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NEWBIE SITE for Design Company

angelwatt said:
Just an idea for this. You could use some JavaScript in which after 3 to 5 seconds at the welcome page it automatically links through to the main site. You'd still have the click for people hurrying through and also for people without JavaScript. Just an idea. It wouldn't take much JavaScript to do this and I'll help if you'd like to try it. Actually, there's also a way to redirect with the a meta tag that doesn't require JavaScript.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion! I like this ides, however I do not have a clue about javascript. where do i put it in iweb?
 
N16K NE said:
Thanks for the suggestion! I like this ides, however I do not have a clue about javascript. where do i put it in iweb?
Click to expand...

Let's try the meta refresh one first. When I write the post I forgot about it being an iWeb site, which means we'll have to edit the code after publishing to a folder. It's a small amount of editing though. After publishing, find the file Intro.html, and open it in a text editor (I'd suggest something like TextWrangler, Taco HTML, or Smultron, each of which is free). At the top of the file you'll see some meta tags already present and we'll ad one more:

HTML: 
    <meta name="Generator" content="iWeb 2.0.4" />
    <meta name="iWeb-Build" content="local-build-20080929" />
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=700" />
    <!-- the line below is new -->
    <meta http-equiv="refresh" content="4;url=http://web.mac.com/nick_neddy/Grapevine-Design/Welcome.html">
It's current set to go to your welcome page after 4 seconds, which you can edit. See how this works for you. I've never tried this with a frames web site, but I'm pretty sure it'll still work right.
 
N16K NE said:
As perviously mentioned a few times, the welcome screen i like, and i feel that it adds a sense of welcome. And, i am appreciative of your feedback, however the welcome screen is something that I think adds a unique touch to it. I have played around with many ideas of having a way of representing that you have to click on the logo to enable you to progress through the site.
all of which spoil the minimalist, elegant look I am trying for.

The logo. I agree that the font needs to be separate from the "leaf-G" however I have not had a chance to change anything as yet.

Whilst reading your comments about not taking anything to heart.. I'm guessing that you haven't been looking at this thread for long...because i have adapted, and changed a lot of my site. All the comments that I felt added value to the site I am trying to create...I have taken into consideration, and on many occasions I have changed aspects of my site.

thank you for your feedback.
Click to expand...

I've actually been following the thread and noticed the changes you made. I think that's totally great. I tried to keep my feedback to areas where I think there is still room for improvement - realizing that you had put the effort in to make some other changes. I'll leave the logo alone as you mentioned that you are going to be working on it. The welcome page though I still feel strongly is something you should reconsider. Yes I know you like it .... and that's fine - you just have to remember you are not the only visitor to your site - many others will see it ... well at least that's the whole idea of advertising your business to others. One mistake is to make your designs something you like, not taking into account the audience. I've been guilty of this in the past so I can totally understand. If this site was your personal / family blog - that's great - design it any way you want. If however you are serious about having this site as an effective sales and marketing tool and a reflection of your services then I would really think from the perspective of the visitor. Why do they care about a welcome screen? Do they care that it looks clean? Why do they need to click on your logo just to see your site? What's the value in that for them? These are the sorts of things you need to consider not to mention the fact that you are seriously hurting your search engine rankings by having this welcome page with no relevant information for search engines to index.

Hope this helps - keep at it :)
 
Your lower three buttons along the top are very hard to click. It seems that the active part of the button is only one pixel high. With Safari I have to have the pointer right at the bottom of the text to click one of these buttons.

Greg
 
When one enters either Services - Testimonials - Contact Us it is no longer possible to click the bottom row of links until a link on the top is clicked.
 
angelwatt said:
Check out this page at Apple's site. I started with iWeb 1 and somehow upgraded to 2, but can't remember exactly how. It may have come through Apple Software Updates.
Click to expand...

That particular page is just for an update of iWeb 2.0x to 2.04.

The version change from iWeb 1.0x to 2.0x is not free- iWeb 1.0x came as part of the iLife 06 suite, while 2.0x is the version that was released in iLife 08.

If you plan to use iWeb at all, the version in iLife 08 is worth the price of iLife by itself in my opinion! Version 2 corrects and expands on so many of the capabilities of Version 1 that there is little comparison between the two versions.

EDIT: Geeeeez- nevermind! I didn't realize the date of this thread! Oops!:eek:
 
Recent Update!!

Hi all,

Thanks for your feedback over the past months.

I've had the chance to get around to re-doing it all!

