Hi Guys,
I have finally designed a site I am fairly happy with. Keep in mind I am a student, I am still learning, but I do try, the site is of much higher standard (code wise) than what I have cherned out before and I just kinda want to get some rung on the ladder. I don't really want big corporate clients, I just want the website to be different and creative as well as accessible. In other words please don't be too brutal.

As Forbairt will see I have decided to leave the CMS backing aside and go back to getting basics right.

The site is Things2do Ireland - Innovative Solutions For Innovative People - New Age Digital Media Firm which has gone through a few lifes but now has a name with my few clients and I'm happy to keep the oddly named domain.

Basically I want the site to be:
1. Different, unique, a bit odd, visually captivating.

2. Valid to W3C standards, most of the site seems to be.

3. Appeal to a younger audience, aim at doing artists, bands, etc websites. (That is what interests me more).

4. Preforms well in search engines. A lot of work has to be done, the old website is still appearing, so I'll be taking that down soon.

5. Not be too professional / off putting to target market above (I like dealing with people like myself a lot and hope to attract them to it).

6. Obviously be a site which creates work for myself in some minor part-time form, I'm a bit wedged for time as it is, but always worth being too busy.

Things I know aren't the best:
1. The homepage is dodgy, very OTT and in general will be smoothed out with time, I might even do things with it over the next day or two.

2. Is pink a good colour to use given the photo contrast, any suggestions.

3. DW templating, does it work well for SEO?


Any creative critism is welcomed, as I said before I want it to be very odd and different, I'm a one man enterprise outside of my contracted work and I'd like to reflect my madness in the site

Thanks,
Baz

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Innovative Solutions

BTW, sorry for falling asleep on the forums for the last while, I've been very very busy... also the background image loading time is a pain but can't do an awful lot about it...

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Innovative Solutions

I have to say that as soon as I went on the site it shouted "Channel 4". The theme with bold colours seems to be quite similar.

I'd love to say that doesn't occur to me in retrospect... but yea actually... God maybe a bit too much 4 on demand.

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Innovative Solutions

Stephen just noticed you fly, Knock Airport? I fly at Weston, get in contract sometime.

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Innovative Solutions

Its amazing where you run into people again! Yes I do fly, at Sligo generally. Coming up on the 30hr mark towards the PPL.

The Channel 4/4OD is quite effective, but I think its a hard one to pull off, and harder again to remain distinctive.

Yea thats probably true... god I'll have to keep slaving.

I'm finally in double figures, 17hrs to PPL at NFC. When will a website pay out!

I'm just trying to think, don't know a lot of lads over there. I'm the culprit behind helping Mark do something with the current Flying In Ireland website... it will take a while to get everything working smoothly! I run the HASOI site also if you have ever stumbled on it... have a lot of upgrade work to do on it.

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Innovative Solutions

A nice attempt, I noticed this in your source code.

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Try using margin-top:100px; instead . You won't need all those line breaks.

I find the text difficult to read.

I'm not sure about the purple myself, especially for links. I'd keep links with underlines instead of a block of purple.

Also you logo isn't clickable to return home. This is a usability issue if you ask me. I know its part of your background, so might be a bit of work for you.

Other than that, I'd say a good attempt for a student .

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Hi gav240z
Thanks for that. I was actually just thinking... god Why didn't I think of the linebreaks! - I used % heights for the left and right divs! Will cut down a few bytes too I guess.

Yes I think it might be better to limit the usage of the pink/purple... It's funny I showed it to my GF and she gave me a kind of look like you have been spending too much time with my friends!

I'll try and work out the clickable image. On my previous site it was clickable and I agree it is important, I'm just trying to figure out a way to make it work. Image maps won't be the best though... could work I suppose! I am thinking maybe a transparent GIF located in the DIV, but I will have to position it - I have plenty of time

I see what you mean about the text, certainly the semi-opacic DIVs. I'll look into it. I just really like the idea of the blocked text, but I think in retrospect it could do with some work. Maybe go a bit more comfortable. Everyone I have asked so far has give or take perfect eyesight, maybe steal my friends glasses and tell him to have a look!

I have decided the purple/pink links must go

What do you think of the transparent DIVs, good idea or not? - They are murder for W3C standards, the CSS file won't validate, as apparently CSS 3.x isn't the normal for them at the moment, oh well!

Regards
Baz

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Innovative Solutions

Site is broken in IE6. Hilariously broken. Index page looks like it has a fixed background.

See attached... Unless of course Im missing somthing and its supposed to look like that?

Attached Images

	things.JPG (136.9 KB, 11 views)
	things2.JPG (168.3 KB, 8 views)