REVIEW REQUEST: www.paoliwd.com

Welcome to the forum.

That is a very nice looking site. I think I like the white background on the new one better than the gray on the backup. It just looks more inviting.

In my opinion though, even though it looks great, I think there is too much text on each page and not enough visual stuff. Have you tried making the main table not so wide? Or maybe adding some images or something to break up the monotony of all that text? Or adding a bunch of padding to that cell?

Add a space or two or even three between the graphic and your first paragraph on each page. (ie; "Professional Web Design") White space is good. It looks a little cluttered there.

Definaltly need to squeeze things up a bit. The text part is too spread out across the page.

Very nice work and I love the colors!

Sonia

Thanks Sonia. I like your point about spacing it up a little. I'd like to add some graphics, but I dont know what to add or where. I'll just wait to see what everyone else has to say . Anyways, thanks for the critique.

P.S. Sonia, mind if I re-design my portfolio page kind of like the layout you use on your site? I'd like to get permission to model it after it. Thanks.

I agree with Sonia that the first one looks better and the grey on the second one is very bland. It does need spicing up with something graphical and if you can't get any relevant photos to use why not use dividers of somekind to break the page up.

The top margin looks a little weird with a margin of 20, maybe bring it down to about 10 or smaller.

The copyright section is big text in NS7, you have size="0.9em" but looks like 14-16px (to sleepy to work out the conversion)

You need some padding in your main cells just to get the text off the edges a bit more.

How about a picture of a computer screen with AZ screen shoots or something.

I like the over all layout and effect, with colours etc, just not sure about that grey stripe. thought about having a stripe across the bottom for the copyright to go in, maybe the red of the top?

this isn't about the design, more the text (my grammer and spelling sucks so feel free to disagree with this), on the index page you have "I specialize in small business websites for the Tucson area, and I am willing to work with people all across the nation." and further down you have "I have the ability to create some of the best looking websites in Tucson!" so if I wanted a site and lived outside the Tucson area I wouldn't get one of the best looking websites?

Ok, its 1:40 a.m. right now, but tomorrow when I get on I will take all of this into consideration. Thank you very much for your help!

Nice looking site paoliwd and I agree Sonia. Looking forward to seeing the finished article. Keep up the good work

Quote: Originally posted by paoliwd
P.S. Sonia, mind if I re-design my portfolio page kind of like the layout you use on your site? I'd like to get permission to model it after it. Thanks.

Sure, I don't mind. Have fun.

I agree with the above. The colours look great, but the pages are a little text heavy. You should definitely add more padding around the text block there, and find some images to add to it (on my site, which still isn't live yet, I just put a screenshot of my most recent work on the front page to break up the text. Then I added a bit of a description of the site and linked it up so people can see the full version... okay, so I still haven't done that last bit yet, but it's in the plans.)

Definitely take the browser chrome off your screenshots - they'll look much better without it.

I really like the way that you've created a southwestern feel to the site without using the most obvious elements. Good job!

Thanks guys!

The newer version is uploaded. On the new version I added some more cellpadding to my content areas, and a gray copyright bar on the bottom as suggested. I also attempted to space the site a little better, and redid the portfolio page. I am going to look around and see what I can do to graphically spice up my site. When I get a digital camera, it will be much easier to add real graphics. Anyways, thank you all very much.

Which url is the newest version on?

http://www.paoliwd.com . The old is http://www.paoliwd.com/backup/

Thanks for your interest and help!

Spacing is much better now, I'm still not sure about the grey of the nav bar though, it kinda looks unfinished to me. Look forward to seeing it with some images on there to break up the text when you get your camera!

I think the overall design is pretty good.

The only thing I can pick on is the amount of text.

The problem, I think, is that you have a lot of information that's all been thrown together into a virtual "essay". But, online readers tend to skim webpages, rather than read text word for word & line by line. What happens is that important info - like your offer for free websites, quotes, low prices, etc - is lost among a whole lot of other stuff.

As a surfer, I always look for important info by scanning for 'highlights' and/or lists. Highlights are things like boxes, shading, font formats, etc that, um, highlight important words. Lists are info presented in bullet-point form. When text is stratified to small lists, the message becomes easier to digest.

The final design should ideally spoonfeed your viewer with all worthwhile data.

I suggest you think about which information is most important and highlight it by maybe adding boxes along the side in a new column, or something along those lines. As long as the message is easy to find.

Hope that helps,
Abhi.

although i'm just a newbie webdesigner in training, i have to agree with most people so far, ur text still does look a bit cluttered/too much.

when i first read ur site i skimmed through it and missed quite a few important bits, try and bold and or italics or underline words like "free".

in my opinion, i dont' think u need much more images, but it's more personal taste for me, i like to keep my pages simple (although sometimes a bit too simple).

but, over all it's a nice site

I like the colours. The one thing I'm not crazy about is the font of the graphics. I'm not sure if it is the face (Monotype Corsiva?) or the beveling that bothers me or if it is a combination of the two. It just doesn't say "web design" to me for some reason.

However since I'm the first to mention this, perhaps it's just me... it often is

Quote: Originally posted by Abhishek Reddy
As a surfer, I always look for important info by scanning for 'highlights' and/or lists. Highlights are things like boxes, shading, font formats, etc that, um, highlight important words.

