Updated new website since last time: feedback for a newbie plz!!

Draeger · 11 May 2007 at 21:04

Okeydoke, got lots of advice from you fellas here on my second attempt at a website in my last thread.

I've now completely redone the whole site and uploaded it to my host.

www.indagatio.co.uk

I've decided to go down a slightly different road now. I'm still using Dreamweaver, but I have used a template for this site and am now using DW in its "Split" mode and to be quite honest, I'm finding I am learning more about HTML by watching whats happening in the code box as I use the desigh mode more than before. Thanks to those who suggested I do that in my last thread.

So here's my third attempt. It needs polished, certainly. It's nothing startling.

One thing I am not sure about is the header text for each page......it looks kinda "off centre" even though I have aligned it centre?. Any advice on that?. Looks like it just needs moved a few pixels to the right to tie up?.

Also, the "stripey" background image on the left and the right of the main content page seems to "jump" slightly between certain pages. How can I solve that?.

Any further advice and critique welcomed. Its the only way I'm going to get my head around this!!!.

Thank you once again. :cool:

Jaffa_Cake · 11 May 2007 at 21:20

Wow mate, what an improvement from Attempt 1. :eek:

I must say its very 'white' but I quite like it. Maybe put some borders around content. Just an idea I think its a very nice job.

blade007 · 11 May 2007 at 21:49

i don't like the big eye, sorry. can't put a reason on it.

sugoi · 11 May 2007 at 22:15

i didn't see attempt one, but i can give some constructive criticism for this design anyway...

on the homepage i think you should get rid of the scotland image on either side of the "Welcome to Indagatio" part, it's not that clear, and at first glance looked like a blob of "something", i reckon you are better off creating a larger version of it and stick it on the homepage and mark the map in the areas you deal with or put that in the contact/about us page.

The header seems fine, im not sure how capable you are with Photoshop, but over time i think it could be improved, the logo is slightly plain and doesn't really stand out, maybe some re-arranging and colour contrasting needs to be looked into.

And i think you are right in that the headings on each page looks a bit off centered... must be down to the CSS, possibly extra paddings or margins creating that effect.

Wimnat · 11 May 2007 at 22:48

The page background changes position on the different pages which is weird.

Also the fees and contact us pages have their centre column in a slightly different position to the other pages.

(Using FF2.x)

I've noticed some of the links of the menu's on some pages are incorrect.

Craig321 · 12 May 2007 at 00:38

Draeger said:
Okeydoke, got lots of advice from you fellas here on my second attempt at a website in my last thread.

I've now completely redone the whole site and uploaded it to my host.

www.indagatio.co.uk

I've decided to go down a slightly different road now. I'm still using Dreamweaver, but I have used a template for this site and am now using DW in its "Split" mode and to be quite honest, I'm finding I am learning more about HTML by watching whats happening in the code box as I use the desigh mode more than before. Thanks to those who suggested I do that in my last thread.

So here's my third attempt. It needs polished, certainly. It's nothing startling.

One thing I am not sure about is the header text for each page......it looks kinda "off centre" even though I have aligned it centre?. Any advice on that?. Looks like it just needs moved a few pixels to the right to tie up?.

Also, the "stripey" background image on the left and the right of the main content page seems to "jump" slightly between certain pages. How can I solve that?.

Any further advice and critique welcomed. Its the only way I'm going to get my head around this!!!.

Thank you once again.

Looks good, but there's something about the navigation I don't like.

Try stretch the grey of the navigation up until the dotted line, it might look better.

Mickey · 12 May 2007 at 04:14

Craig321 said:
Looks good, but there's something about the navigation I don't like.

Try stretch the grey of the navigation up until the dotted line, it might look better.

Was going to post the same thing, i'm not sure about the background colour though, just doesn't seem right against the rest of the content area being plain white. Also, the underline on the title?

How about something a bit more like this ?

Mick.

Draeger · 12 May 2007 at 10:44

Craig321 said:
Looks good, but there's something about the navigation I don't like.

Try stretch the grey of the navigation up until the dotted line, it might look better.

Cheers, how do I do that?. :confused:

Mickey said:
Was going to post the same thing, i'm not sure about the background colour though, just doesn't seem right against the rest of the content area being plain white. Also, the underline on the title?

How about something a bit more like this ?

Mick.

Mick, how do I add that border like you have in that picture?.

When you mention the background colour, do you mean the white part under the nav box on the left?. I think you might be right, will try it out.

Removed the underline on the titles on each page, think it looks a bit better.

Sinque · 12 May 2007 at 13:16

I'm not too sure on the eye either. Maybe a big magnifier or something.Took me about 30seconds to even realise what the website was about and I had to read the front page. As said already it looks like a blog. Possibly make it more investigatey

Not bad though

Mickey · 12 May 2007 at 13:54

Draeger said:
Mick, how do I add that border like you have in that picture?.

Well, if you're sure the content is always going to be longer than the menu, you could add the border to the left of the content box rather than the right of the menu.

If you're not sure which will be longer, you do it by adding it as a background image (repeat-y) on the container for the menu and content.

Draeger said:
When you mention the background colour, do you mean the white part under the nav box on the left?. I think you might be right, will try it out.

I meant the gray background on the menu, if you see in the image I took it off and just had the items going gray on hover/when that's the selected page.

Steeps · 12 May 2007 at 14:58

Wimnat said:
Also the fees and contact us pages have their centre column in a slightly different position to the other pages.

(Using FF2.x)

I've noticed some of the links of the menu's on some pages are incorrect.

the centre moves because of the scrollbar, noticed it on a few of my own sites and i don't know a way around it without aligning left (or forcing pages with scrolls/no scrolls different widths)

tsinc80697 · 13 May 2007 at 17:43

stop using tables unless you are displaying tabular data such as a football league table!
DIVs and CSS only

Mint_Sauce · 13 May 2007 at 18:28

My honest opinion is that although it does what it's supposed too, the feel to it is amateur. But I think if you were to play about with it a little more you could turn that around. Little things like some of the font selections etc could make a big difference. Also, non stretched images would help too. Little things like that which make all the difference.

Draeger · 13 May 2007 at 20:05

Mint_Sauce said:
But I think if you were to play about with it a little more you could turn that around. Little things like some of the font selections etc could make a big difference. Also, non stretched images would help too. Little things like that which make all the difference.

I'm all ears m8, fire away with any suggestions you have, all are appreciated. :cool: