My Website; Web Design & Portfolio

Marc · July 5th, 2007, 07:42 PM

Hi,

I would like you to critique my latest design. Although i have only made one page, i thought that if i put it up now, it would save me from changing lots of pages later. Constructive criticism is welcome!

Thanks,
Marc

EDIT: WEBSITE NOW AT HTTP://WWW.MARCFRASER.CO.UK - THANKS!

Lchad · July 5th, 2007, 08:00 PM

Hey Marc... hee hee.. I get to be first!!

I love it! I love the colors.. very masculine without being dull.
Love the font and layout of the text.

I'd suggest indenting the bullet points in the text. I think it would give a bit of variation.

I think you should probably center your name or add something to the right margin of the header. Since the navigation is centered, it seems just a slight bit off balance.

Also you text needs looking at. Typo's galore but I'm guessing this was put up quickly and you are more concerned about design.

I give it a 10!

JustinStudios · July 5th, 2007, 09:42 PM

What were you thinking? This is by far the worst site I have ever seen!

Just Kidding! I just wanted your attention

. I like the site. I think the logo is a bit bland but the site just feels really good to me. It's clean and feels good, but I am a bit worried about the portfolio section on the right side, I'm afraid with content it won't be enough separation for my tastes. I like the colors, they are different but they flow together well and they don't remind me of Halloween even though they are orange and grey so very well done there.

I think the content needs work, especially "Please contact me for your free quotation today" where I am from that'd be "quote" not "quotation". A quotation is something someone else said that your citing, but a quote is what you say. Maybe thats just American, but I don't know. And I'm not one to critique content too much, because that is the worst part of my design, is my content! I just don't know what people want to read!

The site feels clean, and I just like it. Looks great on my screen!

I am starting to rate like LChad does!
Worst 1
Best 10
Your Site: 9

Marc · July 6th, 2007, 05:34 AM

Hi Lchad & Justinstudios,

Thanks for the critique, it was very helpful.

As a matter of fact, the content too less than seven miniutes to make.. so thats probubly why!

Lchad:- I will center the text just now and indent the bullets more.

Justinstudios:- I really dont think it matters if you say Quotation or Quote as on TV adverts it varies although i will change it anyway. What do you suggest i do with the portfolio bit as i thoight it was just too much with text fully accross the page.

Thanks both,
Marc

Marc · July 6th, 2007, 05:48 AM

Changes have been made! Although i dont know what to do with the portfolio preview. http://www.marcfraser.co.uk/v2.

Cheers,
Marc

pa007 · July 6th, 2007, 05:48 AM

Justin, people don't know what they want to read, it's your job to tell them.

Marc, I love thes design. It's modern, fresh and very understated. Really good. There's something very stylish and chic about it without it being too in your face. Great colour combination, can't fault it. The content needs lookingover but that sort of thing take a few drafts before it's right anyway though it isn't dreadful, not by any stretch of the imagination. I remember when I was 14, I was being stood up in front of 1200 people in assembly for having bad handwriting so your one step ahead of me (just one step, Pete?).

I would consider changing the header to an image and possibly lose the .co.uk, people know where they are just tell them who you are. With an aimge there is scope to try something a little more visual and your text will be prettier which is the main thing, browsers still can't render text properly. I can't find an awful lot wrong with this to be honest. I like my text to be away from the sides of the document so I'd add a bit more padding. If you do come across problems when you fill the portfolio preview section then you can just slim down the main content section and add some padding/margins to the preview area. Should be fine.

I will say that your code is excellent so I am being quite nitpicky here. I would use some ids rather than all of thos classes. ids for uniques elements and classes can be used over. It doesn't really matter but on more complex projects use of both might make navigating your code easier. It's best to get into good habits now. Don't use divs when you don't need to either. You have a div with a class of nav, why not just give the ul that class? Although totally insignificant, that extra div is unneeded and I firmly believe that every element in a page should only be there if it needs to be. It's also an opportunity to cut down your code. My next thing is about attributes, you need to add some. Title attributes mainly but also things like accesskeys will make your code not only great but accessible too. Yuo could also add a tabindex to some elements but I usually shy away from this for various reasons. Some people don't like accesskeys and I respect that decision if it is given due consideration. Do a little research on both and why some choose to ignore them.

I actually can't find a thing wrong with the code so well done there, aside from some additions and a couple of design tweaks you have a great site here. Looks like we have some more 14 year old talent. It's a bit disgusting if I'm honest.

Great work, mate, you'll do well.

Pete.

Marc · July 6th, 2007, 07:41 AM

Pete, my handwriting is just as bad! I will add some ID's later, when i get a spare moment! Thanks again!

VanessaJW · July 6th, 2007, 07:46 AM

I really like the site, I'm a fan of orange too. The only thing I would suggest (which I've said on other critiques too), is to keep away from mentioning the technical side within your home page content, HTML/CSS/W3C Valid etc - the type of people who actually care about all that stuff are the type who could probably build their own website! To everyone else it really doesn't mean a whole lot and can just be confusing.

Nice work

1840dsgn · July 6th, 2007, 10:03 AM

The only thing I might suggest is a way of identifying where you are in the site. By this I mean an a:link state so maybe when on the homepage, the home link stays black with orange writing.

Thi isn't such a big deal on smaller sites like portfolios but still looks professional and good when done well imo.

Apart from that really simple, yet very nice design. Great colour choices they complement each other really well.

Title does look better in the center.

pa007 · July 6th, 2007, 10:33 AM

Oh you have no title. It's currently 'Untitled Document'. I'd sort that if I were you.

Pete.

JustinStudios · July 6th, 2007, 12:04 PM

Yeah, I'd say don't touch the Portfolio Preview for now, until you put some content there. Images might be best in that section, because I am afraid if you use much text at all it'll make your site look too busy.

Marc · July 6th, 2007, 12:33 PM

Pete, there is no title to the site as yet because it isnt going to be in that dir. 1840dsgn, i was going to do this tonight but i im going out so i will do tomorrow or sunday!

Thanks all
Marc

christopher · July 7th, 2007, 03:55 AM

I agree starting young is the best way (i started in WORD!!! in 2003)

i personally would add a tad of gradient to the brown but thats just my own view.

like it!!!

Marc · July 7th, 2007, 06:23 AM

I am afraid, im not going to youch gradient!! Every time i use it, something goes horribly wrong!

christopher · July 7th, 2007, 07:21 AM

What do you use, fireworks or photoshop?

Marc · July 7th, 2007, 12:11 PM

Both, why?