Site Reviews Wanted (Friends & Family Need Not Apply)
 

In the process of rebuilding my site I've been seeking criticism from friends and family.
The only trouble is, they're all being so terribly, terribly Nice.

Over to you...

http://drawingboard.npugh.co.uk/

Sorry, thought the site review forum might be the place where I could get my site reviewed ;)

I'd just like some feedback on content from people who don't already know me or my work. Feedback on coding is always good...

It's kinda plain and boring for me. Guess it not designed for my screen res (1280x1024) as there's more whitepsace than content and it's all spread apart. The images you're using to go to pages are a bad idea as they're not saying what the link is going to, it's known as mystery-meat navigation and it's a big no no

I just added links to the images so people can find out more...

All the navigation navigation is text link based - thanks for the feedback though!

So much of my content is image-based by nature that I'm wary of putting too much on one page... If anyone can refer me to any neat display solutions they've come across I'd be grateful!

hmm
 

Hi surgeproof,

are you using 1280x1024 too?

I need to be really carefull about the website not distracting from my work so I'd be cautious about backgrounds... (still, dull is dull - maybe I've just been surrounded by the white cube gallery space aesthetic for too long!)

More words to go with the pictures might be useful - if I could find the ones that don't sound too patronising!

Cheers

You really should add a background image, but get one of your art works, and put it on no repeat and water mark, then it looks really really proffecional, and not so dull anymore :D

but it looks good other then that, good job

I think that the space and the colourlessness combines to make it look a little... bland. Space and colourlessness both have a time and a place, but together they can join forces to create a slightly bland looking site. Try adding some more colour, even if its just some pastel tones or something - Just a thought.

OK, back from work now so I can have a play...

I'll experiment with some gradients (if I were to use a background image, which one would I choose?! Sometimes I wish I just did paintings ;) )

hmmmm...

Personally, I quite like it. Well, parts of it. I think it has promise... I don't think it needs a background texture - sometimes backgrounds can take it the wrong way, but of course it depends on what background you need.

Whitespace is good, but you have to use it correctly. I think that your site has a whitespace problem simply because you have not set out thinking about the whitespace, and making it a feature, and that becomes apparent...

I think that I would recommend using more whitespace around some elements, such as the bar on the left, which would narrow the space in the middle... however, at larger resolutions, you will always have some trouble because of the liquid design you have used. So... how about deciding how much whitespace to use, and setting a fixed width for the page? Then define the page edge somehow. Part of the trouble is that there is not a lot of text to fill up that area. That's what leaves it looking rather empty, which makes the viewer think 'bland'... it's amzing how even the addition of fine lines to define areas etc. can make a difference! :)

Oh, a word of warning. Stay away from 1280x1024 - it's a BAD (but unfortunately, popular) resolution to use. Instead, use 1280x960. Why? Aspect ratio... 1280x1024 gives 1.25 ratio rather than the 1.33 ratio shared by 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1600x1200, 1920x1440, etc. etc. Personally, having two 19" monitors, I have 1920x1440 on the left and 1280x960 on the right, which I use for previewing.

So, not bad overall, but more thought is needed on fonts, colours, images, etc. It does look a bit unfinished, and it doesn't flow quite right yet. I look forward to seeing the finished result :)

::] krycek [::

PS - What redhead said, too ;)

Well, here are screen shots of two gradients:

http://drawingboard.npugh.co.uk/grey_gradient
http://drawingboard.npugh.co.uk/green_gradient

don't think more grey is what's called for!
the green's a bit more successful - but would need some tweaking... (points taken about introducing more colour)

I kinda like the idea of defining the navigation area a bit more (but without getting too boxy)

I've tried a horizontal gradient coming in from the right: interfered with the content too much :(


krycek: I particularly like the sound of your arguments - I guess I know how I'm spending my Saturday night... :p

I like the green gradiant. I think a blue would like nice to. Though I am partial to blue.

partial to blue too
(it has been pointed out to me at great length - trying to break out of the mould!)

hmmmmm....

http://drawingboard.npugh.co.uk/3

Sectioning, header...
 

Good, good, a header was what I was missing; it doesn't need to be that obvious (like a gradient, or a dividing line as you suggested), but something to distinguish the page head from the main content will provide sort of a starting point and will make the navigation catch a little more much-needed attention.
I always am fond of a footer as well, since it marks the end of the page and indicates the reader that he/she can stop trying to scroll down... :D

The "n" logo is very subtle, and not very pretty at that (rough edges); I feel you can easily get away with making that a little more prominent.

About the imagery on the home page: I'd suggest taking the "mystery" element out of it by supplying a caption referring to where the link is pointing, and making the caption part of the link as well.

Lastly, code-wise you must have heard of the drawbacks of using tables for layout purposes; in the case of your layout, I think they can be easily be replaced by structural markup and a little CSS positioning. Floating the vertical page title bar for instance would be perfectly feasible, and it being first in the source order is completely logical as well.