Just don't go overboard with this! I've seen way too many sites trying to highlight half the words on the page, which just makes it more difficult for the user to select the important information to look at since everything is competing for attention. So, it's important to be selective about this.

Edit: I happen to like the font for the graphics...

Looks a lot better, I'd take off the valid HTML and CSS buttons thou, its good your site is able to validate but a client may have no knowledge (or interest) it what its all about, and if they click the button they are taken to the page with no option of returning (esp the CSS one).
Maybe open the links in a new window or use text links on the services page mentioning you work to the standards and your pages validate ... or something.

This is a pet peeve 7.95$, having the dollar sign after the amount, I know the worded and said method has "dollars" last but in number value belive it should be first. You have the dollar sign in front on the pricing page.

3 email addresses on the first page, and a contact form on another, you're giving them to many options, I'd be confused as to the best one to use.

And you need width and height tags in your portfolio page (on the screen captures)

Keep up the good work

I really don't think you are showing all your skill and abilities
by the example of your home page.Would you pay someone $25 an hour to do what you did, to your own page?
Too much text,not enough images.As a webdesigner you are a business-
man,the picture of the desert or something made me sleepy along with all the wording.
Cut it up some with verticals and include thumbnails of accomplishments.
Highlight you special price in a small logo that you can place on homepage.
Why do i want to see a giant picture of an "under construction" website? (airplanes)

Hi

Viewed using MSIE 6, 1024x768

1. I would change the title & location font, it's kinda old fashioned and ugly IMO.

2. Although matching, the color scheme is kinda bland. If you want to show off your web design, you're gonna need to find some better colors to use. Try http://www.razorfish.com/ & http://www.digitalthread.com/ as a start.

3. The page is kinda wide for the amount of content you have one it. I hate scrolling horzontally. You have to remember many people have the links window open on the left side of their browsers these days.

I hope this helps!

Plaastik

First impression is that the site is clean and easy on the eyes

The layout is a bit plain for a web designer's site but the information is easy to read and understand.

I would like to see some more eye pleasing graphics added and robust colors on the site.

layout - 4
graphics - 2
navigation - 4
color scheme - 2

Overall - 3 out of 5

Hi I recently redesigned both of my sites hoping to make them look more professional. The address of my web design site is paoliwd.com . The address of my webmaster site is paoliwm.com . I am open to any suggestions and constructive criticism. THank you for your time!

paoliwd.com is good, but i'd loose the grey and use white, or use a lighter grey (a dirty white). those W3C buttons don't show up, your not meant to be linking to them.

paoliwm.com is very blue, takes a bit for the eyes to adjust but looking at that then this page is hard on the eyes, maybe tone it down a little

Ok, changed paoliwd.com. Think it looks better? W3C must be havin some hosting problems, thats why the buttons arent showing. You like paoliwd.com? Thanks

I have merged your two threads since it hasn't been three months since you posted a critique for this site.

Carry on!

I wish you would have critiqued me

Awwww...how sweet.

Give me a little bit and I will.

Sonia

OK, thx sonia. Sorry bout the double thread...

Ok....I can't quiet remember what you had at the top of paoliwd.com before. The top part where you have "Paoli Web Design Optimizing Your Business" looks a little empty but I really am unable to make any suggestions as to what you could do. Don't get me wrong, it looks fine but there just seems to be a need for some little something up there. The rest of the site doesn't look like it has changed. Still a nice site.

paoliwm.com:
You get brownie points for having a TWF link on your site.

Nice looking site as well. A little too blue maybe but you can probably get by. I am not crazy about the font that you have used for the logo and they stars are a little plain looking IMO. A star is just too common of a graphic. See if you can come up with something more original.

Have you tried using a dingbat of some sort? Something that isn't used that much.
http://www.dingbatpages.com/
http://www.fontfreak.com/

Nice work on both sites.

Oh, you have to come clean my house since you double posted. And I like eggs over easy and crisp bacon when you cook breakfast for me.

Heh, If I would only cook eggs overeasy with bacon for myself. Thx for the review sonia.

I was wondering if you think Ive made any progress with my site Paoli Web Design.

Original Version

Version 2

New Version (3.0)

I like version 3.0 best.

I can't say anything is very wrong with it. It's functional and looks neat. Only thing is, it doesn't "grab me" for long — after skimming over the page once, my interest is lost.

The colours are interesting, especially in the header area, but everything below is a little bland.

I like the picture at the top, but beyond that, the titling doesn't hold much interest. How about coming up with a logo and working that in?

Overall, the one thing that sticks out as being too plain is the fonts. For the titles and headings, try to avoid using Arial or similar fonts. Use something more interesting and fresh (it doesn't have to be a serif font; a different but suitable sans-serif will do perfectly well). Maybe get some shadows, shapes, colour blocks, highlights, or other things on there. But don't make it too intrusive.

And bold Verdana is probably not the most interesting font to use for titles in body text either. At least make it a size larger. Maybe add a background shape and pattern for the headings... ?

Try to spice up the page more. As it is, the page shows your ability to make a clean and functional design, but it doesn't really show your creativity.

Sorry if I sound over-critical. I'm just nitpicking.

It is much cleaner and professional now. I really didn't think that the previous Corsiva font was suitable. It does kind of wander off to "nothingness" on the right at high res though. Perhaps boxing and centering would look better? That is one element of the original that I liked best.

Nice site, and a very nice layout. Good use of colors and it is straightforward. I like it