Redesign ahead: please critique?

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tjpitches -> Redesign ahead: please critique? (7/27/2006 17:45:55)
it's time to give my site a fresh coat of paint and update some things. i created it in 2001 using FP 2002, with SHARED BORDERS. what should i consider as i create again in 2006?? www.sunnyridge.org thanks! tj

tjpitches -> RE: Redesign ahead: please critique? (7/31/2006 11:07:37)
someone? anyone? tj

anderskorte -> RE: Redesign ahead: please critique? (8/1/2006 11:32:22)
A redesign will sure come handy. The navigation could be clearer (although it might work as it is). The design needs to communicate better. An instant description of the website's purpose is needed. There are some tiny flaws here and there: like, the colors don't go well together in places. Also, the design is very lopsided, there is a lot of pressure on the left hand side, which hurts aesthetics. In overall the site is OK, but a redesign is always good if done with clear concept and purpose as well as strict goals. Good luck.

jaybee -> RE: Redesign ahead: please critique? (8/1/2006 13:04:16)
The navigation plus all those links is the main issue. Have a complete rethink on that area.

tjpitches -> RE: Redesign ahead: please critique? (8/1/2006 15:50:25)
thanks guys, for the comments. both of you are right on, i believe. the site was FRESH five years ago, and now ... no body, i mean NO BODY is using the "Welcome to ....On Line" anymore!! LOL. anderskorte - you're right! i need to be more clear in saying that we are a nonprofit agency providing adoption services and free pregnancy counseling. jaybee -- my thought is to move away from that long NAV on the left (which is a SHARED BORDER) to a HORIZONTAL DD with maybe 4 or 5 main menus, with subs under each. we're moving our agency to a new building in spring 07, and so it's a great time to revisit our website, colors, logo, etc. i want to do this ONCE - so i hope to select some colors, learn and use CSS -- and more. i just picked up FP2003 and will also have Adobe GoLive tomorrow. any suggestions on how to proceed? tj

jaybee -> RE: Redesign ahead: please critique? (8/1/2006 19:20:19)
Yes, ditch FP2003 and download Expression Web Designer Beta. At least then you'll have a layout with divs instead of tables, css and valid HTML.

tjpitches -> RE: Redesign ahead: please critique? (8/2/2006 17:57:29)
ok, jaybee, i will DO that! just started the download now (ddin't register) so this is slick, eh? how is the learning curve if i've used FP 98, 2000, 2002? any conflicts that will mess with my current FORMS or can i recreate them in EXPRESSIONS? consider FP03 ditched for now. thanks, bud. tj

womble -> RE: Redesign ahead: please critique? (8/2/2006 19:33:20)
I'd ditch GoLive as well. Unless they've drastically improved it recently, it produces nasty, nasty code. [:'(]

jaybee -> RE: Redesign ahead: please critique? (8/3/2006 4:40:08)
Seconds GoLive. Code [:'(] Expressions should take your courrent site with no problems. It took my 500 page monolith fine. You'll need to get used to a completely different interface but it's worth spending a bit of time with it. Before you open up your current site in it, try setting up a completely new one, go take a look at the new templates in there. Play around with one of those.

tjpitches -> RE: Redesign ahead: please critique? (8/3/2006 11:42:33)
womble and jaybee -- thank you so much for the direction. i will stay away from Go Live as you both suggested. my goal is to make our site fresh again, but still have SOME of the brand's "feel" ... the horizontal navigation with drop downs are my first big project, and quite honestly, i'm SCARED this will take forever. as a one-man department for our nonprofit family agency, i am responsible for SO much -- and our website has been on "auto pilot" for a long time. i owe the families and children we serve a newer site. if you ever feel compelled to help our agency by donating some of your time to help me create, please jump in the pool! i have so many great volunteers, fundaisers, office help -- but no web experts. i would certainly welcome your help. plus, it'd be WAY COOL to say that i have volunteers in the UK!! LOL. thanks, guys. tj tjackson@sunnyridge.org

jaybee -> RE: Redesign ahead: please critique? (8/3/2006 11:46:23)
If I had some spare time over the next couple of months I'd happily help out but I'm up to my eyeballs (unless the smut brigade come up with the contract killer I'm looking for at a reasonable price [;)])

tjpitches -> RE: Redesign ahead: please critique? (8/3/2006 12:45:45)
[:D] you crack me up. ok so until someone can help, i'll have a go at it. do you suggest i IMPORT my current site or just open it in EXP? tj

tjpitches -> RE: Redesign ahead: please critique? (8/8/2006 15:20:42)
jaybee -- since we've talked i've spent hours with expressions, trying to create CSS DD menu ... each time i leave it more frustrated than before. is frontpage 2003 THAT bad ???? many are saying that this version has shaped up some of the old problems it had with all the junk code it created ... i'd feel much more comfortable (on my own) in FP 2003 -- unless you thought it was a kiss of death to use ...

jaybee -> RE: Redesign ahead: please critique? (8/8/2006 18:34:07)
Ahhhhhh CSS dropdown, I have to admit I've not tried that out. It is still beta so may have problems. How well do you understand HTML? No FP2003 isn't the kiss of death. It has problems and it bloats code. The trouble comes when you use some of its automatic features which look ridiculous in browsers other than IE. If you're more comfortable with FP then go for it. Once the site is done there's no reason why the menu can't be swapped out for something else.

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