Website Review and Suggestions

**krazytim** · 02-07-2007, 08:35 AM

My online portfolio showcasing my web designs, client works, graphical concepts, and more. It is in flash, but I have made it really userfriendly to make up for the fact that it is not in html/xhtml like most of my sites. All the content loads in externally from xml and the site loads fairly quick.

Link: http://www.timsilva.com/

**3rdShiftStudios** · 02-07-2007, 09:13 PM

holy cow, where to start? beautiful art and i love the matrix-meets-aliens theme through out. The ambient music was just that, ambient-not over the top, not redundant coporate stuff.

My issue: too much student and "concept work" I think you should limit your portfolio to professional pieces only. I didnt' notice many logos either-then again, your "work" was all rolled into one location, so i didn't know if the next item was going to be concept art, professional site, or branding. Honestly, i gave up after the 4th click b/c i saw too much concept stuff.

Great site, and good luck; you definatly have some skills, man!

**TweakedBat** · 01:19 AM

It would be nice if the text were resizable. Whilst looking stylish, some people will get frustrated and leave if they have to lean close to the monitor and squint just to read the text (not everyone has perfect eye-sight

). Especially the text on the contact-page! I have pretty close to perfect eyesight and I still have to squint to read it!

The "Tim Silvia Interactive Design" and "Copyright 2007" fonts are a bit hard to read because they turn dark grey half-way through (dark grey on black is hard to read in most cases

)

The only other issue I have is that it seems so small, especially on 1280x1024 resolutions like mine. There is so much empty un-used space, and everything is crammed into one small area I almost feel claustrophobic. If think you should widen it out some more, and possibly give it some height, so users don't need to scroll to see everything.

Even at 800x600, there is some space on the left and right, which could be utilised. I'm not sure how many people still run 800x600 resolutions today, but you could possibly make an 800x600 version, and a version for larger resolutions. Or just have an HTML alternative.

Anyway, the graphics look fairly slick and smooth, you have some skill with photoshop, so it's all good, keep up the good work!

**BruceWayne** · 02-08-2007, 04:04 AM

Yea! there a lot more space on the screen, and the text size are too small make it 12 or 14.

**kriso** · 02-08-2007, 04:52 AM

Hey nice one!
1. I noticed the page is a bit to wide for a 1024 screen and the annoying horizontal scroll appears...
2. The sound... personally I don't like sites with sound, because I like to hear my music all the time and two sounds at once are causing an escape reaction

Even when I turned off the music, the pinging button sounds are still there...
Good work mate!

**duyphian** · 02-08-2007, 05:57 AM

Cool in design but your text size are too small.

**digitalfusion** · 02-08-2007, 09:40 AM

Hey!

i have absolutley no comments to make on this site apart from really well done! That is one great site you have there and it's beautifully designed in flash! The only thing i noticed was the contact page the text labels next to the input boxes is a little too small... Even if you can resize the flash box to make it a little bit bigger aswell would make it better and then you could fit bigger text in to there and make it clearer for people to read, but apart from that brilliant site well done!

Regards,
Martin

-------------------------
Sites i've made:

www.tornadodesigns.co.uk
www.teenium.com
www.kirkgandss.com
www.worldofmuscle.co.uk

**LadynRed** · 02-08-2007, 03:51 PM

It's pretty.. but it's still and all-flash site and totally inaccessible. Search engines will have NOTHING to index.

Text is way too small - not everyone is 16 with perfect eyesight.

You're using the <embed> tag for the flash which will cause IE users difficulty. They won't see a single thing on your page until they click 2 times to 'activate' the active content.

There is a sticky at the top of the HTML forum that gives many examples of other methods for putting Flash on your site.

You have no DOCTYPE.

**RanaD** · 02-08-2007, 04:06 PM

Am I doomed?

I know my flashplayer in FF is outdated, but to show me nothing but a blank grey page is saddening

Maybe I should update it...

**3rdShiftStudios** · 02-08-2007, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3rdShiftStudios

holy cow, where to start? beautiful art and i love the matrix-meets-aliens theme through out. The ambient music was just that, ambient-not over the top, not redundant coporate stuff.

My issue: too much student and "concept work" I think you should limit your portfolio to professional pieces only. I didnt' notice many logos either-then again, your "work" was all rolled into one location, so i didn't know if the next item was going to be concept art, professional site, or branding. Honestly, i gave up after the 4th click b/c i saw too much concept stuff.

