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Nicole -> NixDesign New Website! (7/31/2006 8:27:37)

I began this redesign in January partly because i could see the pitfalls in my current site and also because this was to be my first venture into CSS positioning. Only recently have I had the opportunity to work on the site again and get it to a stage where I'm happy with it, it validates and am confident it works in all major browsers that i can test in, interested in Mac users if they see it the same as pc users.

Two things, the screenshot image is duplicated I know on the opening page, this is because I felt the opening page needed some other imagery besides the fern leaf logo images, and the image used is the only one I have which matches the colour scheme of the site. (i.e. portfolio pages are always going to present sites with colour schemes that clash, I want the first page to match well). I may just mock up another page with similar colours to take a screenshot of and stick it in there, in other words I know they're the same image at the moment but they won't be when it's published. Besides screenshots, I'm interested in any other ideas, but I think the images that appear in these 2 boxes on the opening page need to be without fern leaves as I figure that's overkill.

I'm also having troubles with the text resizer and after weeks of trying to figure out why, I thought it might be something to do with a clash of css, one saying the body/html font-size was 100.01% whereas the individual css for each of the larger and smaller options are trying to say that the font-size should be 115% or 125% etc, but I'm now convinced that's not the problem as the same is working on a clients site that uses the exact same code.

Interested in the overall impressions and functionality, all the content is as I like it so any wording anybody thinks should be changed on any pages is also welcomed.

NixDesign New Website!

Nicole

Edit: I also realise that 2 of the portfolio testimonials are the same. I'm waiting on a testimonial for one of them and it'll be replaced when I receive it.



Tailslide -> RE: NixDesign New Website! (7/31/2006 8:40:25)

It looks good Nicole!

If the text resizer is causing you issues then I'd dump it competely - you've given instructions as to how to increase the text size on the accessbility page. You'd be perfectly within your rights to say that text resizing is a browser function rather than a web page function.

You're missing the closing tag of a couple of images but that's pretty minor stuff!



Nicole -> RE: NixDesign New Website! (7/31/2006 8:50:16)

You'd have validated the whole site at once after I said it was valid wouldn't you using that "validate whole site thing"? [:D]

Good thing that!

Thanks Tail. I've also put more of an emphasis on the location this time, the new location has a population of about 100,000 people, so that will hopefully attract some interest from googlers. It was hard to do this in Sydney, and also in the part of Sydney that I come from as so many of the location terms weren't common search terms.

I'm moving to a new host in a few weeks also, and moving next week and was hoping to have this site published well before the move to try and see if google picked up on the location keyphrases. Anyway, maybe I'll be there long enough for this timing not to be that important.

The new host will be Thomas Brunt's hosting, sure I'm allowed to mention that?

Nicole



Nicole -> RE: NixDesign New Website! (7/31/2006 8:59:49)

Sorry forgot to mention the text resizer thing.

I understand what you're saying Tail, but it is also important to the design as the text resizer images cut off the bottom of the "g" in "design". This was intentional for some silly reason at the time, if I don't get them working and delete them, I'll have to do a new banner, and I kind of like the banner having something cutting it off like that.

Same with the dot in the first "i", just never could figure out what I could put there to make it look like that was intentional though. Does that look out of place?



Tailslide -> RE: NixDesign New Website! (7/31/2006 9:36:52)

Ah I see! Just a thought - once you do sort it out it might be a good idea to have the text resizer section and the bit about the text resizer in the Accessibility page written by document.write. that way if Javascript is off, they don't get the option which they can't use (if you see what I mean).

Edit: can't see any real difference with your page and the other one.

Only difference seems to be that there's a load of webbot comment thingies - are they frontpage widgets? Could they possibly interfere?



Tailslide -> RE: NixDesign New Website! (7/31/2006 9:57:23)

Oh - spotted another thing or two.

There's several places where you've got links in the body text that have no distinguishing features such as underlining. Also, the italic text on the big chunk of quote is very hard to read.

And another thing!! [:D]

I'd change the height of your menu links from 24px to around 1.5em (approx) so that they expand properly with the text - currently the text overlaps them when the fontsize is increased a lot.



womble -> RE: NixDesign New Website! (7/31/2006 15:16:41)

Looking good Nicole!

The one thing I would say (apart from agreeing with most of what Tail said) is that it took ages for that banner image to load - I'm on dial-up at the moment (I've lost my broadband again) At 57kb it's not huge, but maybe you could do something to get the file size down a little?



Nicole -> RE: NixDesign New Website! (8/1/2006 7:02:33)

Thanks for your suggestions folks,

Actually Womble, I'm glad you were viewing using dial-up because I had totally forgotten to check the loading times. I've managed today to decrease the 56.6k dial-up loading time from around 27 seconds to 14 seconds. I'd like to get it lower but I'm really starting to suffer some loss of quality with the banner image especially from now. I'll keep trying but all other tweaks like compressing the HTML and CSS are really making little impact if any.

Tail, I had wondered about the testimonial text size and will increase it, most other changes you suggested I haven't had a chance to look at today as it's been a busy day running around seeing people and doing some things before my move.

The document.write suggestion is something I've never thought of before but it makes perfectly good sense. Thanks for that. The menu text size and underlining of links will be simple, but thanks again for pointing them out.

