Ruthless review required

taffd · 07-27-2007, 01:55 PM

Having used codingforums repeatedly during the last few weeks, I can see that there are quite a few experts here. I would appreciate a candid review of http://www.myverdict.net and any suggestions for how it should have been done. My thanks in advance. I will spend the next couple of hours attempting to review other sites here though it will be as a layman rather than an expert.

srule_ · 07-27-2007, 02:23 PM

I am by know means an expert but i will tell you what I think!

The layout is good. Everything is well organized and you dont fall victim to the commma trap of having to much stuff! I will offer a few suggestions to improve upon, but overall I think you should keep the layout as is.

keeping what i just said in mind i think you need to inhance your graphics, (but dont over do it). As of now the site is a bit too plane.

1. Change your header, It is kinda boaring right now and looks "old". It does not need to be anything extravagant, just somthing with more modern feel.

2.THe only formating on your navigation is that you took away the text-decoration then added it back for the roll over. I would try and make this part of the site more appealing as well.

3. Your welcome message is a bit to long it totaly put me off reading it and as a result i still don't know what your site does. if possible try to shorten this message. also add some visual cues that will let your audiance understand what the site is about quickley.
On second thought it may not even be the length that put me off reading it, The basic style of black text on white also did not help as my mind was thinking "boaring".

4.Consider adding some shape, a few curved boxes can go a long way.

hope this gives you some ideas

taffd · 07-27-2007, 03:07 PM

Thanks srule,
I'll be interested to know how others feel about the plainness of the site. I particularly wanted to have no bells and whistles or annoying adverts to detract from what I hope is the serious part of the site. I intend to make other parts of the site more 'attractive'.
I totally agree about the long-winded message on the frontpage and will address that shortly. I also agree about the curves.

The main factor affecting the design is that I use dreamweaver and tables for design, roundly condemned I know but I know how to use it. Without it, I wouldn't have the first page yet. And I have learned some php and sql along the way, so I'm becoming more proficient.

srule_ · 07-27-2007, 03:15 PM

i didn't even look at your code,

. I would consider learning CSS on the side and slowly try to recreate your site in xhtml. it may take a bit of time to learn but it will save you time in the long run!

PS: in return for my review i would appreciate a review on the site i am currently making, u can find in about 3/4ths of the way down the page

_Aerospace_Eng_ · 07-27-2007, 07:51 PM

It is a little plain and I think you should read the link in my sig titled "Why tables for layout is stupid?". IMO if you are going to even attempt web design do it the right way or don't do it at all.

Check out the CSS layouts on www.bonrouge.com for in inspiration on a no tables layout. Tables aren't for page layout, they are for displaying data, get it right.

Since you are using php I suggest you create a contact form so your email address isn't left out there for spam bots to read and spam you with.

Also "using Dreamweaver" is no excuse for sloppy code. I use the code view of Dreamweaver and I don't use tables unless displaying data.

taffd · 07-28-2007, 01:07 AM

Thank you Aero,
I could answer your review with some whiny justification but in fact I agree with most of what you said. I had already planned to upgrade the site to make it fully compliant but I had to reach this stage to understand what I was doing. I have in fact used css, but only partly.
The email form is a great idea.
As to the plainness, I wanted the site to be bells and whistles free. I was aiming for simple rather than plain, but again I tend to agree. This will be addressed as I redo the site.
I read every page of your anti-table site by the way. Very good.

I've just realised that in the members area of the site, because each country has different names for their administrative divisions, county, region, state, etc. I've got 250 different navigation tables in my database that will have to be changed. Long nights ahead.
Thanks again for your review, most helpful.
Regards
Taffd

BWiz · 07-29-2007, 04:10 AM

No points I could give that haven't been already been commented upon; however I will stress some:

1) As Aero said, ditch the tables - they're too much hassle to bother with. With your site design, a nice CSS, three column liquid layout would work perfectly - plus it would be pretty much cross-browser.
With what your web site is about; you should be expecting numerous visitors - and with each one of these visitors comes a totally different machine, resolution, browser etc. So keep that in mind.

2) Even though clean and crisp is nice; you do take it a little too the extreme. The site is very bland and I only really see three colours (with the exception of the image) that stick out. You don't want too many colours, and neither do you want the colours to clash - but with the current design - a little too empty.

3) I don't understand why you have a redirect page at the start. I can't really see any reason why you should have it. It's just annoying.

That's about it. Overall nice site - just a little more in the design department and you're good to go.