The Hidden Side

[Jick]

Hey guys,
I was wondering if you people could take a few minutes to review my site (http://ths.thenamesdan.com/). It's still under heavy development. All that's available is the main page as of yet. All I want is a review of that page anyway.

I just want to know how it's looking and stuff so far before I start creating the other pages of the site and really getting into it. I know allot of you will wine about it not having any content but there is nothing I can do yet. I just want a review of the layout and design.

Personally I really like it. A few other people say they like it too but I want to see what allot of people say.

Thanks for the reviews. :)

[Jona]

I'll say it looks nice, and good job. One thing, though... isn't the blue and white colored, fixed-width, drop-shadow kind of look a little overused? Again, it looks great, but you might want to look into something a little, well, different. ;) Also, on your navigation, I would suggest setting the background image for the links, and set the background's position far off, so that it cannot be seen, and then upon hovering, set the position of the background to 0% 0%, so that the background is visible. This way it "preloads" the background image. When I first moused over there was a white background and the text cannot be read like that. Of course, it was only there for a split second, but it may be there longer for dial-up users. One more thing, you might want to make your URIs cruft-free. ;) Good luck.

[Ben Rogers]

I'd like to say I'm really liking those subtle textures, and I'm thinking that darkening the page up wouldn't be too bad of an idea. Like Jona said, it's a standard layout, but I doubt you were trying to set any records. Darkening things up a lot would help make your page stand out, though.

Everything is very boxy... in a bland kind of way. There's nothing wrong with that. It doesn't help or hurt, I s'pose. It's just... there. I guess it's a very safe, practical design. Of course, partnered with safe and practical are usable, efficient, and legible, so there's nothing bad about that. I guess, overall, I can't find anything to complain about.

Actually, I just read Jona's post and moused over the navigation- that IS a problem you need to fix. I suppose I could also say lessen the padding, but the way it is now is much more Fitt's law compliant, so... BTW, I think that Bibendum site stole your design! :p

[chrismartz]

it takes me about 5 minutes on dial-up to download the roll-over images......this aint good! ;) I really like the layout and i think you should keep as is!

[Jona]

Originally posted by sirhcchris3
it takes me about 5 minutes on dial-up to download the roll-over images......this aint good! ;) I really like the layout and i think you should keep as is!

If it takes that long, preloading them wouldn't do much good either, because you'll probably try to click one of the navigation links within the first five minutes of viewing the site, correct? Just a thought... It would be a good idea to use a dark blue for the background color instead of white, though, because some people also browse with images off.

[Jona]

Originally posted by Ben R.
I'd like to say I'm really liking those subtle textures, and I'm thinking that darkening the page up wouldn't be too bad of an idea. ... Darkening things up a lot would help make your page stand out, though.

Maybe lightening it, but I think it's dark enough, myself. Just me, though...

[pawky]

i dont think making it lighter or darker would help it at all

[Jick]

I applied the rollover fixes Jona suggested. How is it now? Thanks again for the reviews. :)





Originally posted by Ben R.
BTW, I think that Bibendum site stole your design! :p What/Who is Bibendum?

[Ben Rogers]

I was being sarcastic. Look in the list of links under 'Good sites'.

Uhm, Jick? Do you have Firefox, and the webdev toolbar? If yes, then disable images. O_o;

[Jick]

Originally posted by Ben R.
I was being sarcastic. Look in the list of links under 'Good sites'.Ohhh... stupid me. :pOriginally posted by Ben R.
Uhm, Jick? Do you have Firefox, and the webdev toolbar? If yes, then disable images. O_o;Oh wow, I see that. I modified the CSS. How does it look now?

[Ben Rogers]

Uhm, now it's all white n' stuff. You should set the background colours as close to the colours of the images as possible. Also, you may want to look into SIR (http://www.mezzoblue.com/tests/revised-image-replacement/) for your header.

[Conor]

it looks good, maybe a bit boring though. Dark blue and white are so common on every site, try something different.

[Paul Jr]

I’m not really a fan of purple, but to each his own.

You really need to optimize your images. The header is over 50K, and it could be cut down to around 20K.

I would suggest making the font-size for the blog stuff (blog title, date, entry). I could resize the text myself, but then when I resize it to a nice size, the nav text is too small. Either that, or make the nav text bigger, so it doesn’t get so small when I resize the rest of it.

[Ben Rogers]

I actually prefer the font sizes the way they are now. I must ask however- why did you choose to put the main and secondary navigation in the same sidebar?

[Jick]

Why not? What's wrong with it like that?

[Ben Rogers]

Originally posted by Jick
Why not? What's wrong with it like that? Why are you getting on the defensive? I'm merely asking why you chose to combine all your navigation into one sidebar.

[Jona]

Originally posted by Paul Jr
I’m not really a fan of purple, but to each his own.

Where purple?

[Paul Jr]

Originally posted by Jona
Where purple?
It looked slightly purple to me…

[Ben Rogers]

Originally posted by Jona
Where purple? Don't get all excited, Jona. The site is white-and-blue. Not pink-and-purple, as you'd like it to be.

