another one for the chopping block

[GJPG5]

http://www.gpariseau.com is finished.

[Ben Rogers]

On the homepage:

You have a list of links marked divided up. Why divided, not listed?
Why do you have some styles defined in the head section, but others inline? Tidy that up, put them all up in the head.
Looks nice, but it doesn't tell a user anything (confusion = loss).
Splash pages are pretty shyte anyhow.

Your contact page:

Should be marked up as a table, it's tabular data.
No links back. That'd be really helpful.
Erm... mailto links, though nice, are prey to spam. Might want to rethink that. Also, users are more likely to use a form than their mail client.

On the services page:

No 1st level header.
No navigation to speak of.

On your resume page:

New window targets are very annoying. Let the user decide.
It should be marked up as a definition list- the job, or institute as the term, it's information is it's data.
The space between the two white blocks is pretty awkward.
No navigation to speak of, no headers. Ew.
I didn't notice the software list (it should be marked up as such) at first, and had I been a casual visitor, I wouldn't've at all.
No quotes around the class attribute.
Why HTML Transitional? You don't have any multimedia or other tricky code. HTML 4.01 Strict would be better.

I won't comment on your portfolio page... you seem to use lazy, sloppy coding many times... this is somewhat understandable for dynamic pages, but static ones such as these? That's a no-no. Clean it up.

[GJPG5]

sure thing. like I said before, still new to this particular form of communication and don't have much of a head for coding. thanks for the input, I'll clean it up then. navigation is definitely something I want to add once I think of a reasonable way to do it.

[Ben Rogers]

Well, before you get into styles, get a hang of the different tags HTML has. Put aside what you want it to look like, and mark up your page properly- then you can use CSS to make it look however you want, and the blind (including google) will be able to properly use your site. As for navigation, a horizontal tamed list (http://alistapart.com/articles/taminglists) of links is probably the way to go.

[Vladdy]

On the homepage:
<snip />
Your contact page:

Should be marked up as a table, it's tabular data.
<snip />

Respectfully disagree. The data is best described by definition list.

[Ben Rogers]

I think it's a case where it could be either. A table would be semantic and a lot less hassle to lay out, however, and it'd be easier for a visitor to read. Gj, that's up to your preference, IMO- a small table or definition list.

[Vladdy]

Ease of layout should not be a factor in discussing proper semantic mark-up.
The table would have been appropriate if the data in the left and right cells was on the same hierarchy level. In the discussed case the content on the left ("E-Mail","Phone") defines the content on the right ("gjp@gpariseau.com","734.718.1497"), making definition list the proper mark-up.

[Ben Rogers]

I agree that ease of layout shouldn't be a factor in most cases- but it's like using the old forum layout with a definition list. It could've been a dl, but it was just as much a table, and the table was easier to layout. The left column in this instance would be the service, and the right column would be the username, number, whatever. I still say that both work equally.

[Vladdy]

They may look equaly in a graphical browser, but they do not define data equally well - which is the point of the discussion, otherwise why did you suggest table over the current original mark-up?

[Ben Rogers]

Yes, I pointed it out due to incorrect use of the paragraph tag. However, with proper headers, a table would work. And I beleive screen readers would read it off right either way- but I don't know how they read off either. There are two columns, each of which are a different kind of data- service and contact. Is a table needed? No. Could it be used semantically? Yes.

[jmaresca2005]

i dont think you should be worrying about content issues in regards to your text at this time. when you do freelance work your clients respective fields change. so writing content is a research/writing skill not a web design skill. you may want to listen to the previous posts from the others as more of usability issues. usability will be the main focal point in designs for the future since the main purpose will be users being able to easily use your site and find what they are looking for without thinking. design should be created to make it as easy as possible for users to get access to what they need. the internet is an important tool and it will become like a refrigerator. when you are hungry you go to the fridge and take out what you want. there really isnt any thought here. its just more get up and get it. your design should be like this. less thought for users to locate info. as far as the look, do what you want, it is a class project so have fun with it and good luck.