Topic: Opinons please

Hi everyone, this is my first attempt at a personal site, i am still workiong on it, so things may not work and things may not be linked, but a general opinion on the layout would be good and maybe a few ideas for improval.
http://axle.dynamic-site.net/

The site is hosted by myself on my own server, so if you cant get there you will get the USER IS OFFLINE message, so please bear this in mind and try again later.

Thanks

Axle

Hi Axel! OK, let's start with the entry. Why *do* we have an entry page? Are there keywords hidden there, or a pre-loader? If so, this page should have some text and/or toys to keep you occupied, otherwise it does not add to the "axelclarkeuk" experience and should be eliminated. (ouch! :-)

On to the content page. I like the orange (I'm funny that way, I love orange!) but I think the header is too tall for the content, it'll look good on monitors with enough resolution, but for many configurations will take up most of the page. Perhaps you could keep the tall header just for the 'entry', have your links here, and maybe some highlighted links you'd prefer people to follow. On the inner pages, you could make a trimmed down version of the header and leave more space for content, hmm?

The top link mouseover images don't work now, I assume you already know that. Once you follow one of those links, there doesn't seem to be any link back to the main.html page, I'd suggest making your name and the big image to the left the link back there.

Most of the information on the main page seems like it all should belong somewhere, like one of those links above? If you want that poresentation of yourself on the front page, I'd suggest a more concise version of it, with a link to the full roster of accomplishments and proficiencies.

Overall, I'd say a good effort, though it needs some more work. To sum up, I'd recommend: 1)eliminate the entry page, 2) make the 'main.html' page more concise, and use it as your entry, then 3) build a smaller, more streamlined version of the look/feel for the internal content pages. I'd love to see you do more with this.

Your pal, -doc-

Wow !! thats the sort of response i was hoping for, and you came up trumps..

Thanks for taking the time to look at it...

As a result of your comments, i will get back to the drawing board. It is basically a work in progress, but for a change i want to finish this one.

Do you have any suggestions for TOYS, for the entry page, i would really like to have it as a preloader, and will eventually add all my keywords and descriptins in towards the end of the developement.

Well, back to the grindstone...

Thanks again my friend.

Axle

On the "Clients" site I would make those links open in a new browser window. I don't think that you would want someone to actually leave your site.

Later,
C:\


~Binary is best~

axleclarkeuk: Nice site - looks like the good doctor can't resist the lure of all that orange (I'm sure he can smell it over the electronic aether). Some points:

1. I don't really see the point of you splash page unless you turn it into a front door as the Doc suggests (although you don't yet have the kind of content that might warrant this) although it then sort of becomes you main page anyway so I'd do away with it (if you keep it make the image one image as it will reduce the code and lead to a faster download and add keyword and description metatags).

2. I agree with the Doc about your main page information - it all seems to live elsehwere in its appropriate places so I'd have some kind of 'Hi I'm Paul Clarke. This page is just a simple home page to tell you a bit more about me and my work' introduction there.

3. Again you need keyword and description metatags on the main page (and all others).

4. There seems to be an awful lot of image slicing going on and for things like the graphic with your name on it just doesn't seem necessary.

5. You have a style sheet so use it there is a large amount of code which can go - things like this cause me actual distress and physical pain (sort of)!!:

<font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"

 color="#FFCC33"><b><font color="#FF9900">Age:</font></b> 

<font color="#669999"><b>29</b></font></font>

6. There is also a large amount of redundant code - there are lots of DIVs with align="left" which just aren't required. You could probably trim down the use of tables too.

7. Your main page title is axlessite.jpg - I'm sure that wasn't part of the plan.

8. There is no experience.html page or thoughts.html or contact.html (at least put in place holders).

9. The vertical text in the header says 'publishing you dreams' - little typos like that can ruin a 'professional' look.

10. I like what you've done with your clients page I just worry that it isn't very flexible and I'd probably prefer it if the text appeared next to the circle I was hovering over.

11. The links graphics across the top left don't really say links to me and it was only by luck that I found them - how about something like the link text (profile, etc.) written vertically below each picture?

12. The top right hand side graphics don't really work for me as a set and just look like separate graphics that you've come up with at different times (the oval, the straight vertical banner and the modified picture). I'd probably prefer one graphic (like your logo) possibly drawing together the various elements (and, as the Doc says, link it back to the main page).

13. The Doc has hit on most of the other points I would make and they are all important.

Overall you have a good look to the page (nice colours, good layout, strong graphics, etc.) but it could do with a serious look at the code and some thoughts about the site structure and navigation. Its a good start so keep owrking on it.

Emps

[edit: HSBoD]


With patience and saliva the ant swallows the elephant - Colombian proverb

[This message has been edited by Emperor (edited 01-22-2002).]

WILL YOU GUYS STOP IT ALREADY !! YOUR GONNA MAKE ME CRY !!!!!!

I am using Fireworks for the first time, hence all the image slicing, and importing the work into dreamweaver, hence all the redundant code.

i am not by any means a professional design, that is apparent, but i am trying to hone my skills bit by bit, and all your comments are gratefully appreciated, but i was already aware of most of them, and a few you mentioned i was not aware of.

The site was quickly knocked up, and the graphics were just something i whacked in the fill spave and give it a certain somethign ( but i dont know what )

Ideally i want to havea smallish interface at the top, and when you clic on a link, a window slides down from underneath it with the relevant info, when the window has slide down, then it maybe possible to have the whole section slide across from left to if it is needed.

axleclarkeuk: I don't see any reason to cry!! You've got a good looking site going and you seem to have a good idea about the problems (which puts you ahead of the crowd!!) - what you need to is fire up Notepad (or mr.maX HTML Beauty) and get to grips with the code. The simplest thing to do first would be to get rid of the redundant tags and extract a lot of things to CSS. It should give you a better feel for the page.

It sounds like you've got some good ideas for the next stage so good luck and remember to pop it back in here when you are done.

Emps


With patience and saliva the ant swallows the elephant - Colombian proverb