Check out my website please

It doesn't matter if you do all the error checking in the world, or if you have the most beautiful graphics, if your site or application design isn't usable, it's not going to do well. Get input and advice on usability and user interface issues here.

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pickle
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Check out my website please

Post by pickle »

Hi everyone,

I just finished the first rendition of my business site and I wanted the folks here to rip it apart. As you will see, it's very basic, very bare-bones. The wording and such could use some work, but I'm looking more on critiques of the layout, colours and overall design. Thanks a bunch.

http://www.dylananderson.ca
Real programmers don't comment their code. If it was hard to write, it should be hard to understand.
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Chris Corbyn
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Post by Chris Corbyn »

Nice but almost verging on "too bare bones".

Just something simple like adding a contrasting color (perhaps red, green or a deep orange), in just small amounts would break the page up a bit and add more interest to the eye.
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CoderGoblin
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Post by CoderGoblin »

I like it... but then I agree with your design philosophy...

"Simplicity
Flashy websites are fun to look at, but may not be the best use of a web page. Your viewers' ability to use your website is the premier concern one should have when designing a website. After all, if viewers have trouble getting around in your site, how are they going to find out how great it is?"

It's nice to see someone following what they say...

I don't know what your intentions are when your portfolio grows...
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pickle
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Post by pickle »

Thanks for the advice folks.

~d11wtq - I understand where you're coming from. I'll try and add a little more colour. I usually have difficulty finding contrasting colours that look good, but I'll give it a whirl.

~CoderGoblin - what do you mean by intentions? Intentions for the page, for the website, or for myself? Just curious.
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Chris Corbyn
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Post by Chris Corbyn »

pickle wrote:~CoderGoblin - what do you mean by intentions? Intentions for the page, for the website, or for myself? Just curious.
I think he means how you will organise the portfolio when you have for example >20 websites in there :D

I'd just list the most recent as large page items and then have a link for "See the full list of work" kinda thing.

BTW... When I say contrasting colors you don't need to be excessive with it. Even just some little colored markers (almost like bullets) at the start of each paragraph make a considerable change to the feel and flow of the page.
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pickle
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Post by pickle »

Ah - got it. To be honest I hadn't thought about what I'd do with 20+ clients. This is kind of a side project for me anyway. Thanks for the tip with the colours again.
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neophyte
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Post by neophyte »

Right on, keeping it simple is the way to go. I get bored with over used - over done themes. You know the one. Looks kind of metallic and sci-fi. If I see one more page like that I think I might just hurl. Good jorb dere pickle!
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pickle
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Post by pickle »

Steiny - bring that man a danish!! :)

Thanks.
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theda
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Post by theda »

Although this is way past when you originally posted it... Pickle: Nice site.

The only problem I have:
Coloring is a bit too bland, most people, even older people with eye problems, would probably get sick of that color scheme pretty fast. White text is horrible on the eyes.
Roja
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Re: Check out my website please

Post by Roja »

pickle wrote:I wanted the folks here to rip it apart.
MAUUAHAHAHAAHAH.. You actually ASKED for it. MAUHAAHahahahha

Line: 54 Context : .price_category_head_left , .price_category_head_right

Property text-size doesn't exist : 16pt

And..

umm..

Well..

Dangit! Here I was all excited to explain all the intricate html rules broken, all the problems, all.. hrmf.

Nice site.
stukov
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Post by stukov »

On the usability side, it's very good;

But the home page lacks some critical info about the site itself. If you can make it in such a way that at the first seconds of the first look I can know what this site is all about, it would then come close to be perfect.

Again, it's on the usability side.

Nice work :)
imstupid
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Post by imstupid »

very good. If I could say anything negative, your leading overall could be bumped up 1 or 2 points. especially on the pricing page... it looks a tad cramped, but not too bad at all. And to agree with d11wtq, it might be too bare bones, however to agree with CoderGoblin, you don't want to go overboard either. With portfolio/promotion sites for web designers, the happy medium I find to be most successful. You don't want to go over the top to scare a potential client off with some insane flash animations, yet you want to show enough skills to make it apparent that you know what you are doing. Clean, flawless sites tend to work best in this situation. It's a matter of determining what target market your future clients fall in, what other STYLE of sites they look at and try to emulate that ideology. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
pilau
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Post by pilau »

Don't you think you are too expensive? $200+ for setting up a DB? Jeez, man..
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Chris Corbyn
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Post by Chris Corbyn »

pilau wrote:Don't you think you are too expensive? $200+ for setting up a DB? Jeez, man..
Was that a joke? That's not bad actually.
pilau
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Post by pilau »

Really? Well, I didn't know it was like that...
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