Web Design Forums

Mitch · 17-10-2006, 08:42

Right guys, you may remember a logo I designed for the craft exhibition firm last month, well I did all the relevant branding that included stationery and advertising and all the other gumph, but this is one area where I have never walked before ever. Websites.

They wanted me to design it, so it stayed within my guidlines, so I thought, what the heck, I used a developer to put the site up, and there are some niggles. (not all pages are ready yet, just the splash home and order tickets within Thorpe Park)

I just need you guys to have a loksy and tell my the pitfalls before this goes public. (I feel having the text set within the page could be one, instead of live text)

As I said this is my first one, but my skin is thick, so all comments are welcome...

Here it is...

http://www.scarletcharger.com/fuzetest/makeit

Justinraff · 17-10-2006, 09:32

very nice, background is a little bit garish for me though.

jase1000 · 17-10-2006, 09:36

Nice design, but the site itself is just a series of images cut together in Dreamweaver. Not what I'd desribe as professional web development at all - it's totally inaccessible and there is nothing for a search engine to get hold of.

Very poor from that point of view.

Mitch · 17-10-2006, 09:48

Hi Jase, yes that is main concern.

The text is very minimal throughout the site, and 'should' be text not part of the image.

As said, I know nothing about website, and search engine optimisation is a big concern.

Please excuse my ignorance, but what can I do to make the site more 'searchable'?

Cheers for your comments guys.

jase1000 · 17-10-2006, 10:01

The site should be layed out using Divs and CSS rather than tables (this has probably gone right over your head but have a wee search around here and there's plenty of debate on the subject).

You should use 'real' text as opposed to images of text unless it is absolutely critical to your design. Usually this means giving up on your nice font in favour of a system standard font such as Verdana, Helvetica etc. That's just part of life I'm afraid.

Use text links instead of image links.

If SEO is a concern then I'm afraid it's back to the drawing board with this one.

Really nice design, although I will agree that the BG image is just a tad too strong.

Good luck with it - give your developer a bollocking!

emil · 17-10-2006, 10:14

The site should be semantic (do not replace tds with divs).
Text should be text, links should be links, paragraphs should be paragraphs, tables should be tables.
The background hurts my eyes, too many textures, I don't get the images on the side.

I like the logo and type, they could work extremely well by themselves, without so many tacky flourishes.
The type alone on plain white background would look a lot better.

Mitch · 17-10-2006, 10:26

Yeah the text should text, that is why it is set in Aerial (the developer will have to change this, but will it be enough for a search engine to pick up on?), I guess I am just a total noob, but then again, you must start somewhere...

Hopefully next time I will work with a team that I can bounce/learn of, rather than fumbling in the dark.

Many many thanks for your input.

Do you reckon just a clean BG should be used? Maybe just white?

Scott · 17-10-2006, 10:27

get a proper web guy to do the work mate - it will let your work down.

May I suggest - Freelancr on this forum.

emil · 17-10-2006, 10:29

use white background throughout the site, you don't need the textrued schnizz. Nowhere. Keep it simple.

jase1000 · 17-10-2006, 10:31

How about keeping the canvassy sorta texture on the background but just in white?

Mitch · 17-10-2006, 10:32

Yeah I kinda agree with the BG, but I feel the textures do play a big part, as the audience can relate to the textures/raw materials, as crafters are the projected audience and wanted to give it a lower tech feel.

emil · 17-10-2006, 10:33

I tried.

Scott · 17-10-2006, 10:35

heh - seriously though, if your not going to get somebody else to make the site - make sure you get it done right.

Mitch · 17-10-2006, 10:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by emilpaun

I tried.

And I love your little cotton socks for it. Seriously I appreciate all comments. And they do all get considered.

Thanks loads folks! I guess I have a lot to learn...

jase1000 · 17-10-2006, 10:48

I agree with you re. the textures. It looks very arts and craftsy.

It maybe doesn't translate too well to Romania though.

emil · 17-10-2006, 10:49

Yeah, to us it reads 1998.

jase1000 · 17-10-2006, 10:53

Haha, sarcy git. You may be right. Maybe a single quality image is in order rather than an obvious tile.

emil · 17-10-2006, 10:55

I know I am.

Mitch · 17-10-2006, 11:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by emilpaun

Yeah, to us it reads 1998.

My intention was not for the site to be a generic clean cutting edge design, it is trying to connect with the customer, which is 40+ female crafters...

Which way would you have gone??

p.s. Remember that only dead fish follow the current... ;o)

Mr Fred · 17-10-2006, 12:34

individual some nice elements.
altogether too much going on.

but dont listen to me - I only use one typeface.

