in the same movie as the main site, so it donwloads quickly, and then the main movie starts to download while the intro plays, shaving off 10-15 seconds or more from the flat download time it would have taken with nothing to look at.

As far as the music goes, you'd have to understand my pastor & his wife, or else visit the church. Very progressive, very upbeat. I don't know exactly what you mean by "morally" wrong, but the overall impression I was trying to convey was that this is "dynamic" rather than a more "traditional" church. And since "church" and "traditional" are already linked in most people's minds, as a designer I was trying to break the connection early on.

Not justifying, just explaining. If you and others still think the music is off, I'll reconsider using it. I haven't promoted the site, as yet, so not many people have seen this incarnation, and I could change it without causing ripples.

Thanks for the feedback!


Oculus.

 

[TulsaJeff]

Oculus...I am in awe to say the least. Your site is quite impressive! Makes me feel good to see a church site that that looks good. I spent weeks looking for a church site to look at and try to get some good ideas on presentation and functionality but was rather unsuccessful. Most of the church sites I found looked like they were thrown together by a class of 1st graders.

I for one like the upbeat music...I think a lot of people have a lot of traditional ideas about church and think of slow whining pipe organs and sad monotone choirs. I guess that is fine if you like it but personally... I would fall asleep after being used to the more exciting, upbeat style of worship.

I think it is a good idea to portray the church as it really is, Not as people think it to be.

As a method of future improvement, I think you could maybe make it a lot better by using some actual church music.... pentecostal juke and jive would be good.

Once again... thanks for the critique and keep up the good work!

Let me know if you'd like to partner up on something sometime. I am in charge of the Africa Ateam Website for the organization. Maybe we could get together and try to come up with something real nice for them.

Just an idea...let me know. jeffreysphillips@excite.com Ya' Gotta Love It!

 

[coldfused]

don't get me wrong guys i love house music as well..is one of my favorites..i just think that your target market is one that is a little more conservative..when i think of church jeff new wave is not a word that comes to mind..if house music correspounds with the new wave pentecostal juke then that would be fine i guess..nor am i an expert on this matter..was just my opinion..now the music on the home page fits well..it definatly correspounds with your target market..

once again just my opinion..

virtuality2001@aol.com

 

[oculus]

Jeff:

Thanks to you, as well, for the feedback. It's the largest and most comprehensive project I've completed since I started my business on the side first of this year.

By the way, my pastor was in charge of the Nigeria trip (African A Team), and just got home this past weekend. Awesome trip. Let's talk about a project for the future. E-mail me at bell@arkansas.net

As far as juke-and-jive, my company's philosphy is to create an experience, not just present information. I wouldn't want to go that direction because it would clash with all the other elements in the main site that I'm trying to bring together to create a comfortable atmosphere. That, actually, is why I prefer the spontaneous, high-impact intro: it provides a contrast, so that the "comfortable" idea comes across better once the main site loads. Just my thought, and again, I'm new at this.


Virt2001:
Again, I appreciate your comments. I agree that the music doesn't seem to fit the target market, unless we're redefining people concepts, and that's ALWAYS tricky. But thanks for keeping me honest. ;-)


Oculus.