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[enigma]

Hey guys,

I've just started making a website for my dad's business. He's trying to put out info for clients and prospective customers and just general public etc etc..

So far it's just the one page - the pics arent full quality and all the text is bullshit - but I just needed to get a basic design down.

I'm basically just after some opinions and ideas if that's possible.

Thanks!

..Linky..

This post has been edited by enigma: May 3 2006, 11:28 AM

[Radnoken]

mmm prawns...

::drool::


layout looks nice. Despite the quality of the pics, i like the pics you chose, shows a fresh prawn, and the packaging in another.

A question though, who is the target audience for the site. The buyers for stores, or the end customer?

Now, put up the rest of the site. :)

[enigma]

Thanks Rad - yeah, pics will be higher quality later. The website content hasnt been made yet, im lazy.

It's more for general public, giving them information about prawns and the whole process - from hatchery, to cooking, to their plate. He's the marketing manager for all the prawn farms (apart from three) in Australia.

Potential buyers could utilising some pages of the final website, but it won't be for advertising, he doesnt need more business atm. He only sells to Woolworths/Safeway (Australian Supermarket).

[Oli-G]

Noice one J!

At the moment the heirarchy is loosing me a little bit though - I think you just have to step back and ask what are the most important pieces on the page, that need to hit the person and tell the story.

For me, the welcoming text got a little lost - both because of the colour blending in, and the font size. From there, my eyes aren't quite sure where they want to head - I guess it could use a couple of extra "catch phrase" pieces of text or headers to break the content into quasi bite-sized chunks (easier to digest), to give it more (but more importantly, tighter and flowing) contrast.

Strong, dominating photography used as a constant page element, is always great at telling a story and integrating with content, in the event there isn't too much.

I'd also consider having less containers (some seem to be a little bit lost floating out by themselves), and using just a few dividers so that everything flows together and plays nice.

Hope something in there helps a bit :)

This post has been edited by Oli-G: May 4 2006, 10:07 AM

[Boss429]

I agree with oli. But I think the main container the main site box look as if it sank down from the top. you have definition all around it but the top doesnt exist.

Maybe add a margin at the top size doesnt have to be much.. or get some code to fix the bottom of your site with the bottom of the web browser.

But i like it.

[enigma]

Thanks for the feedback.

I've made a few minor adjustments. UPDATE #1 LINK. :ph34r: I'm going leave each edit up, so I can check my progress later.

The content that is shown in the main box is simply for testing, to get an idea of overall layout atm.

Thanks again for the feedback, I really appreciate it!! :D



[EDIT] I've just made up one other page, which is the 'Process' of how prawns are harvested etc. It's not linked to the other page yet as I havent made ANY links.. The content for this page is pretty much as it will be, I just made it all up then, but it's fairly correct.

..Link..

This post has been edited by enigma: May 5 2006, 03:11 PM

[Blue_Muppet]

Looking good! your are right on track mate, keep at it! :)

A few points to make:

• Alignment can be a big part of design, especially in web pages, and especially when information is being conveyed. Try to keep you header image and nav borders in line with the content.

• The drop shadow to the left sits strange over the page; to the right is more visually pleasing.

• Have you thought about using CSS for your text and links, and dropping the 'font' tags?

• If you are planning on a vertical site, try to keep your contents width under 800px, to allow for older monitors and laptops.

• If you are relying on imagery, try to avoid horizontal, vertical and diagonal 'scan lines', as they will just clash with you content.

• If you do not have a lot of text, try to keep it confined, so it doesn't 'run away' across the screen. This makes it harder to read an absorb.


As for the alignment, I whipped up a quick thing from a screen shot to show you what i mean (please excuse the poor quality, i'm working on another project, and my brain is fried, so i just pieced stuff together from you site).

(IMG:http://www.black-winter.com/public/FATP.jpg)


Keep the examples coming, i'm keen to see where you go with this! :good:

[enigma]

Awesome!! Thanks BM, I'll get to work on those points.

Thanks for the visual, too. It certainly helps with my understanding of what you mean. I kept it out of 800px on purpose, because for the amount of people that will be viewing it on a lower res, it doesnt really matter - but now that you mention it, as I have only slighty gone over, I might as well squeeze it in to place.

I don't know CSS, I've only ever used the shitty straightforward HTML for sites, I need to advance and get some more skills.

Thanks again!

[Blue_Muppet]

no worries mate, glad to help!

as for CSS, if you are just formating text and table cells, its pretty easy to get the hang of.

For example, create a new blank file, and call it 'styles.css' or whatever.

Then, for what you have at the moment, you just enter something like:

CODE

body {  
 
  font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
  font-size: 10px;
  font-style: normal;
  font-weight: normal;
  color: #000000;

  }


.heading {
 
  font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
  font-size: 10px;
  font-style: normal;
  font-weight: bold;
  color: #000000;

  }

Save the file into your web directory.

Then, at the top of each page, inside your [HEAD] tags, put:

CODE

<link rel="stylesheet" href="[INSERT RELATIVE PATH]/defStyle.css" type="text/css">

From there, your text will be formatted by 'body', and you can use 'heading' as a style element (the '.' in front of 'heading' means you will have to apply it, as it is not a generic style like 'body')

So, you will end up with something like one of these:

CODE

<p class="heading">This is my Heading</p>

CODE

<span class="heading">This is my Heading</span>

CODE

<td class="heading">This is my Heading</td>

etc etc.

Generally speaking, CSS is the way to go with more basic formatting, and you shouldn't run into any problems with browser-compatibility. :) ;)

This post has been edited by Blue_Muppet: May 9 2006, 10:21 PM

[enigma]

Thanks for the inspiration and advice, I'll get to work on condensing the HTML by using the CSS style sheets. Havent got much spare time at the moment - nearing the end of uni semester.. oh yay!

Did a quick mock-up of the new header for the site, based on your genius-ness and visual experience. It's a work in progress...

(IMG:http://home.iprimus.com.au/ainal/aussieprawn1/new_top2.jpg)

:yahoo: Cheers yet again BM!!!

[enigma]

Just a small upgrade. Finally got a few spare minutes.

I've updated the title graphic and made other minor changes. Haven't made the CSS style sheets yet, but I'll get around to it at some stage.

'Index' page...

'Process' page...

At this stage, it'll basically stay at this design. That's for the feedback!!