Please have a look-

www.grapevine-design.org

Please do let me know any of your thoughts! I'm proud of it, however am more than welcoming of anyones thoughts, criticisms etc!!

Thank you.
 
The website is fine, but it does take longer to load than one would expect.

Off topic but somewhat related, are you sure you've done work for Johnson & Johnson? I have to say I am very sceptical.
 
....sceptical....

destere said:
are you sure you've done work for Johnson & Johnson? I have to say I am very sceptical.
Click to expand...

Great feedback - thank you. Constructive.

Can I ask....why would I put up work that I haven't done as my own and put a name like JnJ behind it?

Can I ask....why are you sceptical?

Not that I really have to clarify how/why I have done work (and will carry on doing at least two/three pages a month for about another two years) for JnJ...I work for Johnson & Johnson Consumer UK as an Assistant Account Manager for their Pharmacy Wholesale Team. I noticed that there was a gap for Baby, Beauty and some healthcare brands' promotional pages in our Wholesalers magazines - for example with AAH Pharmaceuticals' "MPM Magazine", so I let people know I could do them, I did a few as a trial run - and they liked them, and are continuing to use me.

I do hope that your "very sceptical" feelings are now passed; but yea - please can you answer why you were so??

Again, great constructive feedback - thank you.
 
First off, you've had a lot of negative criticism so far. But that's what you came on here for, right? So don't take it too badly.

For the first attempt at a website, it's a whole lot better than many other people manage.

The trouble is, you are selling yourself as a design company, yet your site doesn't look very appealing at all. Any prospective customer is going to look at that and say 'that's not what I'm looking for.'

It's very slow to load and as others have said looks old fashioned, like websites that were made about 10 years ago. It's retro, yes, but not in a good way.

I would recommend you get yourself a basic grounding in HTML and CSS. If you're frightened by that, don't be. It's not that bad. If you can get yourself a copy of Dreamweaver and a couple of basic tutorials, it's amazing what you can pick up. I can recommend a couple of very good books from the 'Missing Manual' stable, there's a CSS one and a Dreamweaver one. They're very easy to follow and explain things in a relatively jargon-free way.

There isn't an HTML one, but both the CSS and Dreamweaver ones give solid tutorials based around good HTML structure.

The benefits are your site will load quickly, be much cleaner and look more professional.

Simplicity is also the key. Cut out the bull and pare the site down to the minimum required. The portfolio is the most important area. I would ditch the 'testimonials' section, the 'clients' section which can be bundled into the portfolio, the 'online payment' section which should be hidden or not there at all.
 
Had a re-design

Hi All,

Thanks for all your feedback etc and how to improve.

Please have a look again, (link on my signature)

(before anyone says it...I know that an "intro" page many people do not like, however this is one thing I am keen on keeping)

Please do let me know your feedback!

Thanks

Nick
 
Some things I noticed as an average Joe visiting your site:

• I had to scroll down to the little 'enter' button. Consider making the logo a link too.
• The green squares at the top seem to be loading as individual images, why not make them into one larger image?
• Clicking the 'Home' button takes you back to the intro page, which is pretty annoying tbh.
• On the right of the home page (not intro), the text says "a fresh perspective...on design and photogra"...the end of the word 'photography' is cut off.

To be honest, I'm not a fan of the colour scheme. Purple green and blue doesn't fit together in my opinion. At least not on a white background.

IMO the problem with lots of white space is that the edges of images and objects are super obvious, and if you have an object that suddenly ends in a way it wouldn't normally (such as the necklace on your home page), it can look kind of odd.
 
N16K NE said:
Hi All,

Thanks for all your feedback etc and how to improve.

Please have a look again, (link on my signature)

(before anyone says it...I know that an "intro" page many people do not like, however this is one thing I am keen on keeping)

Please do let me know your feedback!

Thanks

Nick
Click to expand...

Your website hurts my eyes and makes me feel nauseous. Are you really a graphic designer? I find it hard to believe that you actually make money unless you're selling to bottom feeders. Sorry, but you asked... and I'm telling you the truth.

Anyway... here's how you can improve. Don't quit your day job! Consider putting your business aspirations on hold and go to school or at least take some formal classes in design. Seriously, aside from all of the amateur technical issues (some pages don't load and there are many broken img links) to the REALLY BAD logo and non-sensical green puke splatters.... and the ugly purple drop-shadows - I'm not sure if I can find any redeeming quality to what you have there. And what's up with that navigation scheme? Geez, you are even using the wrong TLD for your domain! Org is not for business unless you are non-profit or working in the public sector. But I see why you didn't go with dot com and that is because there is another design company using your exact name. So, even with your business name, you aren't being original.

