Please critique this web site

[nando]

I like it! for smaller file sizes (and better quality) I would consider using *.png instead of gif (I stopped using gif completely 3-4 years ago). any modern browser can read them and the format is far superior, gif needs to die ASAP...

[Digitalwave]

This is exactly the type of feedback I was looking for. Thanks for everyone that has posted. I am going to go back to a solid grey or black background.

Ryan, I see what you are saying and I will probably ditch the definition thing. I really am unsure what to put on the main page though. I don't want to make some short bullshit blurb making it seem like I run some successful design firm or something. Anyways, the page is larger controlled by a style sheet for ease of changing little aspects across the board.

As for the image settings... the JPEGs were huge unless I did a ton of compression, and then the images looked like complete and utter shit. I would have just scrapped the design if I had to use JPEGs. The GIFs are smaller in size and they are a lot grainer than the original since I stuck with 128 colors, but its the best I could do.

[DEV0 E30]

My 2 cents. Throw them in your pocket or throw them away, it's all good. I realize you are still collecting your thoughts on it and threw it up and are tweaking it, I do the same thing, gives you a better idea.

Firstly, I can dig the basic design. The 50-ish% width of the content area is becoming so popular for a reason, it works and can be viewed in many browsers and resolutions without any problems. The scrolling however is a pet peave of mine, without content forcing you down the page, I dislike to scroll but I'm silly like that.

The grunge-techy look is a great way to be creative, however I think the content area mixed with the background is too dark, and a bit too busy. Something I'd touch up on or think about. The header looks great, bright and informative, and indeed it does have nice type. The diagonal background lines are a great way to get someone to move their eyes over your site, but again in my opinion mixed with the content area it is just too dark. Possibly if they weren't so dominant I'd dig them?

The text is white and bright but doesn't stand out enough against the dark images, a bit chaotic and my eyes wander instead of looking at the content area. Maybe if the text was larger? I like the idea of the stasis definition, but it could stand out more, possibly as an image or surrounded with a 1-2px border centered?

The menu is nice and simple, but possibly if they were in a div container and the images were backgrounds defined by css it would help speed up the site. If you dislike that idea, I understand, I'm a firm anti-table person since I started using css. Or do what Nando suggested and use PNGs, even in my experince PNG 8 looks nearly identical to most JPEGs, GIFs are horrible for large elements.

/shpeel

[Digitalwave]

Would making the content area lighter make it look even more busy and the text harder to read? What would you suggest I do to change it?

[DEV0 E30]

Would making the content area lighter make it look even more busy and the text harder to read? What would you suggest I do to change it?

Maybe making the background image a lower opacity? Say 70/80% of what it is. The text could be a size or two larger, also throw up a filler paragraph, I think just having those few lines of text could be clouding my judgement.

[Digitalwave]

I see. In any case, I am going to a solid background so that will be less distracting. I'm not worried about the text yet as you can tell I didn't really do anything with the content yet, I was just looking for comments on the overall layout and graphics aspect. Thanks Devon.

[DEV0 E30]

No problem TJ, a good critique deserves one in return.

[niq_nak]

When you say solid black background, do you mean the whole thing, or just the content area. I think just making the content area a solid color while leaving the rest of the image could work.

[Ryan Stewart]

Ryan, I see what you are saying and I will probably ditch the definition thing. I really am unsure what to put on the main page though. I don't want to make some short bullshit blurb making it seem like I run some successful design firm or something. Anyways, the page is larger controlled by a style sheet for ease of changing little aspects across the board.

A lot of times a blurb is all you need. A simple statement of intent for a new firm. Be honest, people often appreciate that in the business world. You can be vague though, like if you have 2 clients in a certain field just say you serve that field. Its like when your girl asks about how many girls you dated, there isnt a right number.

That is why I like CSS. Its all precanned so when you hit an issue you can alter the whole site at once and the content just goes along for the ride.

Also I like how you have kept your links clean. Rollover effects are fun but its usually a bitch having an edit and still integrating it into the menu. I like how your links look like text on a page. You might want to try imagemapping. The nice thing is it would allow you to play with the menu as a single image and change the look on a whim while the links stay static.

[Digitalwave]

Ryan, you can take a look at the style.css file, a lot of the page is controlled by it, not all though.

I am talking about the overall background being solid, not the content background. I want to keep that with the map theme. When all of you mentioned the background, were you talking about the diagonal stripe background, or the content background?

[Ryan Stewart]

I like the content background in the darker filter but the bright red is a little distracting. My eyes barely even note the black/grey stripe behind (which is fine).

Its just as I view the site my eyes are constantly drawn to the red. I hardly even notice the header (not good for name recog).

[Digitalwave]

Its just as I view the site my eyes are constantly drawn to the red. I hardly even notice the header (not good for name recog).

I never even thought of that. I definately see that. I can change that easily though. I will experiment with some other colors.

[modifiede30]

I like the idea of the stasis definition, but it could stand out more, possibly as an image or surrounded with a 1-2px border centered?
/shpeel

I this idea - maybe make it a part of the header as an image with some graphic attempting to represent "stasis" (not your site's tagline or philosophy, but actually stasis).