please review www.mawoosh.com

[mawooshen]

Hi people,

Please could you review my new site: www.mawoosh.com

The site is a cross between a directory and err, I'm not sure what. :)

The idea is to create a more aesthetic way of browsing new sites for users and a more stylish way to publicise for webmasters.

Let me know what you think!

If any webmasters want to add their site, just mail me through the site.

Thanks!

[Mania]

First I thought the flash was still loading because the dots kinda reminded me of a loading image etc. When I realized it wasn't loading anymore I was a little confused. I then noticed the small text up-right that briefly tells me what the general idea is. Tested a couple of links, but just wasn't into it very much. If I want to visit random web sites I use Stumble!-toolbar, which is way cool.

Btw. your grey text is very hard to read from the black background.

[zingmatter]

Sometimes referred to as "random meat" linking, while it may look cool it does nothing for useability if each dot links to something or other. Also, the sites that popup all seems to be sized strangely. Lastly, some of the links disappeared off the right side.

I thought it was a nice design but I think you need to work on making the site easier to understand.

[KDLA]

Flash mystery meat navigation: yuck. You really need to create a more user-friendly navigation system. One of the dots I clicked on didn't take me anywhere, which automatically made me think that the page was messed up. Normally, I would have left and not tried anything else.

You might put some introductory text on your page. I have no idea as to why these sites are chosen, why I should click on a dot, what I might see.

Good Luck -
KDLA

[JPnyc]

The design, in my opinion, is not the least bit practical. Were I to stumble on that page I would be gone before loading any second page on the site. If you want to create a directory site, don't make the user stare at a mostly blank page, then have to click again to find what they want. I also had to look around 2-3 seconds to find the links at the bottom.

[skilled1]

i do not like the force popup on the page, and i do not like how once all the links are clicked you can not click them again, and the links dissapear.

howver it is eye catchy, and it did make me click on all the links, which is what you aim for, however i do agree with JPnyc that it is not very practical at all.

[johneva]

It has the novelty factor but the site just seems a total waste sorry.

I dont visit sites to be sent to random sites.

I browse sites for a reason if I have no reason to then I dont browse.

I agree with all the previous comments made I was a little lost when I first came to it and well I still am really what is the point of it?

[Kevey]

I thought it was pretty fun actually! Similar to spinning a roulette wheel. Amazingly, the first two sites that popped for me were very applicable to me, and I wound up reading through both of them for quite some time.

I would make the note in the top-right larger, and consider making the new window size a little larger as well...I didn't like having to resize everything...it's very difficult to click my mouse more than once ;) . Overall I'd say it's unique and I enjoyed it!

[Kendi]

I would have to agree with 99% of the replies here. It was confusing as to what to do and it was strange not knowing what site was going to pop up when I clicked a circle.

Not very impressed. Sorry.

But If you are stuck on this design, I would suggest using alt-text so users will atleast get a short description of what site they will visit if they click the circle, OR move the grey text from the lower right corner to the center, change the color and make the font more readable.

Good Luck!

Kendi

[zingmatter]

Why not use some of the white (well er black) space to flash up what the link it when you mouse over. That would add some clarity it least.

[mawooshen]

Thanks for all the comments people, it's very helpful to get a fresh look on the site. To be honest I've found it quite difficult to put myself in other people's shoes/computers it all looks so good on my computer! :D

Re: mystery meat navigation, that's a nasty sounding expression... I had to look that one up. I understand that everyone has their pet hates on the internet, mine are ugly advertising/ugliness in general/and clutter. I guess that's how this site came to be. I'll try and make the dots less mysterious and less meaty?!

I've already changed a few things to reflect the comments here but I get the impression that nothing short of a new site is going to satisfy you guys! Nevermind, glad you liked it Kevey!

Once again thanks for taking the time out to comment!

[KDLA]

Sorry - I thought I had included link in my post. Here's some info. about MM navigation

6. Using Mystery Meat Navigation.
Note: I have a whole section on this topic and lots of live examples of organizations who make this stupid mistake. (http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com/mysterymeatnavigation.html)

While there are 10 million ways to screw up your navigation, the best way is to use Mystery Meat Navigation (MMN). Here's the definition, right out of Chapter Eight of "Son of Web Pages That Suck":

Mystery Meat Navigation occurs when, in order to find specific pages in a site, the user must mouse over unmarked navigational "buttons" -- graphics that are usually blank or don't describe their function. JavaScript code then reveals what the real purpose of the button is and where it leads.
There are certain sites that are allowed to use MMN: music, band, movie, art, experimental, fashion -- sites where making an impression or being cool is mandatory. It's OK because nobody really cares about these sites and their purpose isn't really about making money.

Another exception is what I would call "cult sites" -- sites that are so popular with a specific group that their audience automatically commits the icons to memory. Slashdot immediately comes to mind.

The problem with MMN is it influences designers and companies who aren't smart enough to realize they're not in the music, art, movie, or fashion business. When a manufacturing company starts using MMN, you know the apocalypse can't be too far behind. Here's a university that uses MMN for evil purposes.

from http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com/biggest-web-design-mistakes-in-2004.html

Good Luck -
KDLA