Please review

[polaskiglass]

I am a graphic designer by trade.

I would appreciate some constructive criticism or tips
for my site. It's only a 'corporate presence' type of
element so there's not much interactivity.

Thanks,

Mark

[polaskiglass]

I am a graphic designer by trade.

I would appreciate some constructive criticism or tips
for my site. It's only a 'corporate presence' type of
element so there's not much interactivity.

http://www.polaskiglass.com

Thanks,

Mark

[hooloovoo24]

what's the address to that?

[polaskiglass]

sorry,

http://www.polaskiglass.com

[hooloovoo24]

Well, didn't see your other post. In the future, please don't double post.

The look of the site is nice, though it doesn't validate. Check it through validator.w3.org.

And may I ask why you resize the window upon loading each page? It's annoying and doesn't really accomplish much.

[polaskiglass]

sorry about the double post.

i'll check out the validate thing in a minute.

i dropped the script for resizing the window because that how I intend to have the viewer view my pages. i'm not really all that concerned with web-protocol there. i haven't given thought to the site being 508 either.

why do you find the window resizing annoying? if you can give me a good objective reason why i shouldn't use that script, i'll gladly drop it.

thanks!

[polaskiglass]

OK..I ran the site through the validator and it generated a list of errors. I printed them out and now I am trying to figure out what this means. Can you explain to me what the advantage of fixing these is? From a practical standpoint?

[hooloovoo24]

This is taken from A List Apart's article "CSS TAlking Points: Selling Clients on Web Standards" (SC = standards compliant):

SC websites will last longer, have more accessibility, be easier to maintain, and cheaper to develop. No apologies needed. Of course, you can mention Standards as a selling point, but never sound apologetic. Potential Clients can smell fear.

If this isn’t enough, here are a couple of other (unfinished) ideas that might help support your SC arguments:

* SC is better for search engines – structured content helps engines index you better.
* SC works at any resolution and any monitor size (yay!) and still maintains design integrity.
* You will look different (and better) than your competitors.


As for the resizing of the window: the reason I dislike it is because it limits the user's control over the website. A user should have a large portion of the control over how they view the site. By forcing the user to view the page in a certain size window, it takes away their control.

[polaskiglass]

I like the idea of standardization.

I designed the site to look the way it looks for some very fundamental graphic design reasons.

I understand that there are users who may have disabilities and may have a need for this kind of flexibility. I'll need to think about this more.

I am going to try to fix most of the items on this punchlist. Seems that DreamWeaver adds alot of code things that don't need to be there or are just wrong. I am just now beginning to get away from the WYSIWYG stuff and have begun to code directly.

I don't think I'll be able to satisfy all the people all the time, but if it really pays to have the back end cleaned up and correct, then I guess it's time to to do it.

Thanks again.

[hooloovoo24]

That's true, you can't please everyone. The best you can do, as far as I'm concerned, is try to make it accessible to everyone. Although, with a site based around graphic design, there will be a limit to this, obviously...

I'm glad you're starting to code directly. Though there is a bit of a learning curve, when you get used to it, I think it can be a lot easier than trying to mess with WYSIWYG editors.

Like I said, I really like the overall look of the site. You're obviously good at what you do, and I think the site reflects that.

Best Wishes,
HLV

[KDLA]

You'll want to fix the coding errors: http://validator.w3.org/check?verbose=1&uri=http%3A//www.polaskiglass.com/

<script type="text/javascript">
self.focus();
window.resizeTo(890,600
)
</script>
When your site opens my window is automatically changed to a smaller size (tried in both IE and FF). Problem is, it isn't the right size for my screen resolution, so it doesn't help; I only see a portion of your site. Is the resize necessary?

Don't do fancy things with your metatags/metadata,
example:
<title>:::: Graphic Designer | Fine Artist ::::</title>

This really screws up search engine indexing of your site. Read more about metadata creation at http://kdla.ky.gov/onlinepubs/onepage/0605.htm. I wrote this for public libraries, but the info. applies to anyone.

Good Luck -
KDLA

[spufi]

I merged both threads. It don't look pretty, but it's done. :)

[bathurst_guy]

yes you should remove the window resize script, its just annoying

maybe centre the content

If I don't have flash installed - or I am blind and using a screen reader - or I am a spider or bot - can you tell me how I navigate your site?

[polaskiglass]

Thanks! good idea there with the title. I wasn't really thinking about that. It's a fancy look, but geeze..gotta wonder what search engines make of those ::::

Mark

[polaskiglass]

I will remove the window resizing script. (I was really attached to that).

