Webpage Constructive Criticisms

[TWControls]

I am writing my first webpage and was wondering if anyone could offer any advice or opinions on it
TW Controls @ http://www.twcontrols.com

Thanks
Tim

 

[imported_Ned Flanders]

I like!

But the menu bar at the top could do with a little more zaz, and also the "Main Menu" and "Login" boxes dont align correctly with the outside edge of the box thing

 

[troytime]

lookin decent!

the left menus and right sidebars pop more than the content though

 

[TWControls]

Originally posted by: Ned Flanders
I like!

But the menu bar at the top could do with a little more zaz, and also the "Main Menu" and "Login" boxes dont align correctly with the outside edge of the box thing

Yes, the top menu needs something. Any suggestions?

 

[TWControls]

Originally posted by: troytime
lookin decent!

the left menus and right sidebars pop more than the content though

Can you explain what you mean? I'm not following you

 

[troytime]

the grey gradient boxes used in the left nav and right sidebars are very easy to read and they really grab the readers attention.

while trying to read the main body content, the grey boxes kept pulling my eyes towards the outside

 

[TWControls]

So should I make the content stick out a little more or tame the side menus?

 

[TWControls]

I made the content bold. Does that help?

 

[troytime]

Originally posted by: TWControls
I made the content bold. Does that help?

please change that back

you could tame the sideboxes down a bit, or add some whitespace around the main content

 

[TWControls]

I changed it back

Think I need to figure out how to move the side menus out further, then put a margin of whitespace like you say. What do you think?

 

[QueBert]

not bad at all, only thing that jumps out at me as something that I would change. the navbar at the top, I think it would look better as one long bar, not a bunch of "buttons" but that's just my opinion.

 

[John]

Not bad. Here are my thoughts.

[*]Company logo looks cheap and aliased (jagged)
[*]The red section at the top would look better if it wasn't full screen and the same width as the content area. Also get rid of the small area where the red overlaps the top of the content box
[*]The entire top navigation isn't needed since there is a menu box on the left. The green hover is ugly anyhow
[*]As someone pointed out earlier the 'main menu' and 'login form' boxes need to be moved to the right a little bit so that they are inside if the content area. This way they will match the other 3 boxes on the right side

 

[x1v]

Yeah, looks very nice. I agree with a few other posters that the banner and the navigation buttons at the top need some reworking. Specifically how I can't tell you, as I am the least artistically inclined person here. To me, the design of the page doesn't fit with the large red banner.

 

[TWControls]

As far as the logo are you thinking the puzzle piece is a bad idea or is my graphics editing the problem?

 

[sash1]

(1) Logo is weak and pixelated on the edges
(2) the top navbar (red) is a poor color choice and hurts my eyes. should be a more muted color like the rest of your site
(3) the sidebars stand out too much. they're gradients, which is inconsisten with the rest of your site. also, i think they encroach too much on your content, giving the page a condensed/squished feeling. the focus should be the content, not your sidebar(s).
(4) the links on the top are out of place. first, they're already on the sidebar, and also they don't fit with the red navbar (though that's more the fault of the red)

 

[TWControls]

Ok so I am thinking keep the same logo but make it smoother

Get rid of the red at the top and go with a smoother graphic banner. Perhaps white background, grey banner, break the T.W. Controls up into a puzzle and make the puzzle icon a missing piece of the banner

Spread the left and right menus out so the content isn't cramped.

I'm new at this, be back in a week or so

 

[TWControls]

Ok I have widened the page some and came up with some calmer color options. I still have to add the margins and fix that left menu but was wondering which color you guys thought worked better. The logo doesn't quite match but it will one I decide on a color. Also the banner is blue on all of them but it will be the right color in the end

Blue - http://www.twcontrols.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

Green - http://www.twcontrols.com/index.php?opt...com_content&task=section&id=1&Itemid=2

Red - http://www.twcontrols.com/index.php?option=com_search&Itemid=5

Which on looks better?

 

[MrChad]

Blue looks better. Some other points.

1. The logo needs to be anti-aliased or designed in a vector-based graphics program like Adobe Illustrator.[/li]
2. Gaps in the top menu and small rounded corners do not look clean.[/li]
3. Login form area is too cramped.[/li]
4. Mouse-overs on left-hand menu do not fit with style of menu.[/li]
5. What's with the unreadable screenshot?[/li]

 

[TWControls]

1. Yes logo needs to get much better
2. I took the top menu out. Do you think the search at the top should stay or go?
3. How are mouseovers now?
4. What do you mean?
5. Where is that at, I must have been experimenting and left something in?

Thanks
TW

 

[MrChad]

RE 2: Try moving the search above the Newsflash box.
RE 4: On the left-hand menu, when you mouse-over an item, it changes its appearance. The "hot" menu item look needs adjusting, IMO.
RE 5: Right in the center of the screen!

 

[TWControls]

2 and 4. I'll work on these
5. Oh I got you now. It is a PLC ladder diagram. I need to put a graphic there but don't know what to put

Thanks
TW

 

[TWControls]

Do you think you should be able to click on the screenshot and open it in a larger view?

 

[Spacehead]

For the body content, maybe shade the background just a bit so it's not a bright white background. Either that or maybe make the fonts in the body larger or use a different font in that area.


For some reason the "Newsflash" & "Poll" boxes don't displayin IE6 for me.

 

[Spacehead]

Originally posted by: TWControls
Do you think you should be able to click on the screenshot and open it in a larger view?

If you want people to be able to read it, yes.

 

[TWControls]

Originally posted by: Spacehead
For the body content, maybe shade the background just a bit so it's not a bright white background. Either that or maybe make the fonts in the body larger or use a different font in that area.


For some reason the "Newsflash" & "Poll" boxes don't displayin IE6 for me.

Ok, I'll try changing the font size.

Not sure about IE6, I see it on mine. Does it not show anything there?

How about the color. Red(search), Green(news), or Blue(home)? I'm leaning towards the Blue