[Jick]

Originally posted by Ben R.
Why are you getting on the defensive? I'm merely asking why you chose to combine all your navigation into one sidebar.Oh, sorry. :(

Wasn't trying to sound defensive. I don't know why I choose that way. I didn't even know there were different ways. I just did what worked. I'm not very good with column based layouts. This is my first time.





Originally posted by Paul Jr
It looked slightly purple to me…Nope, just different shades of blue.

[Jona]

Originally posted by Ben R.
Don't get all excited, Jona. The site is white-and-blue. Not pink-and-purple, as you'd like it to be.

Who said pink and purple? I asked that question 'cuz I didn't see any purple on the page. This layout wouldn't do well with pink-and-purple.

[Ben Rogers]

Originally posted by Jick
Oh, sorry. :(

Wasn't trying to sound defensive. I don't know why I choose that way. I didn't even know there were different ways. I just did what worked. I'm not very good with column based layouts. This is my first time. I see. Well, for me the standard layout can be seen on my blog (http://projep.no-ip.com:81/)- Header, and main nav spanning the width of the container, both very vital. Main content is important (obviously), but not interactive, so it shares the brunt of the page with the secondary nav, showing that these two are the second things for the user to view. Third, is the footer. You can ignore that safely. *shrug* At least, that's my philosophy.

Header => Main nav => Content => Secondary nav => footer. Show 'em what it is, their other options, the thing itself, more of it, and some technical details about it.
Originally posted by Jona
Who said pink and purple? I asked that question 'cuz I didn't see any purple on the page. This layout wouldn't do well with pink-and-purple. I was kidding. Don't pop a hip, now. :p

[Jick]

Originally posted by Ben R.
I see. Well, for me the standard layout can be seen on my blog (http://projep.no-ip.com:81/)- Header, and main nav spanning the width of the container, both very vital. Main content is important (obviously), but not interactive, so it shares the brunt of the page with the secondary nav, showing that these two are the second things for the user to view. Third, is the footer. You can ignore that safely. *shrug* At least, that's my philosophy.

Header => Main nav => Content => Secondary nav => footer. Show 'em what it is, their other options, the thing itself, more of it, and some technical details about it.Oh you mean like that. I see what you mean now. Yeah I decided I wanted it like that to be a little different. I didn't want to be exactly like the standard layout.

[Ben Rogers]

Originally posted by Jick
Oh you mean like that. I see what you mean now. Yeah I decided I wanted it like that to be a little different. I didn't want to be exactly like the standard layout. You still have a standard layout, you've just removed an element, and killed usability a little bit. No offense, but you're still as much of a sheep as you'd be if you had done a two levels of navigation. ^_^

[Jick]

Yeah, I know I'm still a design-stupid, layout-destroying, un-userfriendly, jerk but I did say a "little" different.

I'm doing the best I can here. I suck at web design. Your real supportive. *runs away crying* :p

[Ben Rogers]

Originally posted by Jick
Yeah, I know I'm still a design-stupid, layout-destroying, un-userfriendly, jerk but I did say a "little" different.

I'm doing the best I can here. I suck at web design. Your real supportive. *runs away crying* :p PMSL! You don't suck at design. Actually the design is very good, just not as good as it could be. I like it; as I said, legible, usable, user-friendly, etc., etc. There are a few layout choices that seem odd, and there is more that could be done, but it's still a good design. Oh, and by the way- don't say you suck at web design... Paul, Rizzo, and Bob say that too. You're not as bad as them, don't say you are. :D

[Jick]

Ok, so I've lost what all needs to be fixed on it. Can someone kinda provide a list of all the things that you guys think I should fix. I would greatly appreciate it. :)

[Ben Rogers]

Basically, we've said "Undecided" in a lot of pretty words. :D

[Jona]

Make it look just as good without images. Change background colors of the menu items on hover and such. Also, look into the afforementioned Shea Image Replacement (SIR) so that you will have header text for those with styles but no CSS.

[pawky]

nvr mind

[Paul Jr]

Originally posted by Ben R.
Oh, and by the way- don't say you suck at web design... Paul, Rizzo, and Bob say that too. You're not as bad as them, don't say you are. :D
…that was hurtful. :(

[Ben Rogers]

Originally posted by Paul Jr
…that was hurtful. :( LOL. Well, I apologize to have hurt your feelings, Paul, but seeing as you're the one always saying how much you suck, is it really so hurtful? Plus, you gotta admit, from the completed designs you've showed (aside from S.U.C.K.), and the completed design Jick showed, and seeing as you both say you suck, do you think my comment was uncalled for? :D

[Paul Jr]

Originally posted by Ben R.
do you think my comment was uncalled for? :D
*sniffle* Yes… :(

[Ben Rogers]

Originally posted by Paul Jr
*sniffle* Yes… :( My logic: If you had time to put a little frowny smiley in there, you're not all that upset. :D