Website Review and Suggestions

**beacon** · 09-23-2006, 06:53 PM

For whatever reason I've decided to experiment a little with a blog. I know the last thing anyone needs is another web design blog to keep track of and to be honest I'm not too sure where I'm going to take this, but I needed to rack up some skills in customising/skinning a blog and sussing out all the plugins and capabilities.

It's a pretty simple design, I'd appreciate any feedback/suggestions you may have. Here it is - www.webdesignering.com

**andrewbowe** · 09-23-2006, 07:04 PM

looks good but would look even better with more content in the lat 2 columns

**beacon** · 09-23-2006, 07:44 PM

thanks.. i plan to have a look at adsense and whatever else is available in that area and thats what the third columns for. I don't expect to make money out of this site, just working out the applications for future projects.

**blacksburgpoker** · 09-23-2006, 10:22 PM

It looks good, but more content would be better.

It's a lot of links. People dont like that too much. Have some links together with the content.

Cheers,
Nima

**beacon** · 09-23-2006, 11:25 PM

You're right theres not really any content. I do have some plans for content but for now its just the news/blog side of things.

**pantalaimon** · 09-24-2006, 09:32 AM

Very nice, but too much vertical scrolling to my opinion.

**ren** · 09-24-2006, 09:32 AM

I like the color, layout and details.

One thing I noticed is that you have just one "table" on the page and it is a fixed width table. Why not use the multi-column css, or at least make the table width flexible, to save certain user from scrolling horizontally?

The design is very nice. I wouldn't mind if the logo is a touch bigger

.

**ADAM Web Design** · 09-24-2006, 09:57 AM

First off, I didn't even know "designering" was a word. Very impressive!

Second, you have a horizontal scrollbar at 937 pixels wide (which means you will at 800x600 too!)

I'm not going to leave much more in terms of an evaluation other than what's above, but I will say this...you need more original content. All you've done is linked to a bunch of other stuff. That's not content...that's just taking from other people (even though you do give them credit.)

**Humbe** · 09-25-2006, 08:53 AM

Looks awesome, but I think the news should go in the middle not in the left corner.

**beacon** · 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ADAM Web Design

First off, I didn't even know "designering" was a word. Very impressive! Second, you have a horizontal scrollbar at 937 pixels wide (which means you will at 800x600 too!) I'm not going to leave much more in terms of an evaluation other than what's above, but I will say this...you need more original content. All you've done is linked to a bunch of other stuff. That's not content...that's just taking from other people (even though you do give them credit.)

All fair comments. Though it is kinda targeted at designers and if you can point me to a designer using 800x600 then i'll be happy to inform them they're in the wrong industry

This is all kinda stage 1 of my master plan, ive got some ideas for content but have been struggling with time for so long that I wanted to run with what ive got for now in hopes itll pust me in the right direction.

Do you think the name is a problem?

Thanks everyone for the comments..

**LadynRed** · 09-25-2006, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Though it is kinda targeted at designers and if you can point me to a designer using 800x600 then i'll be happy to inform them they're in the wrong industry

I don't think so !
There are plenty of designers building sites for 800x600 still.. so don't make such ridiculously broad generalizations and assumptions.

Jakob Neilson has this to say on the issue:
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/screen_resolution.html

"Webdesignering" ?? No such word.....

**ADAM Web Design** · 09-25-2006, 04:57 PM

Oh now you did it, beacon. You got LNR up your ***. She goin' EDUCATE ya.

**beacon** · 09-25-2006, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadynRed

I don't think so !
There are plenty of designers building sites for 800x600 still.. so don't make such ridiculously broad generalizations and assumptions. Jakob Neilson has this to say on the issue:http://www.useit.com/alertbox/screen_resolution.html

"Webdesignering" ?? No such word.....

Sorry I didnt phrase my statement too well. The website was designed for 1024x768 because I believe its a fair assumption that web designers browse the net in resolutions beyond that. When I design websites for more general audiences it is done in 800x600.

I don't make these decisions lightly and can tell you that by looking at the stats (Google Analytics - which I'm sure is not 100% reliable but its the best I can find) I've had less then 3% of users have hit the page using 800x600. I probably shouldnt ignore those 3% and in retrospect the way the navigation on the right will be partially not visable could have been avoided. Either way theres a chance those 3% just changed their resolution down to see if it would fit in 800x600, I know I did..

I'm going to be horribly blunt on my next point, but only because I dont know a better way to word it that will still get my meaning accross. Jakob Neilson may be the self-appointed 'guru' of usability but I still think his website looks totally lame and this makes it difficult for me to take his advice.

**ADAM Web Design** · 09-25-2006, 07:38 PM

heh he's got a point on Jake the Snake.

**beacon** · 09-25-2006, 08:13 PM

I half expect to get burnt for that comment, but as a designer I feel it is my responsibility to judge a book by its cover.

**beacon** · 10-02-2006, 11:35 AM

sorry to dig this back up again but did anyone else halve concerns about me designing for 124x768. I thought it was a decision that was fairly justified, but perhaps I was wrong?