ZD 1.0 Dedication Layout

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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Majoraslayer
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ZD 1.0 Dedication Layout

Post by Majoraslayer »

Its been three years since I started my website, Zora's Domain. It went through many changes, but the very first version was nothing more than blue text on a black background. It had frames, one on the left for navigation and one on the right with the content. It also had logo pics for the page titles I made a cooltext.com. The site was very crude, but it was my very first web programming. Anyway, I'm basically redoing my website once again for ZD5, and so I'm making a layout that is a tribute to that very first, crude look I had. At the same time, I want the layout to look well-designed and more advanced, to reflect that the site has evolved over the years.

The reason for my post is that I'm looking for suggestions on improving the layout. For an idea of what the original page title logos looked like, it was basically like the Zora's Domain text in the top banner (which I made myself, by the way, so feel free to tell me what you think of it too). To see how the layout is going so far, check out:

http://www.zorasdomain.com/index.php

Just ignore the text on there, because its just a bunch of placeholders for basically what the text is describing. Tell me what you think, and how I might make it even better!
Last edited by Majoraslayer on Sat Jul 09, 2005 12:55 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Burrito
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Post by Burrito »

the layout looks good, looks like most other game sites out there.

the blue text on that background is VERY hard on the eyes. I'm not sure I could read more than 2 sentences of it w/o needing some visine.
Majoraslayer
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Post by Majoraslayer »

I've found that its easier to read on some monitors than others. How might I change it so it would be easier to read (as in, background color and text color)? Just asking for suggestions.
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Burrito
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Post by Burrito »

you might try white font. That would provide more contrast and less strain on the eyes. Best thing to do would be put up some samples of different colors and pick the one you like the best.

I also like orange on blue, but orange font could pose the same problem.

just put up some different colors and pick the one you like the best.
Majoraslayer
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Post by Majoraslayer »

I'm thinking of making the background color just a tiny step above black, and brightening the blue font to a darker color of the user options font color I'm currently using. I'll try that right quick, and you can tell me how it looks to you. Sometimes the best way to make a layout is have someone else tell you how they feel about it; otherwise, like for you in this case, I could mess up and make the site hard to read.
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Chris Corbyn
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Post by Chris Corbyn »

Majoraslayer wrote:I'm thinking of making the background color just a tiny step above black, and brightening the blue font to a darker color of the user options font color I'm currently using. I'll try that right quick, and you can tell me how it looks to you. Sometimes the best way to make a layout is have someone else tell you how they feel about it; otherwise, like for you in this case, I could mess up and make the site hard to read.
Quite true... the best way to get a good layout and something usable is to ask others. Sometimes your own judgement is way too biased since you picked the colors and fonts etc you clearly liked. Even in the scenarioa that people tell you something is "absolutely pants" you shouldn't be disheartened. I've created plenty of layouts and then thought "nah... it's no good", then scapped and started again. If somebody criticises my work then I can go away and make it better. At least I know I got an honest answer.

We wouldn't bother to change anything if nobody told us it needed changing ;)

The thing with your blue on black as it is, is that the blue is bright and bold, and the black is 000 (full black). Try to blend in some other tones (e.g, make the background a very dark grey, and the font a very pale blue (or a navy blue on a lighter grey)). Just tweak it til it looks right.

So I 100% say change your font/background colors but the layout "looks" good. Can I suggest assigning a DOCTYPE and then use http://validator.w3.org/ to try and keep it to that standard? Keeping to standards is always good ;)
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