Website Review and Suggestions

**NickH** · 09-29-2010, 07:19 AM

alright so now i decided to actually buy a domain and some hosting which im pretty stoked with so i made a site and chucked it up but im not really happy with how it looks so hopefully ya'll can give me some tips and what to do both content and design wise to improve it

www.nickphayden.com

let me know

**smoseley** · 09-29-2010, 09:12 AM

Well, Nick, there's not much to comment on, because there's not really any "design" to your site. Why don't you start by planning out your site - visit other sites you like and generate an idea for a design, then sketch it out on paper and work out some of the details. Then, lay it out in photoshop, develop a CSS plan, slice your photoshop design into individual images, and create a template for your site. Then start adding content.

**heat33** · 09-29-2010, 10:03 AM

It looks great, one of the best websites I have ever seen.

**heat33** · 09-29-2010, 10:04 AM

Just kidding mate,
You need to learn some CSS and it is better than my first ever website or about the same as my first website.
This place should help you achieve you goals.

**NickH** · 09-29-2010, 11:08 AM

...the whole thing is built in css

**CSM** · 09-29-2010, 12:06 PM

In which browser did you watch it? In Chrome there is the right "sidebar" over the text...

Are you able to code properly? I dont't think so... width:50%; omg

**NickH** · 10:54 PM

im using ff 3.6 on a macbook with a res of 1280x800

EDIT: I've also looked at it on a few other laptops using chrome and IE but i dont know what res

**ThailandForum** · 09-29-2010, 10:56 PM

Just needs some google ads and you can sit back and watch the money roll in

Doesn't display properly in firefox though, ie there is this bit
Hi, My names Nick and I'm a Web Develop

it also shows half an "e" but cuts off there.

**NickH** · 09-29-2010, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThailandForum

Doesn't display properly in firefox though, ie there is this bit
Hi, My names Nick and I'm a Web Develop

it also shows half an "e" but cuts off there.

alright thanks for the heads up

**NickH** · 12:21 AM

i'm following a tutorial at the moment and ill be getting a new design up soon (it'll be an image) for judging and critique

EDIT:

heres the design.. i would probably attempt to make it my own a bit more rather than using the tutorial's design

EDIT: yeah there's a spelling mistake in the design

**CSM** · 09-30-2010, 01:10 AM

You follow a tutorial and want to offer clean & professional webdesign?

Sorry, but I have to laugh a little bit

You have no clue of (X)HTML/CSS and you call yourself Webdesigner/Webdeveloper?

**NickH** · 09-30-2010, 01:23 AM

so you were born being a developer..thats interesting perhaps i need to go get some stem cells implanted to develop my designing genes better..

perhaps you should reconsider being on a forum if you're not willing to be part of a community. I've come here seeking some advice yet i seem to regularly find confrontation from you. Just so you know, I am quite able to code xhmtl/css it's the design side of things i struggle with which is why this is in the design section of this site rather than the html/css sub-forums.

Thanks to others that are being a bit more helpful

**NickH** · 03:44 AM

sorry about the rant just then but if anyone still wants to help, check out the design below and let me know what you think before i code it up
also
what do you think about the idea of the deeper pages having all the same layout and content until the second horizontal break (under the line "diploma of website development") then everything under that line changes to the content on the corresponding page

or this one

**BDevil15** · 09-30-2010, 05:45 AM

Im in no way trying to judge but do you really have those certificates and any experience? If you said you were just starting out and looking for advice to get started some people might be a bit more receptive. But to put that up saying you are a developer and designer... its just absurd.

**NickH** · 06:17 AM

qualifications wise i have nothing at the moment
im doing the courses on the site but havent completed them yet
im on holidays at the end of the first term of the first course
the content on the site is more so for aesthetics because lets be honest, real text looks better than "content here content here content here"

EDIT:
here's what the courses involve

http://www.tafesa.edu.au/xml/course/aw/aw_HBR.aspx

http://www.tafesa.edu.au/xml/course/aw/aw_HBS.aspx

**timsoulo** · 09-30-2010, 06:58 AM

sorry Nick.. the site is so 90th...

**NickH** · 09-30-2010, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timsoulo

sorry Nick.. the site is so 90th...

haha thats alright, gotta start at the beginning i guess and...isnt retro in fashion?

**Shadrach** · 09-30-2010, 11:23 AM

The new design has too much white space. The original version of the template looked better.

I would wait until at least the end of your second year to start a web design business. Your learning a lot of new things but not nearly enough to start servicing customers.

**TheRev** · 09-30-2010, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickH

sorry about the rant just then but if anyone still wants to help, check out the design below and let me know what you think before i code it up
also
what do you think about the idea of the deeper pages having all the same layout and content until the second horizontal break (under the line "diploma of website development") then everything under that line changes to the content on the corresponding page

In all honesty I wouldn't do that. You would want to put your education/background on an "about" page rather than present it on every page. And you don't even really have to go into detail giving the school and everything. If you're trying to bill yourself as a web developer then just go for the basics, "I'm Nick, I've been building websites for X number of years, etc". If they want the gritty details they can ask. Keep it simple.

**mlovet1** · 10-01-2010, 12:43 AM

I disagree. Offering any relevant school training is the best confirming bit of information that you "certifiably" know what you're doing. Having said that, I don't think you should market your web design services until you at least complete those certifications. Its like a medical student calling himself a doctor.