Site Review

[StupidRalph]

Just stumbled on a really old design that ended up falling thru...(long story..maybe why I don't sub-contract anymore ). I was wondering if you think that the design (NOT THE HTML) was worth even reviving from the dead. I know the home page is messed up. They tried slicing my .jpg and creating a home page from it LoL.

Anyway go to this link.
http://www.carpe-edatum.com/DHR/

Once again this is over 2 years old. I just want your opinion on the aesthetics of this site. Not the HTML. I've since reformed and use XHTML and CSS. I have my own dislikes and reservations but I want to hear yours.

So my Yes/No question is should I let this design simply die...or do you think it is decent enough to correct and would make a nice template.

You can click either one of the "Read More"'s to view a sample of the content page.

[ns1987]

Get rid of it, or at least change the colour scheme.
On another note, the content seems crowded.

[StupidRalph]

Yeah I really don't know what I was thnking about with the home page....it looks "nice" but it really doesn't say much...thats why I was simply thinking of scraping it. Color scheme is.....ehhh whatever that goes into whether I should take the time to even bother with it all.

[NickPresta]

Get rid of the design, completely.

The layout itself feels very cluttered and my eyes are constantly jumping all over the place. The colors make it look and feel like I'm in a cloud. Choose something with darker highlights for a more professional look.

[ubik]

Hey Im Diggin It ralph. That's a pretty nice design. I too, think it looks a bit 'crowded' but i think that's because of how some elements are not lined up properly and out of place so it makes it look sort-of "sloppy" but you can re-arrange things to make them look a little 'neater'. here is a quick mock up I did just now in photoshop i also changed the color to a slate blue ;)

http://xs71.xs.to/pics/06100/ralph.jpg


but still, nice design nevertheless :thumbsup:

[StupidRalph]

Okay so that is 2-1 to scrap it. LoL @ Ubik that quick makeover kind've sways my position. IF I were to redo it I will DEFINATELY change the color scheme. As stated b4 this was a sub-contracted deal that fell thru and then they tried to steal....LoL.

Also IF I were to keep it more than likely I would replace everything under the search toolbar. I would keep the "overflow" feeling of the contents onto the background just in a neater way.

[NancyJ]

give the guy a break its not THAT bad ;)
Its unusual but its not a total lost cause. With a little neatening up it would be fine.

[jpamorgan]

I say get rid of it. It's too crouded and a bit awkward.

_________________________________________________
Colorscapes.com (http://colorscapes.com) - JPAMorgan.com (http://jpamorgan.com)

[greasonwolfe]

Well, given the time frame that it was done in, it looks typical of the "era" when it seemed like the best way to promote a sight was to assault the visitor with as much info as possible but not quite enough to push them away from the page. LOL. Of course, as you said, it was sub-contracted so I have no idea how much control you had over layout. But from my point of view, it looked like your standard, run of the mill medical resources page.

Ubik's right. A few color changes, a bit of rearranging and it could definately pop and, maybe, stand out from the other medical pages out there.

I don't know if I would necessarily scrap it per-se, but maybe keep it on a back burner and fiddle with it every once in a while and see what you can come up with. I do that with my old pages quite a bit when I go back and look at them. It's that whole "well, what if I did this. . . and then did that, and how would this look here...."

[StupidRalph]

Well, given the time frame that it was done in, it looks typical of the "era" when it seemed like the best way to promote a sight was to assault the visitor with as much info as possible but not quite enough to push them away from the page. LOL. Of course, as you said, it was sub-contracted so I have no idea how much control you had over layout. But from my point of view, it looked like your standard, run of the mill medical resources page.

Ubik's right. A few color changes, a bit of rearranging and it could definately pop and, maybe, stand out from the other medical pages out there.

I don't know if I would necessarily scrap it per-se, but maybe keep it on a back burner and fiddle with it every once in a while and see what you can come up with. I do that with my old pages quite a bit when I go back and look at them. It's that whole "well, what if I did this. . . and then did that, and how would this look here...."

I think this is the thread I was looking for. So I'll take this run with it. You're right about leaving a project and then coming back to it. It is soooo much easier to think. I actually only had 2 days to design AND do the HTML on this. I was a relatively new hobbyist then but I've since grown. But I get the feeling that some of these threads base my current skill set on this site. So I have attached my latest template. Unlike some here I'm not a "professional" web designer I just like doing it as a hobby. However, I do think I have the talent to make a living at it. I just prefer music.

[greasonwolfe]

Heh, I am right there with you. A hobbyist that would like to run with the ball in the professional world. Unfortunately, I know just enough to get myself in trouble and not quite enough to even hire on as a novice unless they need someone to fill the shoes of "how not to design a web site" LOL

[StupidRalph]

Hey you know I was actually thinking of doing a tutorial on "How to Design Like the Professlionals for the Unprofessionals"
I'm actually thinking of the site now. If you have messenger i'll send you what I have as of now.

[greasonwolfe]

Naw, no messenger. The tutorial might be a good idea but it might get lost in the host of other tutorials that are out there on the same subject. I've ran across dozens of them so far and not one of them has said the same thing.

Use tables for layout
Don't use tables for layout
Use hybred tables and css for layout
Use this. . . .
Dont use that. . .

It all comes down to preferences, what your comfortable with and what you are tyring to achieve. My projects right now are being worked up in two formats. . . on the one side is pure CSS and the other side is tables. They are about 50/50 right now as far as design appearance goes. Eventually though, I am going to have to settle with one or the other.

[StupidRalph]

Yeah I think I am going to make a series based on the same site.

The intial planning and design process:
I am going to show them step by step on how I designed a specific site.

The slicing and HTML generation:
I am going to show them how to make there slices and how to use strictly CSS for their layout.


Importing your text:
Finally a quick chapter on how to use XML to import their text into their site.

I divide my sites into three sections
Design, Layout, Text

1. I design a site in Photoshop.
2. Choose one of my pre-defined CSS layouts and adjust heights and widths.
3. Then simply type the text in my XML files.
Keeps maintenance quite simple. Want to change the design? Simply swap out the images. Want to change the site text? Edit your XML file.
Its really the best way and makes the most sense to me.

[greasonwolfe]

Ah, but there you have it. Such a tutorial would leave me out in the cold since I don't slice images and I dont use XML.

As for the three sections. . . I have a few dozen myself.

Concept
Design Considerations
Layout Considerations
Presentation Considerations
Content
Start Coding
Get Frustrated
Pull Some Hair Out
Come Here For Help
Get Help
Make Progress
Get Frustrated Again
Pull More Hair Out
Scrap Everything
Start at Step 1 again.
Repeat Several Times Over.

As you can see, my methods are rather detailed. LOL

[trendybox]

Okay... let me just say this... its unique.... that to me is refreshing... yes it could use a little more work but I think you were on the right track with the idea.... thinking outside the box. everyone that said that the text is crowded is right. what i like most about it though is how you literally "break out of the box". that's creative. most people use standard boring boxes that aren't unique in any way shape or form... you have things actually providing depth by not conforming to the rectangle's borders.
just now in photoshop i also changed the color to a slate blue
That color scheme does seem to work much better. but I say take a few hours and revive that old design.
My big suggestion about it and i think its what is making it hard to look at is that the right side of the banner goes inward to the left where as every other curve goes out. maybe not have the nav bar going outside the borders would help too.
and maybe consider tying it up at the bottom better instead of having it go to a white rectangle... something involving a curve.
perhaps see what it would look like centered?