When I look at your site, I think that you ripped off some of the design content. You have a page full of logos of other companies that you present as though you did them. If you didn't do the logos, you should just have a text link. Worse yet, you mix in some of the "logos" you did with their original logos and I think that is dishonest. Maybe a mistake... but you need to be careful on how you present yourself.

Now that I wrote all of this, I realized that we might be getting punked. Did you throw this website together to see if you could mess with people heads? Pretty funny! Well, the good thing to come out of this is that I bookmarked your website to show to some of my design colleagues. We sometimes get together and have a laugh at stuff that some people try to pawn off as good design. LOL.

If you are NOT trying to pull a joke on us, then I feel bad for you. Decent effort for an amateur... but you really should consider getting some kind of formal training if you plan to continue and be taken serious. Good luck.
 
Every time a professional uses iWeb for a commercial site God kills a cute puppy, please think of the puppy :cool:
 
THX1139 said:
Your website hurts my eyes and makes me feel nauseous. Are you really a graphic designer? I find it hard to believe that you actually make money unless you're selling to bottom feeders. Sorry, but you asked... and I'm telling you the truth.

Anyway... here's how you can improve. Don't quit your day job! Consider putting your business aspirations on hold and go to school or at least take some formal classes in design. Seriously, aside from all of the amateur technical issues (some pages don't load and there are many broken img links) to the REALLY BAD logo and non-sensical green puke splatters.... and the ugly purple drop-shadows - I'm not sure if I can find any redeeming quality to what you have there. And what's up with that navigation scheme? Geez, you are even using the wrong TLD for your domain! Org is not for business unless you are non-profit or working in the public sector. But I see why you didn't go with dot com and that is because there is another design company using your exact name. So, even with your business name, you aren't being original.

When I look at your site, I think that you ripped off some of the design content. You have a page full of logos of other companies that you present as though you did them. If you didn't do the logos, you should just have a text link. Worse yet, you mix in some of the "logos" you did with their original logos and I think that is dishonest. Maybe a mistake... but you need to be careful on how you present yourself.

Now that I wrote all of this, I realized that we might be getting punked. Did you throw this website together to see if you could mess with people heads? Pretty funny! Well, the good thing to come out of this is that I bookmarked your website to show to some of my design colleagues. We sometimes get together and have a laugh at stuff that some people try to pawn off as good design. LOL.

If you are NOT trying to pull a joke on us, then I feel bad for you. Decent effort for an amateur... but you really should consider getting some kind of formal training if you plan to continue and be taken serious. Good luck.
Click to expand...

Thank you!!!!!
 
Knee-jerk reaction:
Simplify this site down to pure typography, photography, and page composition, in black, gray and white. (no gradients or graphics that will increase the size of the downloads)
Let the color and impact of your artwork and photography be the focal point of the site.
 
Thank you for all your feedback.

I have updated where appropriate, along with a few more touches.

Please let me know any feedback you have


Thanks to the suggestion of making the small green squares a flat image!!!

Nick.

THX1139 said:
Your website hurts my eyes and makes me feel nauseous. Are you really a graphic designer? I find it hard to believe that you actually make money unless you're selling to bottom feeders. Sorry, but you asked... and I'm telling you the truth.

Anyway... here's how you can improve. Don't quit your day job! Consider putting your business aspirations on hold and go to school or at least take some formal classes in design. Seriously, aside from all of the amateur technical issues (some pages don't load and there are many broken img links) to the REALLY BAD logo and non-sensical green puke splatters.... and the ugly purple drop-shadows - I'm not sure if I can find any redeeming quality to what you have there. And what's up with that navigation scheme? Geez, you are even using the wrong TLD for your domain! Org is not for business unless you are non-profit or working in the public sector. But I see why you didn't go with dot com and that is because there is another design company using your exact name. So, even with your business name, you aren't being original.

When I look at your site, I think that you ripped off some of the design content. You have a page full of logos of other companies that you present as though you did them. If you didn't do the logos, you should just have a text link. Worse yet, you mix in some of the "logos" you did with their original logos and I think that is dishonest. Maybe a mistake... but you need to be careful on how you present yourself.

Now that I wrote all of this, I realized that we might be getting punked. Did you throw this website together to see if you could mess with people heads? Pretty funny! Well, the good thing to come out of this is that I bookmarked your website to show to some of my design colleagues. We sometimes get together and have a laugh at stuff that some people try to pawn off as good design. LOL.

