Website Review and Suggestions

**lonewolf** · 05-12-2004, 09:53 AM

I'm building this new open-source site about Italian and Anglosaxon culture, literature, geography, etc. with free study notes, essays and services for students and professionals.

Two questions:

1) If you were one of such visitors, would you find what your looking for in a few secs by looking at the main page?

2) Would you feel attracted to the site?
Please give me a 1-10 rating. Comments welcome.

Italicus

www.ingleseplus.com/englishpage.htm
www.ingleseplus.com

Best visible with IE

**cmonkey** · 05-12-2004, 03:39 PM

3 for effort
As for the design, woah, I don't even know where to begin.

I can't figure out what you were going for with the design so I will just comment on the technical aspects. The first thing I notice after visting both the English and Italian versions was that several of the items that appeared to be links, aren't, I don't know if those sections just don't exist yet or what, but it was kind of confusing.

I would suggest a redesign, there are tons of free template sites out there that could get you headed in the right direction.

**Cosy** · 05-12-2004, 05:17 PM

Talking about uniqueness! Havn't seen many sites like this before...

1) As a visitor, i'm blown away by the amount of links in your face (They're coming out at me!!

). Theres just too much going on especially with that background.....which is the first thing id suggest to chage. Consider a single pale colour to start with.

2) id give the design 3/10.

It seems you have put quite abit of effort into constructing the site, which is good. Look around at other similar sites, or sites in general and learn from them. Notice why there are certain trends in layout, the colour schemes, fonts etc... Keep working at your site and never give up....ur get there one day

**Redkeg** · 05-12-2004, 05:37 PM

It is obvious that you have spent a great deal of time on your site. If you wish to have others spend time there, you have to make it easy. Remember that people on the internet do not like to read. Make each page small - the less scrolling the better. Make sure all the links are working before you post - people faced with a few things that don't function generally will go elsewhere.

Internet users are very impatient and want to find what they are looking for- FAST!

Keep working - but simplify.

Redkeg

**crucial** · 05-12-2004, 11:01 PM

I think its a very innovative site, but needs quite a few improvemnets.

First thing to think about is probably the background. Try to keep it one colour and a bit less clutered. Ligher colours are easier on the eyes.

I would give the site a 4/10

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**scisoft** · 05-13-2004, 04:42 AM

Please think abou usability.

The rolling text is distracting.

The menu buttons are too separated in the vertical direction.
They should be visible without scrolling, even at the small screen.

The color scheme... ARgrrrr

5 of 10 for effort and content, 1 of 10 for webdesign and usability.

**tonya** · 05-15-2004, 12:30 PM

If I was you I would start again.

For content you get good marks & effort too but I think you are making your job too hard for yourself. my advice would be to do a few things before you get to work on this.

1) look around the internet at all sorts of websites & make notes about what you like & what you dont, colours & all sorts of things. If necessary take screen shots (print screen on keyboard) then paste them into a document (powerpoint or word) and print them off to make notes)

2) get some plain paper out & do two things. First make a storyboard of your content & pages. Like a map. http://www.tonya.me.uk/Work/storyboard.asp
then get the colouring crayons out and start doing some sketches.

3) start with a basic colour scheme (your background blue in the tables is quite honestly awful & too brassy & doesnt need to be there) think of downloading a color wheel to help you out with complimentary colour themes. http://www.color-wheel-pro.com/

4) go back to basics and use a basic table to lay out your content. header section, navigation column and main area. Dont forget you can use nested tables inside nested tables to help you so dont despair. Your buttons seem nice but still have the background white around them.

You page ends in the middle changes colour & is a different layout - it seems as if something is wrong.

You need to go back to the drawing board. It will be worth it. lots of people start with basic layouts & then after some help & reviews end up with nice working sites.

keep at it - its worth it in the end.

**Boomer** · 05-16-2004, 12:33 AM

Um... what tools are you using to build the site?

I use GoLive - and honestly... I'd really have to work hard to get so many things to go wrong, as with this site. I am not saying it doesn't look like you have put effort into this, but I am saying there is a difference between effort and struggle. If you are working this hard to get these results... You may want to evaluate the tools you are using.

-A

PS- I do like the light purple / white / with grey text at the bottom of the page... just so ya' know...

**tonya** · 05-16-2004, 08:55 AM

Or consider buying dreamweaver ! Worth the investment. Alternatively if you are a complete newbie & dont have time to learn to get to grips with a new piece of software opt for frontpage. (cant believe I am saying that) but I teach these products and to be honest the latter because its microsoft is really good for beginners as it does all the basics & has a familar microsoft feel. If you can use Word & thinks like outlook you will find your way around frontpage very easily whereas Dreamweaver (my prefererence & definately a stronger package) will take some learning for a beginner). I have seen some good sites put together using frontpage so its not a bad place to start. Consider finding a student in the family & buying an educational priced version through someone like greymatter.com so it costs you less.

**snootyteddi** · 05-16-2004, 09:49 PM

you have been working away on this one I can see. but Your pages colors are way to strong! this is a subject tipe site that should have a vary soft color to it. and the pictures are far apart you need to bring things in closer if you can. there is too much space between the links. and I noted that there is just to much happening with your background. to truely study what your trying to present. I would not feel bad if I were you ! your doing good! its just mostly too bussy with background and color to be a study site. (6.0)

**carmack** · 05-18-2004, 01:13 PM

First rule of thumb: If your site has scrolling text than it should never be viewed by anyones eyes. And all of the above comments can be repeated in my response. Good try, but best to start over.