Great site, and good luck; you definatly have some skills, man!

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadynRed

It's pretty.. but it's still and all-flash site and totally inaccessible. Search engines will have NOTHING to index.

Text is way too small - not everyone is 16 with perfect eyesight.

You're using the <embed> tag for the flash which will cause IE users difficulty. They won't see a single thing on your page until they click 2 times to 'activate' the active content.

There is a sticky at the top of the HTML forum that gives many examples of other methods for putting Flash on your site.

You have no DOCTYPE.

the differnce between a web designer and a web programmer, right there folks.

**TweakedBat** · 02-08-2007, 05:05 PM

Haha true... gotta find a balance between the two

**anill** · 02-08-2007, 06:00 PM

nice

**LadynRed** · 08:40 PM

Quote:

the differnce between a web designer and a web programmer, right there folks

And just what is that supposed to mean ??? Are you implying I"m not a designer.. or not a programmer ??

I can do my fair share of flash work, but I do NOT build sites around it and I never will. To alienate a portion of the web-using population because you want to show off your flash skills should be kept to sites that NO ONE ELSE but flash programmers would appreciate or visit.

Obviously this artist, who's skills are quite good, doesn't care about search engine placement.. which is, in many cases, over rated anyway.

Technically I'm not a 'programmer' any more.. used to be.. it got BOOOORRRRINNNNGG - decided on another direction. I can appreciate the guy's flash skills, it's good.. but I would not rate it highly as a usable website.

**Sydpix** · 02-08-2007, 10:06 PM

I also love to use flash. Once again, I don't proclame to be an innovator in the business but, there are definitely disadvantages to flash.

Firstly, I will say in my experience I have run into more problems with flash than any other form of website I have built. One of the biggest reasons I shy away from flash is, you wouldn't believe the people that use the internet that simply don't know how to install a plugin. I'm not kidding.

Secondly, There are companies out there that block flash for security purposes. Call it what you will ... look at this search http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...ty&btnG=Search

Also read this http://www.adobe.com/devnet/security...apsb06-03.html

As fun and cool as Flash is, I'm not sure what the advantages are beyond, "wow, that looks cool".

Nice job on your flash site none the less

**krazytim** · 02-09-2007, 08:38 AM

THANKS ALL!

Ok, i've got some replying to do here.

Fixes:

1.) It is now valid xhtml - and there is a doctype

2.) I fixed the small text issue (on services/contact pages). My computer had the fonts so it showed up fine, I forgot to do the testing :P

@3rdShift - Thanks for the kind words, I am glad you liked it

@RanaD - I assume you are talking about the page that kindly asks you to update your flash player

At least you got a warning.

@LadynRed - Trust me, I know about that stuff

I just wanted something to "show off" my work. I fixed the doctype, thanks for pointing it out. And I still think it is usable, but the fact that it is flash alone limits how far I can go, so you win on that point

Thanks again,
-Tim

**t4tom4** · 02-09-2007, 09:33 AM

Hey - Looks real good!!

**LadynRed** · 02-09-2007, 10:04 AM

Great

I'm not trying to 'win' anything, that's not why I do reviews that, to some people, may sound harsh.

I agree with Sydpix, there are lots of people who can't grasp how to install a plugin. Even my own sister called me from NY to ask me what she's supposed to do ! I've watched people surf.. it's amazing to watch the non-technical 'typical' user.

**regaton** · 02-09-2007, 11:09 AM

u have done a very good work, really nice

**3rdShiftStudios** · 02-09-2007, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadynRed

And just what is that supposed to mean ??? Are you implying I"m not a designer.. or not a programmer ??

I can do my fair share of flash work, but I do NOT build sites around it and I never will. To alienate a portion of the web-using population because you want to show off your flash skills should be kept to sites that NO ONE ELSE but flash programmers would appreciate or visit.

Obviously this artist, who's skills are quite good, doesn't care about search engine placement.. which is, in many cases, over rated anyway.

Technically I'm not a 'programmer' any more.. used to be.. it got BOOOORRRRINNNNGG - decided on another direction. I can appreciate the guy's flash skills, it's good.. but I would not rate it highly as a usable website.

wasn't taking a shot, just pointing out a difference.

**KeithKrueger** · 02-09-2007, 05:47 PM

Too much wasted space on the site but wow you have some excellent photoshop skills.