Much as I don't like it...enough of you have made it clear that it is indeed...annoying. lol. I'll see what I can do about centering things..but I don't know if I like that either.

Thanks!

[polaskiglass]

My site is not flash based.

[baseiber]

About the navigation...the dark brown to extremly light background is hard to look at. If you made the top color a little darker it would be better. I mention this because if a user finds the site painful to look it is unlikely they will return.

[Sir Jake]

That yellow orange color is very very ugly...that's just my opinion though. Isn't that a danger yellow alert color?

Why doesn't your site fill my screen when it opens? I accidently closed your site over and over when I meant to just close the windows with your art.

Prehaps you might try making the 'on page' buttons brighter not dimmer, like a high light because that page is high lighted,(er being veiwed).

Other than that it's very cool, functional and you've a sharp clean porfolio.

Hey is that 'mini' site a joke...it made me laugh...it's so cute.

[dera]

if you find the resize script annoying disable it in your browser. or use a browser which can k-meleon or firefox can disable this
to the site there isn't enough content and i would avoid using flash or not use flash full stop. the content doesn't allign to the centre. and the text is to hard and small to read.

[polaskiglass]

The nav bar will stand as is. There is enough contrast that it is quite readable.
'painful' is a pretty subjective and maybe overly emotional description of what you may be trying to convey. But thanks for the look.

[polaskiglass]

The 'yellow' color will stand as well. You might to think of color outside of subjective context. If yellow is a danger color, I'll be sure to avoid bananas, lemons, and raincoats. If you can give me an objective and grounded reason for not using yellow, then I'll consider your arguement. In fact (and sum), I have had literally dozens of accomplished graphic designers tell me that the color palette is strong and very pleasing. The warm tones and gradients are very easy on the eyes.


The site doesn't need to 'fill your screen'...to me, filling the screen is unneccesary. The issue with you closing my index page 'over and over' seems to be an issue of you slowing down and being more careful about what you are clicking.

[polaskiglass]

Flash is a fine medium for web presentation. I won't remove the flash elements. I know that gets into useability and conformity issues, but most of those issues are puritanical. Content does not need to align to center. That is a notion in the graphic design world that is considered antiquated and somewhat the poster child of 'i don't know how to design'. Keeping your design on a grid charges the layout and makes the visual heirarchy easy to understand. As far as the type size is concerned...it is once again, subjective. You can tell your browser to display the text at a larger size.

I can't please all the people all the time. I do know that I don't target people with disabilities, therefore, I don't see a need to design to this small segment. If I was doing a gov't contract, then I design with 508 compliance as the boilerplate.

Many good comments and arguements to be had. Thanks everyone for them. I guess I am the moody artist. I'de rather paint with my brushes than with pixels..and I am still a novice at web stuff.

[Sir Jake]

When designing a site you should make it easy for the veiwer to see what is there.

If someone has to resize the font in their browser and reopen a half open window and take great care to find the correct 'X' since one is on top of the other to close a window....then they will not and they will leave. Why? Because they don't have to go though all of those steps on any other site.

The high lighted 'on page' in the nav again, is expected and deters people from hitting a page in the nav that they are already on, (detering them from wasting time, getting frustrated and leaving).

It's totally up to you if you want to make your site user friendly or not. It depends on whether you want people to stay on your site or leave.

Please don't cross any police lines or fail to obey yeild signs or go on an airplane during a terrorist alert just because they are all yellow:)

[vasam]

Hi,

For me layout doesn't look finished.
You need make it centered om my screen with hight resolution it looks weird.
Also, dupliucate top navigation as a text links at the bottom.
I'd suggest you to make font bigger.

[polaskiglass]

Each page on this site labels what page your are on. It's in the title and it's on the left of the nav bar in orange. I did notice that I still have typographic embellishment in the title and that renders my site not very searchable. I am going to drop the window sizing script back in. I want the site viewed a certain way. To allow the user to do whatever they want to it negates the reason for graphic design. My site is for visual only. It's a portfolio. It's not a point of purchase site..so much of these arguements are really negated. Most people go to my site on referral. This means that I have already spoken to them in person. So they can see some work. They aren't there to have some kind of escoteric web experience. The nav is straightforward. I DO agree that I need a text alternative for it though.

Thanks for the input. All the comments here are very valid. I realize that many of you have much more experience. If I had more at stake with keeping people at my site, then it would be of more importance. But it's only a small part of what I do. It's just a tiny portrait. I am gonna get fired for doing this on work time...but it's sooooo sloooowwwww.

[KDLA]

Just make sure that the javascript resize makes your page fully visible, no matter what the screen setting: 800x600, 1024x768, widescreen laptop, etc.

KDLA