Topic: Finished Pages that link to <a href="https://ozoneasylum.com/backlink?for=10498" title="Pages that link to Topic: Finished" rel="nofollow" >Topic: Finished\

 
Author Thread
skyetyger
Bipolar (III) Inmate

From: midair
Insane since: Jul 2001

IP logged posted posted 01-22-2004 18:20 Edit Quote

I have been working on this for a while..I will do more graphic/pretty stuff but the basics are done. The intent was to
convert the 4 main pages of my site to CSS.. Any suggestions..colors, layout, page positioning, navigation..are welcome..tear it apart and see if it can be improved..
http://www.skyetyger.com/

Boudga
Maniac (V) Mad Scientist

From: Jacks raging bile duct....
Insane since: Mar 2000

IP logged posted posted 01-22-2004 18:26 Edit Quote

the positioning is off on the div that says: SKYETYGER: DESIGN by DESIGN

krets
Paranoid (IV) Mad Scientist

From: KC, KS
Insane since: Nov 2002

IP logged posted posted 01-22-2004 18:41 Edit Quote

I'm not going to say much about the technical aspects. You've got a few issues to work out with those, like the one that Bougda mentioned.

When I look at that page what I see is a bunch of disconnected design elements. You've got a header that's just kind of sitting there. Your main navbar is just floating out there, not really connected to anything. Then to the left of the navbar you have that "MAIN" but I don't really think that's necessary since that's already contained in the header.

The footer is just repeating what the tag-line at the top says so is that really necessary?

To me, the navbar looks like something you picked up somewhere and now you've stuck some text on top of it. If you're creating this as a site to bring in design clients, I would hope that all of your elements would at least look like you created them yourself.

:::11oh1:::

skyetyger
Bipolar (III) Inmate

From: midair
Insane since: Jul 2001

IP logged posted posted 01-22-2004 19:36 Edit Quote

1) Are the rollovers working on all pages?
2) The positioning is off on the div? I am not certain what is "off"..The positioning of the div is off in what direction?
3) quote "To me, the navbar looks like something you picked up somewhere and now you've stuck some text on top of it." /quote ..Clarify this for me. Does the nav bar look as if the lettering on the buttons is text placed there in a graphics program such as PSP or Photoshop? or ..? This is an experimental CSS page..
I appreciate the comments..

Boudga
Maniac (V) Mad Scientist

From: Jacks raging bile duct....
Insane since: Mar 2000

IP logged posted posted 01-22-2004 23:11 Edit Quote

the DIV is overlapping text and appears to not be positioned where it should be

skyetyger
Bipolar (III) Inmate

From: midair
Insane since: Jul 2001

IP logged posted posted 01-23-2004 00:52 Edit Quote

which browser? I will check the alignment ..thank you --(a bit later) I think it is fixed..refresh your browser cache and see if it is still doing it..if it is ..then which browser?



[This message has been edited by skyetyger (edited 01-23-2004).]

Cameron
Bipolar (III) Inmate

From: Brisbane
Insane since: Jan 2003

IP logged posted posted 01-23-2004 02:07 Edit Quote

I see two big~ish design problems with this site. This makes me question your slogan Design by Design, because I see very little constructive or thoughtful design here. Firstly, the structure is confusing and secondly, you?re breaking conventions in a bad way.

From what I see, the site has structure but it simply isn't working. I'd consider myself a designer of sorts, defiantly quite web savvy in any event, but I still find it extremely difficult to navigating your site. Firstly, the menu structure and the menu item names are confusing. Having both a "Home" and a "Main" link that are actually both the same is a bad idea -- just don't do it.

The "pages" section tells me nothing. Pages of what? Pages of a book? Pages of your resume? Web pages? -- funny, I thought I was already on a web page. See how confusing that can be?... I'll come back to this section later after I?ve touched on the rest on the menu items/options?

The "sources" section has exactly the same problem. What kind of sources? Research Resources? Programming Source Code? Some other kind of resources, which could mean just about anything. Do your self and your visitors a favour and just call it "links".

The "notes" section is horribly confusing as it's more like a web log or a news section that anything else. This constant misnaming of many common conventions is something you need to pay attention to. The last things you want to do is confuse your users, which usually means they simply find another less confusing site to read.

When designing you should always be look at your site as if you're a clueless surfer that comes to your website confused to begin with -- what are you doing to to make them feel at home? What is your site doing to help them find their feet? Taking things like a "links" section and calling it something else certainly isn't going to do you any favours, nor is calling a news section "notes" or proving horribly ambiguous menu options like "pages". So, this clueless user clicks a few links, doesn't figure it and thinks "bah, what a shitty site" and leaves. Not cool.

I'd also argue that the "notes" or news section is likely to be the most updated part of your website, so move this information to the "home" page, which is the gateway that all visitors enter your site through. Seeing as this is what you'll want your return visitors to see first.

The contact link is also a problem. I see no reason to devote a menu option to an email link. Those kinds of elements are better placed on the "home" page, or on an actual contact 'page' along with an email form, maybe your address too etc etc...

The archive is mildly confusing as it should say "old website" and it really doesn't need its own menu option. A simple link form the "home" page should suffice.

The "pages" section is what needs the most work. But let?s assume you'd actually take my advice and revise your main menu, if so then this is what you'd have:

> Home
> Pages **
> Links

Kinda barren eh? That's ok, because if you take the "pages" section, which is the meat and potatoes of your site content, and break it up into individual menu items then you'll end up with about the same amount of menu elements. Although, you don't ever want to go above 7 menu items as it becomes too difficult to take em all in an once. This magical number 7 limit (sometimes referred to as ?Millers Limit?, named after the cognitive scientist who?s research concluded in this magic number) is currently a problem with your "pages" section, it's too overloaded with content, and will only get worse as time goes on and you add more too it.

Looking at the pages section, I see two things, CSS and Poems. Poems are relatively straight forward, but the CSS stuff confuses the hell out of me. I click a link and I get sent to some CSS page things with no explanation as to what makes it important enough (or any reason whatsoever) for it to be part of your site. Anyways, for starters move the CSS and Poems into the manu menu, so now you'd have:

> Home (News, Contact details, Misc information like links to old websites)
> Graphics (or some other more pointed name that describes the kind of graphic work you'd put here like illustrations or paintings)
> Poems (Pretty straight forward)
> CSS (Same old, but now you should have space to add explanations for what you're doing here)
> Links

Seeing as you're likely to have a "graphics" section, that should round things off to a healthy looking 5 menu items, and it'll provide you with a site that's 10 times easier to navigate, update and maintain.

skyetyger
Bipolar (III) Inmate

From: midair
Insane since: Jul 2001

IP logged posted posted 01-23-2004 06:23 Edit Quote

I appreciate your comments...I have the same thoughts about the navigation..Your ideas are helpful..not much I can do about the
"artistic" mode as I am not an artist but I agree with you..the pages need more explanation..However.. I did a quick check of two sites..Glish and Big Nose..both sites say "resources" or "sources" ...rather than links

I am changing the Main to nbsp..or menu..The suggestions for revising the top menu in Pages..and combining Notes/Home..I think I will do all of that..thank you.



[This message has been edited by skyetyger (edited 01-23-2004).]



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