website redesign

[gbgraphix]

Hi everyone, I have just redesigned my site and would appreciate any feedback. I've changed the layout and navigation so hopefully the load time is quicker and a little more user friendly. I've taken all the comments into consideration of my previous site (I've included snapshots) and here's what I got....the only thing I've still to do is the meta tags and all...I also need to make the contact form work but is the first time I'm doing one so any help on that would also be much appreciated...

gbgraphix (http://www.gbgraphix.net)

Thanks so much for the review!

[bathurst_guy]

Its a nice clean looking site.

I viewed your site through Safari and the only "problem" is that there is a space between the top of the images on the left and the container box - no biggy though.

On the portfolio page, for usability reasons, I would make the text "Logos" etc the link as well as the icons next to them.

Other than that - I prefer to use of CSS rather than tables, and I also prefer not to use JavaScript for rollovers, but CSS aswell. But these are just personal preference.

[Launchnet]

I use a 15" monitor IE, and I think You could raise the bottom of your page slightly and visitors would not have to scroll down to see whatelse there is and there is nothing but the bottom line.

I really like your site and artwork. Keep up the good work. I wish I had your Art ability, but God has blessed me in many ways, but he has also told me to stay away from Art work.

[pcthug]

Simplistic design gets the thumbs up, but the page does seem uneven.
I too would suggest losing the tables for layout and incorporate an all css approach, arcticle: Why tables for layout is stupid (http://hotdesign.com/seybold/)
And finally, don't forget to Validate! (http://validator.w3.org/check?uri=www.gbgraphix.net)
Failed validation, 31 errors

[Kendi]

I really like it.

My Suggestions:
Portfolio - Instead of having to click the buttons to see the info, what if the info appears as you roll over the button? Just an idea.

I didn't immediately notice the tabs at the top. The grey kinda blends in with the white background. One idea is to maybe use cordinating colors for the tab and the design on the top left of each. Just an idea.

Otherwise, I really like it. It's clean, simple and easy to navigate.

Good Luck!

Kendi

[Launchnet]

I like Kendi's suggestion very much. Unless you are going to have more on your site than we are aware of, I would suggest that when you click the Link, have it change the text on the same page.

Still like your site very much.

[skilled1]

i like the clean feal of the site for sure. i just think there could be a few cosmetic clean-ups.

on the blue border for the fish, there are random white pixels that take away from it being a crisp stripe. [home page] and same with the orange [contact] the other two are too light, so it is not as noticable, so that is ok.


the border of the page i think you should either have it be the same color as the page it is displaying, or a dark gray like the outside of the buttons [or put a 1px black border aroudn the buttons] so it does not feel like they are just sitting up there, but a part of the site.

other than that i think it is perfect

[KDLA]

One of the top usability mistakes: a link TO the homepage ON the homepage.... might want to delete that, or at least get rid of the link.

The two middle tabs seem to be one or two px shorter than those flanking. It might be an optical allusion, but anyway you might check.

The graphics on the "About" page don't seem to follow your theme of repetition with variation.

Some information you might add is what programs you work with. I'm a consultant for a large network, and I've noticed that many times, organizations want you to "tweak" an existing logo or web design, rather than start from scratch. In these cases, the logo (for instance) is a certain file type that might require one type of program, such as Photoshop or Flash. It's hard to work with these types of files outside their "native" program.

Besides that, you might work on the graphics display problems skilled1 mentioned - I noticed the white pixels, too.

Good Luck -
KDLA

[gbgraphix]

Thanks guys for all your reviews. I do now see the white pixels...I guess sometimes you don't notice things until someone points it out, but that why there's this forum! I will work on all the comments, they were all really good suggestions.

Thanks again!