UPDATED: Site check using PC. New layout (post #10)

[MacBoobsPro]

Ive updated my site to give it a slightly better user friendly interface and updated the portfolio. To keep the text how I want it to look I have converted all text to graphics Can someone using a PC just give it a quick once over to see if I have missed any bits ogf text. If I have it will look quite out of place and be quite obvious (unless you have the exact same font installed).

Much appreciated.

Its done in iWeb and its here: http://www.stuartluff.co.uk

 

[ddekker]

site

seems to all work fine, I personally think it needs some verbage on what the site is about, other than that worked okay on a PC with firefox and with IE7

D

 

[ThunderLounge]

Have you tried http://browsershots.org/ yet?

Very handy tool if you haven't got access to a lot of platforms.

 

[MacBoobsPro]

seems to all work fine, I personally think it needs some verbage on what the site is about

Now that is interesting because it clearly (or so I thought) says what the site is about on the very first page, in the very first line of text. But you are now the second person to say that.

Is that not enough?

Other comments welcome.

 

[plinden]

Perhaps move Information to the right? Although that would interfere with the later pages. Or how about making your "all content by ..." larger, linking to the information page and removing the Information link?

Navigation is an issue - most people are used to using the Back button, and having a Back link rather than a Home link doesn't work for me. Especially when it changes position. It's far better to have a tab bar where you can go to any page from any page. Or at least have a "Front page" link.

There are too many clicks required to be able to see the images. How about thumbnails on each of the Portfolio subpages, where users can select them to see larger images.

How about using the empty space on the right of the front page to display random logos, changing every five seconds or so ... gives the visitor an upfront view of what you're doing.

Edit: also, using images rather than text for the list of logos makes page loading much, much slower than it could be.

 

[MacBoobsPro]

Perhaps move Information to the right? Although that would interfere with the later pages. Or how about making your "all content by ..." larger, linking to the information page and removing the Information link?

Navigation is an issue - most people are used to using the Back button, and having a Back link rather than a Home link doesn't work for me. Especially when it changes position. It's far better to have a tab bar where you can go to any page from any page.

There are too many clicks required to be able to see the images. How about thumbnails on each of the Portfolio subpages, where users can select them to see larger images.

How about using the empty space on the right of the front page to display random logos, changing every five seconds or so ... gives the visitor an upfront view of what you're doing.

Cant move Info to right for the reason you noted.

If the info was linked to by the Copyright text then it would never get seen as it is not obvious at all.

Not sure what you mean about the back link changing position. It remains in the same place all the time. However the back button does not link directly back to the page you came from. It links back to the 'main' part of that section. i.e. Portfolio section, not a particular piece of work. I realise this can be a bit confusing and will sort when time permits.

Random logos would be a nice idea but its done in iWeb and Im not too web savvy plus dont really have the time. So until I get round to it again it is unlikely to change from its current guise.

Maybe a total overhaul is due (again)

Thanks for the info. Any more from other people is welcome and much appreciated. Maybe this weekend I will give a BIG overhaul to the interface an get it perfek.

 

[plinden]

If the info was linked to by the Copyright text then it would never get seen as it is not obvious at all.

I actually went straight to the copyright for information about you. I thought "Portfolio" and "Information" was all one link.

Not sure what you mean about the back link changing position. It remains in the same place all the time. However the back button does not link directly back to the page you came from. It links back to the 'main' part of that section. i.e. Portfolio section, not a particular piece of work. I realise this can be a bit confusing and will sort when time permits.

When you click on Portfolio, Back's on the left, but it's on the right if you select Information. Rather than Back, it should say the page it takes you back to (e.g. Home, Portfolio)

Random logos would be a nice idea but its done in iWeb and Im not too web savvy plus dont really have the time. So until I get round to it again it is unlikely to change from its current guise.

Can't you do this with a slideshow? It's been a while since I played about with iWeb.

 

[heehee]

Like the others said, having a "Back" button in a web page is a big no no, there is already a back button on the browser. Where is "Back"? You might know where "Back" exactly is, but to a user, it's confusing trying to navigate the site. That's why you should always have buttons linking to main areas on ALL pages and have sub links where necessary.

I like the design, but it's very confusing trying to navigate the portfolio section.

 

[MacBoobsPro]

I actually went straight to the copyright for information about you. I thought "Portfolio" and "Information" was all one link.

Anyone else do that? Seems a bit strange to me I mean it clearly says 'Information'. Maybe I should separate the words a little more.

When you click on Portfolio, Back's on the left, but it's on the right if you select Information. Rather than Back, it should say the page it takes you back to (e.g. Home, Portfolio)

I see what you mean now. It does that to replace the button it is being linked from. It would get a whole lot crazier if not. I'll look into a new way of doing things for this bit.

Can't you do this with a slideshow? It's been a while since I played about with iWeb.

Slideshows in iWeb are a bit cheesey and will detract from my own work so to me its not an option.

Everyones points are very interesting and I will act upon them. Especially HeeHee's one about the 'back' button. I just thought 'Home' sounded cheesey.

Any more points are welcome. Thanks

 

[MacBoobsPro]

Redesign

Following all your comments I have started upon a re-redesign

However Im a bit unsure as how I should implement the portfolio section. Having thumbnails of the images as links to the main image would be nice but will add greatly to download time and can look a bit messy on the page. I want to keep everything to a minimum so I am looking at possibly a text only option to keep things clear and simple.

The first screeny will be the Home page. As you can see there are 3 clear links. Info would take you to contact info etc and Portfolio would take you to screen grab 2.

Now then, this is where it gets a bit tricky. Originally the redesign before this one had a link to the portfolio section but the portfolio had no subsections. You just had a left and right arrow to scroll through the work. That was fine but now there is quite a lot of work I would like to show and I feel subsections are needed. As you can see I have (at the moment) made the subsection appear under the portfolio link and the subsection you are in is highlighted by a dot. It looks ok but Im not totally convinced by it. To see other work in that section you can click on the circles to the left. Would that be obvious enough for it to work?

Again any ideas (on any part) is appreciated.