17-10-2006, 08:42	#1 (permalink)
Mitch Chavtastic Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,547	make it website Right guys, you may remember a logo I designed for the craft exhibition firm last month, well I did all the relevant branding that included stationery and advertising and all the other gumph, but this is one area where I have never walked before ever. Websites. They wanted me to design it, so it stayed within my guidlines, so I thought, what the heck, I used a developer to put the site up, and there are some niggles. (not all pages are ready yet, just the splash home and order tickets within Thorpe Park) I just need you guys to have a loksy and tell my the pitfalls before this goes public. (I feel having the text set within the page could be one, instead of live text) As I said this is my first one, but my skin is thick, so all comments are welcome... Here it is... http://www.scarletcharger.com/fuzetest/makeit

17-10-2006, 09:36	#3 (permalink)
jase1000 turd 2.0 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Right on your tit end Posts: 1,162	Nice design, but the site itself is just a series of images cut together in Dreamweaver. Not what I'd desribe as professional web development at all - it's totally inaccessible and there is nothing for a search engine to get hold of. Very poor from that point of view. __________________ Stand Free

17-10-2006, 10:01	#5 (permalink)
jase1000 turd 2.0 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Right on your tit end Posts: 1,162	The site should be layed out using Divs and CSS rather than tables (this has probably gone right over your head but have a wee search around here and there's plenty of debate on the subject). You should use 'real' text as opposed to images of text unless it is absolutely critical to your design. Usually this means giving up on your nice font in favour of a system standard font such as Verdana, Helvetica etc. That's just part of life I'm afraid. Use text links instead of image links. If SEO is a concern then I'm afraid it's back to the drawing board with this one. Really nice design, although I will agree that the BG image is just a tad too strong. Good luck with it - give your developer a bollocking! __________________ Stand Free

17-10-2006, 10:31	#10 (permalink)
jase1000 turd 2.0 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Right on your tit end Posts: 1,162	How about keeping the canvassy sorta texture on the background but just in white? __________________ Stand Free

17-10-2006, 10:48	#15 (permalink)
jase1000 turd 2.0 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Right on your tit end Posts: 1,162	I agree with you re. the textures. It looks very arts and craftsy. It maybe doesn't translate too well to Romania though. __________________ Stand Free

17-10-2006, 09:32	#2 (permalink)
Justinraff Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Belfast Posts: 60	very nice, background is a little bit garish for me though.

17-10-2006, 09:48	#4 (permalink)
Mitch Chavtastic Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,547	Hi Jase, yes that is main concern. The text is very minimal throughout the site, and 'should' be text not part of the image. As said, I know nothing about website, and search engine optimisation is a big concern. Please excuse my ignorance, but what can I do to make the site more 'searchable'? Cheers for your comments guys.

17-10-2006, 10:14	#6 (permalink)
emil dt immigrant Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bucharest - Romania Posts: 7,017	The site should be semantic (do not replace tds with divs). Text should be text, links should be links, paragraphs should be paragraphs, tables should be tables. The background hurts my eyes, too many textures, I don't get the images on the side. I like the logo and type, they could work extremely well by themselves, without so many tacky flourishes. The type alone on plain white background would look a lot better.

17-10-2006, 10:26	#7 (permalink)
Mitch Chavtastic Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,547	Yeah the text should text, that is why it is set in Aerial (the developer will have to change this, but will it be enough for a search engine to pick up on?), I guess I am just a total noob, but then again, you must start somewhere... Hopefully next time I will work with a team that I can bounce/learn of, rather than fumbling in the dark. Many many thanks for your input. Do you reckon just a clean BG should be used? Maybe just white?

17-10-2006, 10:27	#8 (permalink)
Scott sanddancer Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: South Shields Posts: 2,924	get a proper web guy to do the work mate - it will let your work down. May I suggest - Freelancr on this forum.

17-10-2006, 10:29	#9 (permalink)
emil dt immigrant Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bucharest - Romania Posts: 7,017	use white background throughout the site, you don't need the textrued schnizz. Nowhere. Keep it simple.

17-10-2006, 10:32	#11 (permalink)
Mitch Chavtastic Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,547	Yeah I kinda agree with the BG, but I feel the textures do play a big part, as the audience can relate to the textures/raw materials, as crafters are the projected audience and wanted to give it a lower tech feel.

17-10-2006, 10:33	#12 (permalink)
emil dt immigrant Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bucharest - Romania Posts: 7,017	I tried.

17-10-2006, 10:35	#13 (permalink)
Scott sanddancer Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: South Shields Posts: 2,924	heh - seriously though, if your not going to get somebody else to make the site - make sure you get it done right.

17-10-2006, 10:49	#16 (permalink)
emil dt immigrant Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bucharest - Romania Posts: 7,017	Yeah, to us it reads 1998.

17-10-2006, 10:53	#17 (permalink)
jase1000 turd 2.0 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Right on your tit end Posts: 1,162	Haha, sarcy git. You may be right. Maybe a single quality image is in order rather than an obvious tile. __________________ Stand Free

17-10-2006, 10:55	#18 (permalink)
emil dt immigrant Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bucharest - Romania Posts: 7,017	I know I am.

17-10-2006, 12:34	#20 (permalink)
Mr Fred Magazines™ Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Glasgow.. Posts: 11,354	individual some nice elements. altogether too much going on. but dont listen to me - I only use one typeface.

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