(SI) Simplified Impact

Ed · #1 (**permalink**) Oct 28th, 2007, 22:17

Hi Guys, a site I made for my network of sites.
The network is called Simplified Impact, so I wanted it to be extremely simple, which I think I did, and yet have impact, which I also think I did.

But that's for you to decide. The website passes all W3C Validations CSS+HTML, it's so simple though, how couldn't it?

The navigation took some time and pondering, but thanks to my own thinking and a lot of help in the html forums, I got it to look quite good.

It was quite hard, but it was worth it.

All pages load quite fast on my phone, broadband connection and dialup.

What do you think?

Thanks,
Ed

alexgeek · #2 (**permalink**) Oct 28th, 2007, 22:50

What's this about:

HTML: Select all

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Your images are far too large, load time is too long!</span>

MikeHopley · #3 (**permalink**) Oct 28th, 2007, 22:59

I like the clean, simple look. You do need some actual content, however (such as a working portfolio)!

As Alex said, be careful about your image sizes. The homepage image is 266 kb! I understand that it's central to your design, and it is very attractive; but have you even run it through PNGcrush? Some graphics programs, such as Photoshop, produce hideously bloated PNG files.

Ed · #4 (**permalink**) Oct 28th, 2007, 22:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexgeek

What's this about:

HTML: Select all

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Your images are far too large, load time is too long!</span>

I know, I'm having a lot of problems centering it, but the  's are valid, so it was a quick fix.

I have a question unsolved (just posted) in the CSS forum if you want to go help me out.

As for the images, I'll fix it tomorrow. Other than that, what do you think?

Thanks for your critique,
Ed

MikeHopley · #5 (**permalink**) Oct 28th, 2007, 23:18

See my answer in your other thread, and then remove those  s!

Just because it validates doesn't make it good.

Ed · #6 (**permalink**) Oct 28th, 2007, 23:30

I'm confused...(again) can you go back to that thread!

Ed · #7 (**permalink**) Oct 29th, 2007, 12:20

I have gotten rid of the &nbsp's and fixed the image sizes + added a working Projects Page that looks good. I've added another piece of content in the about section also.

Please tell me what you think!

Ed

MikeHopley · #8 (**permalink**) Oct 29th, 2007, 13:00

Well done with the image size and centring. You've reduced your image to almost 1/3 its previous file size, without any discernible loss in quality.

The site looks good, but it's purpose is unclear. What are you trying to achieve? Are you selling web design services? Why would anyone want to contact you? What do you have to offer?

karinne · #9 (**permalink**) Oct 29th, 2007, 13:03

That menu is VERY Apple-ish ... read TOO Apple-ish. Surely you can come up with something a bit more creative.

The rest of the design I'm not too fond of as it's not very useful. I should have to go through the whole site to know what I'm looking at. I should know right off the bad... right on that homepage what you are and what you do with some examples.

Ed · #10 (**permalink**) Oct 29th, 2007, 13:54

Okay, if people were to come to this site, they'd be coming from either

http://www.technoessence.com
or
http://www.corksdailysnap.com

So they would realise that Simplified Impact is a network of sites. However, I do take into account what you are saying, though.

As for the menu? What could I change it to? It took me ages! I have fallen in love with the Myriad Pro font, so is there another option?

Just one question - please answer honestly. Would you have thought of Apple Straight away if I hadn't mentioned it on the other site? Will it ultimately matter if I don't change it?

Your opinion matters alot.

Thanks,
Ed

karinne · #11 (**permalink**) Oct 29th, 2007, 13:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vivara

Okay, if people were to come to this site, they'd be coming from either

http://www.technoessence.com
or
http://www.corksdailysnap.com

So they would realise that Simplified Impact is a network of sites. However, I do take into account what you are saying, though.

Yes but this is still in essence a "portfolio" site or a agency site... whatever ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vivara

As for the menu? What could I change it to? It took me ages! I have fallen in love with the Myriad Pro font, so is there another option?

You cold change everything ... the look, the background, the color?!?! As it is right now, it's the same as the Apple site!

Ed · #12 (**permalink**) Oct 29th, 2007, 19:31

I have taken into account everything you've said Karinne, as I respect you a lot.
I have changed the nav. Although it is similar, I don't think you would put two and two together unless it was said. (I hope)

I changed the logo to suit it as well!

I'll be making it more obvious what the site is for and be fixing any issues that come to mind.

Please tell me anything everyone that you might think is even at the slightest bit wrong. My Photoshop skills, anything!

Thanks,
Ed

Marc · #13 (**permalink**) Oct 29th, 2007, 19:38

The navigation is showing 1 and a half times :S

Ed · #14 (**permalink**) Oct 29th, 2007, 20:36

Uh!

That's odd, it's just a different image, same sizes.

What browser and resolution?

You're the expert (lol) could you tell me why this is happening?

Thanks,
Ed

minute44 · #15 (**permalink**) Oct 30th, 2007, 11:14

Far too much like Apple. I like it but it's too much like apple.

Ed · #16 (**permalink**) Oct 30th, 2007, 12:46

Even the new version of the menu?

This was the old - what the others above were talking about.

This is the news - that I think wouldn't give you the idea unless we talked about it - like above.

I think I'm going to stick with it. What about the rest of the site?

Thanks,
Ed

karinne · #17 (**permalink**) Oct 30th, 2007, 12:57

I think maybe if you changed the color of is ... I mean ... the gray, the rounded-corners, the shade of the text and font are typical of Apple, so your menu will always look like the Apple menu because of this.

Marc · #18 (**permalink**) Oct 30th, 2007, 17:04

The nav seems to have sorted itself out... I think the page is lacking content and colour.

Ed · #19 (**permalink**) Oct 30th, 2007, 20:26

Hi Guys ^

Agree with you. (Plural)

I've changed the nav to a tabbed look.

See here (below)

http://simplifiedimpact.com/supertest.html

I've also added a background image to it, which I think looks good.
But then the nav, which is a transparent png, goes grey where it's supposed to be transparent!

I think it's because they are both background images. How can I get around this? So that the nav images transparent bits show the background pattern.

I think you'll agree that it no longer looks like Apple.com, or any other site for that matter!

What do you think of the pattern?

Thanks,
Ed

karinne · #20 (**permalink**) Oct 30th, 2007, 20:34

For the transparency in IE6 ... a hack is needed.

See this thread - How to deal with PNG transparency in IE6 - the second link (IE PNG Fix)

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