**lonewolf** · 08:07 PM

Thank you all and especially you, Tonya, for taking the time to visit my site and offer your encouragement despite my mistakes. It was a relief to hear that the English & Italian content is O.K.

If this thing ever takes off, it will happen as a result of a collaborative effort (that is the spirit). The free section is open to everyone.

Indeed I was already at the drawing board by the time i got your reviews. The reason for choosing such a bad design (the first with the blue background and bulging buttons) was that i wanted something special, but then i got carried away (i like painting...).

i have made changes now and i certainly use your advice so please keep on looking and posting your comments. Some of you mentioned something about the rolldown menu, what color should i change it into?

thanks and good work

www.ingleseplus.com

**MrTom-UK** · 05-21-2004, 08:12 PM

OK

We have just checked out the site. erm, nothing works!
If it was a test of a design, forget it!!!

You need to have consistency with colours, font, size, styles.

Don't invest in Dreamweaver - invest in a graphic designer and a web designer.

Poor

**lonewolf** · 08:35 AM

Dear MrTom-UK, to be honest..., i would not say your site is "poor" too, but, hey, i would revamp yours as much as mine (for opposite reasons).

The content is there, but it needs a warmer, more welcoming interface. Why all that white? (surfer's / client point of view).

i don't believe it is so much a designer's problem (i have painted and designed lots of stuff including theatre backdrops) as it is a technical problem. i.e:

i work with limited resources (on the economy) and i'm new to web design.

My template is constantly undergoing renovation, please come back again. Your input is welcome

Cheers

www.ingleseplus.com A cross-cultural project

"Rome was not built in a day"

**tonya** · 05-22-2004, 12:30 PM

Italicus

ignore comments like mr tom's

Quote:

Don't invest in Dreamweaver - invest in a graphic designer and a web designer.

Besides if you look at his site I really dont think he has much to comment on. (sorry but true)

When a small business decides to have a website the funds are not always available to spend on web designers & programmers etc & why not have a go yourself if you have the time, aptitude & determination. Everyone starts somewhere and you should not be put off.

If you have an artistic lean even better but anyone can look at a screen and know what looks nice & not its simply a matter of translating that to html yourself. but try to start simple & dont be put off. stick at it ....

**greenie** · 05-22-2004, 01:59 PM

Quote:

ignore comments like mr tom's Besides if you look at his site I really dont think he has much to comment on. (sorry but true)

I agree with tonya - mr tom your website has serious flaws:

None of the images on your website work: This makes your website seem unprofessional and leaves a bad impression.

Scrolling is necessary in order to navigate the site: In order
for visitors to navigate their way around your poorly planned website they must scroll to the bottom of the page. For inexperienced and computer illeterate people this could prevent them from visiting the different areas of your website.

Your choice of font for this website cannot be commended either; arial may be compatable with a large number of computers however, its appearance when used in website design is awful. An alternative such as verdana or franklin gothic medium would be a far better choice when looking at a website from a design point of view. If you are worried about compatibility then simply specify two fonts to solve the problem.

Your stupidity makes you the biggest hypocryite this forum has ever seen. You really dont have a leg to stand on. When you can produce polished websites that have no floors then you may criticise others.

**tonya** · 05-23-2004, 05:05 AM

italicus - as an example of template look at http://www.xtab.co.uk/templates/sample_template.htm

or do a search for templates online & adapt one already created.

The best start point as I mentioned before is to get out pen & paper & sketch a layout out then try to visualise the table needed to hold that content (draw in the lines) and then have a go at creating it. Practice makes perfect & we learn from our mistakes so just keep making those mistakes & reading peoples feedback & suggestions for help.

**greenie** · 05-23-2004, 05:47 AM

What tonya has said is so true.. all of the professional designs that I create start on a piece of paper. Once I am happy with the result I then draw out the table lines onto the paper and add the height and width values to the drawing. This planning is very important because it prevents future problems and ensures a clean finish.

**lonewolf** · 12:08 PM

Thank you, Tonya and Greenie for your support & ideas. You're right in saying a website must be user-friendly, that's what i'm focusing on but... don't you think that there are other aspects that are as important to viewers, say fashion? To an extent fashion may affect "visibility" too if certain colors or fabrics are considered "unusual".

Besides some unchangeable parameters (like "keep it simple" & "use light colors"), sometimes it feels a bit like fashion to me.... Until a few years ago Italian girls did not feel like showing off their tummies in the city streets, it was indecent, now it's O.K. (glad it is

).

I'm trying different templates, and working out a blueprint on paper, but this time i'm going to post them in the next few days all at a time to avoid going back to square one again.

All Comments welcome.

Italicus www.ingleseplus.com

"To boldly surf where no man has surfed before..."

**tonya** · 05-23-2004, 12:00 PM

no problem & yes u r right & actually good analogy as designers of clothes still often start with pen & paper designs & also have to consider what fabrics are capable of & what will work & wont.

Look forward to your new layouts.