opinion/suggestions

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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s.dot
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opinion/suggestions

Post by s.dot »

I just threw this together today. view

Comments, suggestions, or nitpicking anyone? I will be presenting this tomorrow.
The guy who asked me to do it doesn't know I'm presenting a new layout. But the old one I made when I was 17 just did not satisfy me if it's going to go on my resume(s). yucky old site

So hopefully he'll have a surprise when he calls me in for updates.
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Christopher
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Post by Christopher »

I would at minimum:

- move the logo into the top image
- round the top corners of the top image
- arrange the content into category areas (e.g. Telephone, Internet, Cable and Satellite are services)
- add a few icons
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Post by s.dot »

I rounded the corners of the image. Good call on that one.
What kind of icons?
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Post by nickvd »

I'd suggest removing the text within the image file. Use CSS to position them where you want them. That way you can change the top image (as per the seasons for example) without having to do anything other than round the corners.

You may also want to change the image itself, as it looks VERY familiar (read: template)
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Post by Christopher »

scottayy wrote:What kind of icons?
Maybe satellite dish, phone, network circuit, etc. or if the company has branded their product lines then something based on that.
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Post by s.dot »

nickvd wrote:I'd suggest removing the text within the image file. Use CSS to position them where you want them. That way you can change the top image (as per the seasons for example) without having to do anything other than round the corners.

You may also want to change the image itself, as it looks VERY familiar (read: template)
:?: It's an image from sxc.hu.. that's been cropped =]

I'm confident they will never want the image changed.. so I'll leave the text on there. Not sure where to find satellite,cable,internet, and telephone icons.. maybe I could make some.

Thanks for the feedback.
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Post by nickvd »

scottayy wrote::?: It's an image from sxc.hu.. that's been cropped =]
Well that makes sense now :) G'head and use it, it's a nice image :)
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Post by pickle »

I agree that your new design looks much better than the old one. A couple things I think you should change though:
  • Move "Swayzee.com" into the header graphic. It seems kind of an afterthough being put where it is. You might as well put the text in the image itself - that'll let you spice it up a bit.
  • Remove the >> from the points in the header graphic
  • <complete opinion> use a different font in the header graphic - one that doesn't look as blocky</complete opinion>
  • Remove the bullets from the menu & put a 2-4 pixel spacing between the items
  • The section header graphic for the 'Contact' page has some excess white on the left hand side
  • The section header images seem a little out of place. By that I mean they appear to be placed there simply for the sake of being placed there. Each section has a leading sentence or two - maybe try putting that text beside the image?
  • The site header graphic isn't centered in the white
  • Rename the start page to something else. I realize this may be impossible if a lot of your customers are used to seeing 'Start page' & going there. However I think it conflicts a bit with your 'home' link in that they're both a 'start page' in a sense.
Despite the laundry list of things I personally would change, the site design is pretty straightforward & well thought out.

Edit: I'm not sure what this would look like, but what if your header graphic was flush to the edge of the white & didn't have rounded corners on the bottom? Could look cool.
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