If you are NOT trying to pull a joke on us, then I feel bad for you. Decent effort for an amateur... but you really should consider getting some kind of formal training if you plan to continue and be taken serious. Good luck.
Click to expand...



Thank you for your feedback.

I started the business in 2006. The website is only used as a portfolio. This is a hobby that I have as well as my career. However, since you point out "go back to school" etc....I have a 1st class honours degree from one of Europe's top business universities, and am planning on an MBA from one of the worlds top MBA schools in the US.

I so appreciate your feedback, however please think before you call a company that you do not know rubbish - as stated this is a hobby, but I thought I would make some money out of it. As for these "bottom feeders" that I work with.... (i dont know where you are from...however) Johnson & Johnson are a huge global corporation (i think you may have heard of them), Savills, Knight Frank, Hamptons International etc are all very well known and well respected Estate Agents....Now, forgive me if you own your own multi-million/billion turnover company...but I think you are in no position to state that I deal with "bottom feeders"

The page of logos which you seem to think I have designed is merely to show whom I have worked with.....hence why i put "Client List" as a link to this page..

So, I am glad that you have bookmarked my website. I hope that this message gets read out in one of your huge corporate company meetings...And I hope that they laugh at it.... (even if at me...at least I've brought some entertainment to your sorry live)

Give me feedback if you do read it out, and let me know the thoughts!

Best Regards,

Nick.

ezkimo said:
Thank you!!!!!
Click to expand...

Great feedback,

Thanks.


Please can you read the title "NEWBIE SITE" ...

Thank you for your productive, and informative feedback.
 
N16K NE said:
Great feedback,

Thanks.

Please can you read the title "NEWBIE SITE" ...

Thank you for your productive, and informative feedback.
Click to expand...


I agree with everything THX1139 said entirely.

If this is a website for your "career" (your word, not mine) it should not be a "newbie site", it should be professional. If you can't make a professional site yourself you hire out, it's that simple.

No need to go waving your business degree around, it has nothing to do with design. If this is your chosen career, you need training. Go back to school. You're missing foundational knowledge.
 
ezkimo said:
I agree with everything THX1139 said entirely.

If this is a website for your "career" (your word, not mine) it should not be a "newbie site", it should be professional. If you can't make a professional site yourself you hire out, it's that simple.

No need to go waving your business degree around, it has nothing to do with design. If this is your chosen career, you need training. Go back to school. You're missing foundational knowledge.
Click to expand...





Please re-read the message I wrote. THIS IS A HOBBY. I have a career that I am embarking on. The website I am talking about here is NOT MY CAREER...IT IS MY HOBBY!...as stated.

No need to wave my qualifications around? Well..." go to school or at least take some formal classes in design " has brought up my education. So i am merely replying to a comment made.
 
N16K NE said:
Please re-read the message I wrote. THIS IS A HOBBY. I have a career that I am embarking on. The website I am talking about here is NOT MY CAREER...IT IS MY HOBBY!...as stated.

No need to wave my qualifications around? Well..." go to school or at least take some formal classes in design " has brought up my education. So i am merely replying to a comment made.
Click to expand...

"This is a hobby that I have as well as my career" reads as this is both my hobby and career.

Your reply about your degree is irrelevant to what they were talking about because your degree isn't in design, so yes, there is no need to wave your qualifications around.
 
ezkimo said:
"This is a hobby that I have as well as my career" reads as this is both my hobby and career.

Your reply about your degree is irrelevant to what they were talking about because your degree isn't in design, so yes, there is no need to wave your qualifications around.
Click to expand...


difference of opinion. Jealously is an evil trait.

Again, thank you for your feedback on my website.
 
ezkimo said:
You're funny ;)
Click to expand...

How about you back off a bit yeh? You've already told him you think his site is s***, there's no need to keep throwing punches.

For what it's worth, IMO the OP is right:

"This is a hobby that I have as well as my career" implies that the OP has a career, and has this website as a hobby as well. What the career is isn't mentioned.

Now, about the updated site:

Firstly, I love the new logo on the welcome screen. Looks really cool. Not keen on the 'enter' text though. The font and colour doesn't really match, and it just seems like it's sitting there. Perhaps more of a rough text, and in a green colour to match the quotation marks you have in the background? Also maybe make the 'enter' text larger.

It's getting late and I need to go to bed, and my internet is playing up, so I'll add more in the morning. It's definitely improved though!
 
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