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Rich43

Rich43

Rich43

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Joined
2 Nov 2005
Posts
931
Location
Leicester
This is a website for a web 2.0 open source project that I am doing :)

Heres the current mockup that I have:
http://4rensics.com/hnwebsite/webmockup.html

Heres one with a slightly modified logo (not sure which one to pick):
http://4rensics.com/hnwebsite/webmockup2.html

All source code is here (including logo source): http://4rensics.com/hnwebsite/

I am looking for suggestions.

Known problems:
  • Menu on left is missing a curve.
  • Curves don't work with internet explorer.
  • Isnt any real content since its just a mockup.
 
How is this web2.0? Not that I am a master of that sort of thing... I expected a ton of javascript/xhtml/tagging/social bookmarking or something...

Maybe I can't seperate the hype of web2.0 from the reality...
 
Rich43 said:
Its a pre-alpha mockup. You are looking at my colours/layout/html/css etc not content :)
Click to expand...
What sort of suggestions are you looking for specifically?

From a quick look, here's what I think:
  • Colours: not very nice, looks like something I would knock up, you're clearly not a designer
  • Layout: it's a bit weird, doesn't feel right somehow
  • HTML: not great, ideally your menu should be a list of links, not 6 paragraph tags with text in them, you have text on your background images which doesn't appear anywhere within the page (e.g. your header would be better as a header tag with the header text in it, then hide the text and style using CSS)
  • CSS: not good, it needs compacting, you've not done any form of browser reset, you're using mozilla only styles (which is why your rounded corners don't work cross browser). Did you use some sort of wysiwyg editor for it?

I'd question why you think this site is in any way web2.0 too tbh. I'm still not sure what you want us to suggest though :o


Mick
 
Mickey said:
What sort of suggestions are you looking for specifically?

From a quick look, here's what I think:
  • Colours: not very nice, looks like something I would knock up, you're clearly not a designer
  • Layout: it's a bit weird, doesn't feel right somehow
  • HTML: not great, ideally your menu should be a list of links, not 6 paragraph tags with text in them, you have text on your background images which doesn't appear anywhere within the page (e.g. your header would be better as a header tag with the header text in it, then hide the text and style using CSS)
  • CSS: not good, it needs compacting, you've not done any form of browser reset, you're using mozilla only styles (which is why your rounded corners don't work cross browser). Did you use some sort of wysiwyg editor for it?

I'd question why you think this site is in any way web2.0 too tbh. I'm still not sure what you want us to suggest though :o


Mick
Click to expand...

True, I'm a programmer. I'm good at programming, not bad at css/html, used it a lot and I don't design for a living which explains the bad web design even though I am capable of using css/html.

css - I like dreamweavers css editor, I can compact it later easy enough. I was using some CSS3 for now until I am happy with the layout, then I can switch to corner images.

header - Done that H1 trick before in a previous project for header, was on todo list :)

links - was planning to use skinned lists. its just temporary!

colours - need ideas, inspiration, im not a designer.

Should the header be same width as the rest of it? Or shall I keep the unusual curve?
What are good layout alternatives?
What images should I have and where?
Be specific :)

I don't think its web 2.0, but I want it to be.
Also most web 2.0 features are content related and only a small part seems to be looks... I'm asking you for appearance advice and not content advice. Someone suggested shiny web 2.0 gradients but I don't know how to fit that in without it standing out like a sore thumb.
 
Last edited:
Rich43 said:
css - I like dreamweavers css editor, I can compact it later easy enough. I was using some CSS3 for now until I am happy with the layout, then I can switch to corner images.
Click to expand...
You might like it, but it's really not great. If you can do CSS without it you'll generally endup with a better result.

Rich43 said:
header - Done that H1 trick before in a previous project for header, was on todo list :)

links - was planning to use skinned lists. its just temporary!
Click to expand...
I'd question why you'd do it this way in the first place when doing it right from the start would have been just as quick :p

Rich43 said:
colours - need ideas, inspiration, im not a designer.
Click to expand...
I'd try some richer/stronger colours, it all looks a bit washed out how it is. Really, I'd consider finding someone who is decent at design to help you though :p Plenty of people about who will be happy to help to build up their portfolio.

Rich43 said:
Should the header be same width as the rest of it? Or shall I keep the unusual curve?
What are good layout alternatives?
Click to expand...
I don't mind the general layout, the header looks OK as it is to me. The thing I really don't like is how the menu column just stops after the menu, would look a lot better if the white background continued down the whole page IMO.


Oh, and...DO A CSS RESET. That is all ;)
 
Anyone willing to donate a little time to a open source project, I just need a little web 2.0 graphics work doing. The website will be released under a open source license, along with a python website backend :) Written in a similar style to a ruby on rails website. Similar to donating to charity :)

The project is a cross platform python game database, works in a similar way to steam (as in it downloads, installs, runs games from a central location) except that it only runs python games and all games are python modules and runs on the 3 big operating systems. I have the first version of the client almost done but I need the server side finished, as in a website that feeds data to the client.
 
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