From: Aiur, the Tarsonian Galaxy Insane since: Apr 2004
posted 05-06-2004 07:17
Man that was quick. A month ago version1 now version 1.00021... anyways I added more color and well changed the entire layout . Tell what you think now, with my previous site in mind and if not askin' too much... what would you rate it on scale of 10?
From: Rochester, New York, USA Insane since: May 2000
posted 05-06-2004 07:25
I would have been oh so impressed if this were done with CSS, looking at the code and seeing a table hack just made me sad...
I would do the same design using CSS and XHTML and come back, it shouldn't be too hard to do. I would also think on the background, somehow the + signs just don't do anything for me.
I don't normally give ratings, but since you asked, here goes:
Visual: 7/10
I've got to admit, I like the concept. Contours... yes, it fits. The color scheme is subdued... not terribly exciting, but certainly not jarring. Too many text colors, though. And the main link color doesn't seem to jive with the rest of the color scheme--just a bit too saturated. And why two different link colors for the navigation and the main links?
I am also not terribly fond of the "+" background.
Content: 8/10
It claims to be an online portfolio, and I think it backs up that claim well enough. The copy is uninspired and could use a spell check, but for the most part it is acceptable. My biggest gripe would be that the tone can't really decide whether it wants to be professional or playful. I would pick one and stick with it (more or less--there's always room to bend the rules, of course, but you have to know when and where). For example, the "people who know me will know that I am kidding" comments--why are they there? People who know you will already know, and people who don't know you will think maybe you're trying a bit too hard to be clever.
Still, it gets an 8 because it does what it sets out to do.
Usability/IA: 5/10
This is one area where the site really falls down, I think. I suppose my main gripe would be with the navigation--not a single one of those navigation titles conveys to me what it should convey. Root? In an artistic portfolio? I think someone has their metaphors jumbled here. Material--too close to something like "Ingredients." Why not something straightforward, like "Art Work"? Info is probably the best of the bunch, but my beef here is that it does not give me the info I would have expected. It looks more like a mini-resume to me. I had no idea what connect was, but assumed at first glance that it was contact info. "Connect" and "connections" have very different connotations. I would probably opt for something simple like "links," but if you must be different, go with "connections" over "connect."
The navigation also does a very good job of not standing out at all. It sits there, a short line of small text links beneath that huge header. There's the other thing--the header really isn't all that huge, but the other elements on the page (stealth navigation, tiny title text within the header itself, etc.) make it look huge. I think you could make it half that size and still be kosher. And the navigation definitely needs to be more noticeable. Even a blank line between it and the text would go a long way.
I thought about giving it a 4 here, but the other aspects of the site are reasonably usable, so 5 it is.
Code: 2/10
If the site fell down in Usability/IA, then it just whipped out a 9mm, put it to the side of its head, and pulled the trigger here. The table hack, well, it made WarMage sad. I think that pretty much sums it up, don't you? As for the css... you do realize that you could make one font-family declaration in the body tag and be done with it, right? That would probably reduce the size of your CSS by %25.
If you're going to go around calling yourself an expert in HTML, you should really keep up with the current trends. Table hacks are so 20th century...
By the way, neatly organized code saved this from being a 1...
_______________
And that's about it, I suppose. That was a very interesting way of reviewing a site. I'll have to add that to my repertoire.
Oh, I almost forgot... despite the occasionally harshness, I do like this better than the last one. You really need to do some work on the code, though, and you need to take usability and information architecture as seriously as you take visual design.
From: Aiur, the Tarsonian Galaxy Insane since: Apr 2004
posted 05-06-2004 11:48
where do u get the time to write that suho!!!!
I had a lot of problems mainly the navigation, needs alot of work. The code *whew* yep I need to switch back to good old HTML and quit Mockers, it's been like 2 years and no HTML. The background, hey it looked plain I had to put something!! Oh well thanks anyway... i guess you will be seeing version 1.00022 pretty soon now.
From: Rochester, New York, USA Insane since: May 2000
posted 05-06-2004 14:24
I think that the interesting thing about reviewing websites is that the reviews will get harsher and harsher as the page gets better and better. This is a note to everyone who is getting a review if your site gets torn to shreds it means that we felt your site was actually worth the time to tell you exactly where we thought you could improve it.
If you site is a total piece of crap and not worth the switches used to store it, we won't spend all that much time reviewing it.
From: A graveyard of dreams Insane since: Mar 2001
posted 05-06-2004 20:43
As usuall I agree with the things said above, escpecially the last comment by Warmage. The harsher the critique, the better the page
First thing I noticed was the splash page, you don't need that one. As with most splash pages it doesn't serve any purpose except make me press the mouse button one more time.
Since the page is optimized for 1024x768 the header is too small for me on 1280x768. If I where you I would either center the image, or create a very wide image and crop it at the browser edge. The second option would probably look better, but it would use uneccesary amounts of bandwidth. On the header image I would also remove the fractals you've got on the left hand side. They don't fit with the rest of the graphics used. The 'Countours' should also be more prominent imo, it is kind of hard to spot as it is now...
From the earlier comments I see that you've changed the navigation. My biggest gripe with the navigation is that the rest of your page uses areas of solid color, while the navigation has some fading. I would think that the menu would fit better with the over all design if you only used a single solid color. Another thing with the menu is that the link to the current page doesn't show. I'm all for displaying different from the other links and not having is a link, but it should be there. You could for example have a transparent background bellow the current-page-link, while keeping a colored background for the other elements. The menu elements should also get a hover effect, it is nice to get some visiual feedback when you hover over a link.
The links on your page blend a bit too much with the rest of the text now. The links shouldn't stand out too much from the ordinary text, but when you see them you should easily regocnize them as links. I would either change the color a little bit - make it a bit lighter than the rest of the text - or add some simple text decoration - an underline of some kind.
At the bottom of the 'artist' section the page breaks in Firefox. There seems to be too much content so there is gap in the border.
The coding... Well, I'm pretty sure you know what to do with that part of the page; make WarMage happy
_________________________
"There are 10 kinds of people; those who know binary, those who don't and those who start counting at zero"
- the Golden Ratio - Vim Tutorial -
From: A graveyard of dreams Insane since: Mar 2001
posted 05-07-2004 04:56
A "table hack" is when you use tables to design your page. In the pre-CSS era that was the only way to get 'fancy' layouts, and since it was used for so long people still use it instead of switching to CSS. It is considered a hack since tables should only be used for tabular data.
_________________________
"There are 10 kinds of people; those who know binary, those who don't and those who start counting at zero"
- the Golden Ratio - Vim Tutorial -
I'm still guilty of it. I've been too immersed in learning new graphics programs and furthering my graphics knowledge that I've stopped learning coding. So I let my business partner do all the coding now, haha.
Ah, that's a shame. I am too busy to keep up with everything current so I still use tables..I mostly use Dreamweaver/Photoshop in conjuction rather than hand coding..seems to work fine *shrugs*
From: Rochester, New York, USA Insane since: May 2000
posted 05-08-2004 02:33
No not a hacker, that might imply something positive.
You would be a hack as in someone who takes a big cleaver and cuts into the web page. Think of yourself brutally destroying your web pages, that is the table hack.
It is often a nice defense to blame a lack of time, but it just shows a gross incompetence in your trade. Using tables for display is akin to a plumber using lead pipe instead of copper. The water still flows, so who is to care that the plumber was too busy to learn that you shouldn't use lead pipes, that is other than the people who get brain damage.
quote:where do u get the time to write that suho!!!!
Good question.
Seriously, though, what WarMage said is right: I found the time because the site was worth my time. I saw an improvement over your last attempt, and I thought you deserved a relatively thorough review.
Although I usually try to avoid purposefully inflammatory comments, I am always honest in my criticisms, whether they be of web sites or of poetry. I do at times tend to really get into reviews (ie, get carried away), and sometimes what may seem like negative criticism can be overwhelming. I hope you can see the positive aspect of it, though.
Okay, but what exactly is the big diff? In plumbing one pipe may not rust as another..so are you saying one method (tables) will rust in time? heh
quote:WarMage said:
No not a hacker, that might imply something positive. You would be a hack as in someone who takes a big cleaver and cuts into the web page. Think of yourself brutally destroying your web pages, that is the table hack.It is often a nice defense to blame a lack of time, but it just shows a gross incompetence in your trade. Using tables for display is akin to a plumber using lead pipe instead of copper. The water still flows, so who is to care that the plumber was too busy to learn that you shouldn't use lead pipes, that is other than the people who get brain damage.
From: Den Haag: The Royal Residence Insane since: Jul 2000
posted 05-09-2004 03:53
Well lead pipes will give you an lead poisoning over time. And lead piping is an known goldfish killer....
In the same way tables are breaking websites and browsers. Also the "i don't have time for tableless" argument is based on plain nonsens. While it will take you some time to learn design without tables, designing and maintaining a site whitout tables is faster and easier than the table counterpart.
Okay, but what exactly is the big diff? In plumbing one pipe may not rust as
another..so are you saying one method (tables) will rust in time? heh
Um, yeah, that is what we are saying. Tables were never meant to work as layout elements, and forcing them to do that job is a hack. As for the rust, tables make a page far larger and slower loading than it needs to be. In a world where time is money, slow load times can be just as deadly as rust (or lead) in the water.
CSS is not only the technology of today, it is also the technology of tomorrow. If you really want to continue designing with the technology of yesterday--if you really don't understand what the "big diff" is--then no one is going to force you to adopt CSS and "tableless" design. But don't be surprised when people who take web design seriously scorn you for your shoddy workmanship.
From: Rochester, New York, USA Insane since: May 2000
posted 05-09-2004 20:36
Actually what I am saying is that the table method is, in your terminology, rusted. In my terminology, using the table hack is already causing brain damage.
<edit>Actually did the wrong site but since both of you are up and arguing I will leave both</edit>
Hehe that website (squarenet) isn't mine anyways. But I do use tables on all of my pages. However I don't claim to be a webdesigner, I do my work for fun and family and friends who have 0 knowledge in computers and webpages..
And my "Excuse" is valid. I have a family, wife and 19mo old to think about..when I'm on the computer I am usually working, not much spare time. Hopfully I can learn some CSS soon. Dunno anything about it, if it is difficult or simple.
I don't think making slashes at people and their work is particularly helpful. I mean yes nicely saying that tables are going out of style and informing that they might wanna learn CSS is helpful, but bashing people for using them and bashing people for having an excuse is just plain rude. Maybe we aren't as good or "godly" at webdesign as some others. Maybe we didn't claim to be? Anyways..used to have a lot of respect for people around here..and I know most everyone here is more talented than I, but at least I know I don't feel superior to people and have to go around bashin people for having lives and lack of time to learn.
posted 05-06-2004 07:17
. Tell what you think now, with my previous site in mind and if not askin' too much... what would you rate it on scale of 10?
