[KaptainKaya]

First, check out the site we're doing for our web design class as a project: http://dmtnt2k.terra.cc.oh.us/dmtnt82/tr-red/

Then, check out one that already exists: http://www.djfs.co.stark.oh.us/

Opinions/comments/suggestions? We have about a week left, the client is really no help because everything I throw at them is good to them. *sigh*

[Simon Mundy]

Originally posted by KaptainKaya:
<STRONG>First, check out the site we're doing for our web design class as a project: http://dmtnt2k.terra.cc.oh.us/dmtnt82/tr-red/

Then, check out one that already exists: http://www.djfs.co.stark.oh.us/

Opinions/comments/suggestions? We have about a week left, the client is really no help because everything I throw at them is good to them. *sigh*</STRONG>

Here's some random thoughts while I was having a quick browse:

• For a department that's there to provide care and support, it looks a little gloomy. The shot of the building looks a bit prison-like (not helped by the clouds!). I'd suggest stripping back the content panel from blue to a white or extremely pale background, which would help lift the layout. The muted colours you have for the rest of the layout are fine, but they need to work with a strong tonal area (black / white) to be the most effective.
• I personally don't like sites which tell me which browser I should use - I think the site should just work on a base-level technology and keep out non-compliant browsers or provide alternate content. Besides, IE doesn't need more of a monopoly that it already does
• The side navigation (with the links / contact) looks too similar to the actual links beneath them - perhaps lose the extra ::.. device either side to let people know they are just subheads
• The way you're giving priority to info over pics is excellent - most people visiting this site will be just after the facts, thanks!
• Since this is a government site, have you tested your pages to make sure they comply with the latest accessibility requirements? I'm not sure where to find them myself, but W3 is a good place to start.
• There's a little inconsistency in the way you're formatting text - sometimes you're using &lt;td align=center&gt; and sometimes &lt;div align=center&gt;. It's a good idea to use a strict method of formatting to help you months later on down the track when you've picked up the site to do some changes and need to remember how you did it the first time!

Hope this helps

[KaptainKaya]

Originally posted by Simon Mundy:
<STRONG>

Here's some random thoughts while I was having a quick browse:

• For a department that's there to provide care and support, it looks a little gloomy. The shot of the building looks a bit prison-like (not helped by the clouds!). I'd suggest stripping back the content panel from blue to a white or extremely pale background, which would help lift the layout. The muted colours you have for the rest of the layout are fine, but they need to work with a strong tonal area (black / white) to be the most effective.
• I personally don't like sites which tell me which browser I should use - I think the site should just work on a base-level technology and keep out non-compliant browsers or provide alternate content. Besides, IE doesn't need more of a monopoly that it already does
• The side navigation (with the links / contact) looks too similar to the actual links beneath them - perhaps lose the extra ::.. device either side to let people know they are just subheads
• The way you're giving priority to info over pics is excellent - most people visiting this site will be just after the facts, thanks!
• Since this is a government site, have you tested your pages to make sure they comply with the latest accessibility requirements? I'm not sure where to find them myself, but W3 is a good place to start.
• There's a little inconsistency in the way you're formatting text - sometimes you're using &lt;td align=center&gt; and sometimes &lt;div align=center&gt;. It's a good idea to use a strict method of formatting to help you months later on down the track when you've picked up the site to do some changes and need to remember how you did it the first time!

Hope this helps</STRONG>

1. The building shot? Yeah, its been gloomy here for the past month or so, with really no cloudless days. But this is just a temp. setup for our class project. More than likely I'll be hired outside and I'll be able to redo the pics and that when we get better weather.

2. I understand the browser thing, believe me. But they only use Netscape 4.5. We have IE 6 at school (yeah, unfortunately we're using Gateways for this class ). Plus, CSS isn't supported by Nutscrape 4.xx series. I plan on covering this issue as well later.

3. I'll talk with my group about the side navigation; I thought it was tacky as well, but majority rules. Bad thing about groups!

4. Thanks! I hated the one site that had a million pics and then like a paragraph of info with nothing relavant. That's one issue I tackled well if nothing else!

5. Again, W3C compatibility will come later when I am hired. Since this is being done for free, I dont want to get too involved and then not have anything to work on while getting paid!

6. The text formatting? I've been using Dreamweaver throughout the whole site so I have no fscking clue what is going on there. I'll check it out though, thanks!

[ReggieX]

You can do most CSS-1 stuff in NS4, so as long as you don't go overboard, it'll work.
Simon has said what I'd say, so I'll leave it at that

R

[yongfook]

your template is inconsistent.

from page to page, the tables shift around by a few pixels, it looks a bit unprofessional.

Once its finished, you should go through the code by hand to weed out stuff like this, as dreamweaver produces erratic code sometimes.

In your tables that have text content, you might want to stick some cellpadding into the table, otherwise it looks a bit odd with the text touching the extremes of the table.

Colour-scheme is a bit drab, it doesnt invoke a 'we are here to help' feeling.

[KaptainKaya]

Originally posted by yongfook:
<STRONG>your template is inconsistent.

from page to page, the tables shift around by a few pixels, it looks a bit unprofessional.

Once its finished, you should go through the code by hand to weed out stuff like this, as dreamweaver produces erratic code sometimes.

In your tables that have text content, you might want to stick some cellpadding into the table, otherwise it looks a bit odd with the text touching the extremes of the table.

Colour-scheme is a bit drab, it doesnt invoke a 'we are here to help' feeling.</STRONG>

1. Template - Like I said earlier, this site is based on 4 people working on it, 2 of which aren't even majoring in web design.

2. Once this project is done, I'm scrapping the site and redoing it myself. Its due next Tuesday, so we really have no time to do something extensive.

3. Cell padding might work, I'll try that.

4. Color scheme - refer to #1.
--Tim[/LIST]

[yongfook]

hmm ok, why ask our opinion if its all going to be scrapped!

[KaptainKaya]

Actually I asked before I realized that after this project I would be able to do it over again. I actually thought that the supervisor wanted it kept that way til I talked to him about it.

[derbs]

you asked for my opinion, well here it is

firstly - colour scheme. I know it been mentioned before but you got to lose it. I think if it's a corporate-y/government organisation (which this is), then you should have white backgrounds and dark text for the content-areas, perhaps a light grey background at worst. A well defined border around the site would be nice, you could fill that in a dark colour.

secondly - i'd make the top-bar less tall. Give it a darker 1px border around. Incorporate the opening hours in a stripe on the bottom.

Thirdly, make the navigation on the side graphic! Make it tie in and incorporate with the top bar. Do some nice subtle rollovers.

Fourthly, the content area. As i've said before, make it white/very light coloured. Text size verdana 10 or 11 pix, dark coloured, I prefer very dark grey (333333) to black.

A few general hints - get rid of the ellipse-shaped photo on the homepage... could u put this in the top bar? Also subtle drop shadows over grey look nice, they're my current flavour of the month

good luck

[yongfook]

yeah the ellipse doesnt really work as everything else on the page is so right-angled.

[KaptainKaya]

Thanks for the input. The one thing we did agree on was the background and make some other changes as well. Lets hope that its better