Nicole



d a v e -> RE: NixDesign New Website! (8/1/2006 10:36:31)

when you hover over the menu items you get the additional/explanatory text below (quotes) but if you use the tab key to tab through the links you don't get anything - do you need to include focus or use title attribute maybe??



anderskorte -> RE: NixDesign New Website! (8/1/2006 11:47:32)

I like the website a lot. It's not too decorated but it's not overly simple either. It's more down-to-earth compared to many other web design studios that have too elitist a design, like Dmitry Kirsanov Studio. I'd say it's friendlier.

The only thing I don't enjoy is the logotype. It looks somehow ...obtrusive.



P.S. I don't mean design elitists are bad, it's just a different approach.



anderskorte -> RE: NixDesign New Website! (8/1/2006 11:52:11)

You get a similar feel with Caslon. A link.



Nicole -> RE: NixDesign New Website! (8/2/2006 4:32:00)

Thanks for your further comments Anders and Dave.

Great pick-up Dave, I never did realise that and have added focus so it should be working with tabbing now.

Tail, I've fixed all the things you suggested including the menu font size from 24px to 1.5em, which I' know is the same, but I'm not sure I understand why you suggested doing that?

Anders thanks for your comments, obviously I'm most interested in the "obtrusive" comment in relation to the banner. I've put a lot of work into making sure the site "balances" while also trying to ensure that the "right" things stood out from the rest. I don't believe it's obtrusive, but am interested of course to hear if anyone else thinks the same?

I take your point about other design studios too, I like few of their sites and come to think of it would find it difficult to work in their office environments too. I'm very used to my small home office, my comfy chair, the decor I have here and I just don't think I'd be able to work in environments like I imagine they have based on their sites.

It might be my opinion only, but I'm not too sure posting links to sites of designers you don't like is a good idea.

Thanks for all the feedback thus far everyone, Tail, I haven't looked into the document.write suggestion of yours yet buyt will do that soon.

Nicole



Tailslide -> RE: NixDesign New Website! (8/2/2006 6:57:37)

Changing the height of the menu links ensured that the menu expanded height at the same rate as the text within it. Beforehand the text was ending up overflowing the top/bottom borders of each link.



anderskorte -> RE: NixDesign New Website! (8/3/2006 7:14:07)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Nicole

Anders thanks for your comments, obviously I'm most interested in the "obtrusive" comment in relation to the banner. I've put a lot of work into making sure the site "balances" while also trying to ensure that the "right" things stood out from the rest. I don't believe it's obtrusive, but am interested of course to hear if anyone else thinks the same?

Well, the placement, color and size are OK, but the logo font is clumsy. It's very unique and lively, but I think it just could be more sophisticated.



Nicole -> RE: NixDesign New Website! (8/3/2006 7:29:34)

Your not bad with the back-handed compliments Anders, I'll give you that!

I'll look into it.

Nicole

Edit: Looked into it, I like it, it's not changing!



anderskorte -> RE: NixDesign New Website! (8/3/2006 7:43:02)

Not sure what you even meant with the previous comment, but my critique sure wasn't meant to irritate.

quote:

Edit: Looked into it, I like it, it's not changing!

Oh that's good to hear. [;)]



Nicole -> RE: NixDesign New Website! (8/3/2006 8:41:00)

What I mean by saying about the back-handed compliments is that twice you've said how much you like the site, or the banner, yet in the same sentence you've criticised it to pieces with very harsh words.

I asked for critiques which is what I'm getting and that's great, I can also cop the obtrusive banner comment if that's your honest opinion, and wondering whether anyone shared it I asked.

But I do find your comment about something being unsophisticated to be a bit irritating especially as you haven't back it up with any further comments as to why you think it is unsophisticated or suggested any alternatives.

There may well be a language barrier problem here, apologies in advance if there isn't, but some words you've used are quite harsh and have been taken to heart somewhat.

If you can justify the deficiencies in my site then please do so, but please also don't just say it's unsophisticated and leave it at that.

Nicole



anderskorte -> RE: NixDesign New Website! (8/3/2006 12:32:11)

Oh...

quote:

ORIGINAL: Nicole

There may well be a language barrier problem here, apologies in advance if there isn't, but some words you've used are quite harsh and have been taken to heart somewhat.

Yes, that may exactly be the problem. I use a dictionary every time I write (well not always, but you get the idea) and also my grammar is sometimes clumsy. And you don't need to apologize, I'm the one who should. [;)]

quote:

What I mean by saying about the back-handed compliments is that twice you've said how much you like the site, or the banner, yet in the same sentence you've criticised it to pieces with very harsh words.

Well, of course I didn't think it was harsh to say a logotype could be more refined. I make similar mistakes myself all the time, if you can really call that “a mistake”. You can refine a design forever and it'll never be perfect.

The reason my comments may also seem harsh is that I try to take a very objective point of view. That's why I usually skip sayings such as “in my opinion”. I think that it's more friendly and helpful not to only give opinions. The saying goes, in graphic design everything is allowed, but not everything works. I'm trying to help as much as I can, despite my somewhat weak design experience.

quote:

But I do find your comment about something being unsophisticated to be a bit irritating especially as you haven't back it up with any further comments as to why you think it is unsophisticated or suggested any alternatives.

Hmm... it's always a little hard to give reasons to design choices, because it always sounds like nit-picking. But the x-height of the logo font is maybe a bit too large, but it could also be the huge i dots or the serifs that don't reach out enough to fit the heavy weight of the type. The N is weak. It looks like as if the text grows from left to right.

It's likely that you didn't design the font, so it's not really your fault. It's not even that big a problem, but as a designer I thought you would like to hear detailed notions.



swoosh -> RE: NixDesign New Website! (8/3/2006 12:43:16)

I likey alot. Good job Nicole



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