I need some feedback or suggestions..

ecntrc · 08-04-2006

Ok, I havent started anything yet. Im trying to visualize how to structure my layout. For a client. My salon client. I attached a picture I scanned from a catalog that she gets for salons. Like they offer websites, business cards ect.. anyways, so she shows me this design, I had already changed it awhile back. So now she wants it to look like this. The yellow design. But Im wondering, You see how theres navigation buttons in the middle, she only wants 3 links there and then where the boxes are, where it says body treats, specials and bronzing. She wants her links there. Like the heading, ill do the first one for example, The heading would be Permanent make up then below that will be Information, FAQ and Picture gallery. Do you guys think it would be a poor navigation system? Like her viewers would have a hard time finding the links. I didnt realize until I got back from hawaii well just today I realized it. Id love input. Also When the viewer clicks on the link should a brand new page open or should I stick an iframe in there? Im not sure how I can do this without loosing the navigation... is that understandable?? lol. Please let me know.

**Tamlin** · 08-04-2006

Hmm...depends on your coding skills, really. What do you use - JavaScript? ASP? PHP? I have a fair bit of experience in ASP.NET, which is fantastic for this sort of thing, but not all web hosts support it.

ecntrc · 08-05-2006

I dnt have any experience in any of those. Just HTML and CSS. Kinda crappy. I bought a book on CSS and i feel confident that I know alot about CSS. As for any other language I have to learn. If I got a web page made of pure PHP or ASP I can learn from there. I can learn from books too well. I can use a book only for a guide. I learn better doing hands on. So now what can I do? Is it possible to make it with html and css. I think it is. I build all my layouts in PS. I was thinking about making my new clients site in pure CSS. Not my salon one. I got a new client for a japan tour company. I dont think that made sense but you get it. LOL thanks for your opinion though..

**Tamlin** · 08-05-2006

It's certainly possible to build a website with just pure HTML, but I think that sort of site appears a little static and "old skool" now. I would guess that most clients nowadays expect a site to have some degree of interactivity and dynamics - the kind of thing you can only achieve through some sort of coding. I suppose one of the easiest ways to introduce dynamics into a plain HTML page is to use JavaScript. The other advantage is that there are several sites that offer free JS code snippets that you can just copy and paste in to your own pages. Have a look at http://javascript.internet.com/ to get an idea of what's available.

GoldNetX · 08-05-2006

Personally, I do not really like the design in general, it seems that it looses a lot by having such a large empty header. Especially if you are trying to attract customers, you need to make your information more readily available.

As for the links, I do not think that it would too confusing for customers, but I think it could still be clearer. I would suggest having a link to every page (as it seems there are not many) directly on the navbar that is just below the yellow header. Then you can also have links in the section with the pictures. Personally I do not like to have mulitple styles of links on a main page. My philosophy is to use a first page as an index type table allowing the user to easily see all of the main options they have.

In this project, unless the client specifically requests a CMS, I would write just a series of HTML pages (unless there are a lot of pages), or you could possibly use a single HTML page and then just use the display and visibility CSS attributes to show and hide content.

ecntrc · 08-07-2006

Yeah, I like the design that she wants but I dont. Because I just have a feeling that I will be running into problems but it is what my client wants and thats what I need to deliver. I was thinking I can put the links that will be in those yellow boxes in the navigation bar between the boxes and the header but I just think that they all wont fit. Once I get the rest of the site up and the look she wants I will show you guys what I mean about the links. Im just worried about when they click a link, should I make a iframe for the content to show under neithe or should I have it open in a new browser window.. thats the problem im trying to deal with. But I will work on the design first and worry about coding when I need too.. thanks though.. oh Gold, what you mean by CMS? thanks again guys..

ecntrc · 08-07-2006

heres another.. what ive done.. i dont like the short link bar and im not sure if the links in the box should be centered with the heading or what?? above the line for the boxes are for pictures. which I have to look and find something. anyone know where i could look for.. like beauty type pictures. pictures of clean make up type face. long eye lashes. hair picture.. is it possible to make pop up boxes for the links in the blocks? instead of an iframe or new browser? I know its possible but would I use JS? thanks guys in advanced.. always a big help in my situations..

GoldNetX · 08-07-2006

A CMS is a content management system, essentially it is a system written in some programming language that makes it so the client can edit their site. Usually the get set up for larger projects because most companies charge a lot for them.

About the layout, I like the three butotns on the bottom and the links that are just above them. I would suggest though that you try to put some more content into the large box above them. It is in a prime place for viewers to see and you could transfer a lot of information there. Try looking for some images, and possibly putting information such as phone numbers and address there, so they are very easy to access.

Popup boxes would be very easy to do with a little bit of javascript. You may want to even try out something like a version of lightBox (http://particletree.com/features/lightbox-gone-wild/) or check this link for demos (http://particletree.com/examples/lightbox/). It provides a nice style and also is not interrupted by outside software (popup-blockers).

Also if you like the lightbox type thing, I have a smaller version I wrote that can be used. I have not used the actual lightbox code (posted above), so I am not sure if it is difficult to setup.

ecntrc · 08-07-2006

Thanks God. Ill take a look at it in a bit if not now then later tonite when my kid goes to sleep. As for the links above the boxes, I told my client that I wanted to put more links because it just looks too plain.. She wanted her site exactly how that layout is. I guess I can try and change it around a bit and if she likes it then she likes it. Im not sure though. As for displaying her phone number and address on the front page, its a very good idea. All my other clients have the same thing.. I think Im going to like the idea of pop up boxes alot more than just a new browser or an iframe. Forget iframes I mess with those way too much. Thanks Gold. I appreciate it.. Ill let you know how it goes..

you know where her company name is, do you think her company name should be centered or to the right of the logo? next to the logo? I think it looks funny being centered but I dont know how I should set up her company name without looking so, oh so plain and just boring.. ill mess with it more when i get home later.. just wondering if anyone has anything in mind..