Help settle an argument with client please.

[harkster]

My client wants the graphics designer to change something. I think it looks just right. Yes, the entry page is graphics intensive but there are reasons. I have a great relationship with the site owner and we work well together but this time I think he has his head completely stuck...on this issue.

It may be that I can't see the forest for the trees so would y'all be kind enough to tell me the first 2 things (in order) that catch your attention when the site loads.

http://dirksoulisauctions.com/ and yes it is CMS based primarily to facilitate updates which, at times are done daily. Sometimes even more when catalogs for major auctions are being added.

Thanks
Richard

Oh yes, we are in the last part of a complete site redesign where we are basically tweaking things while remaining live.

 

[Mike]

Hi Richard,

good to see another of your projects come to fruition. Here's what stands out to me.
The site loaded extremely fast, even though it's heavy on the picture side.

Onwards to the design, positioning and branding arguments:
Generally, the content of the site is good, it's active and shows turnaround as well as success. However, in terms of positioning of the company as well as branding, the site lacks a decent logo; just "a font" is not what's standard any longer. The logo area is also extremely small, which inevitably leads to lesser visual positioning, branding and recognizability of the company. Interestingly enough, you have a custom Favicon, yet this Favicon doesn't find its way into the main logo.
"Performance with Compassion" is essentially the tag line of the company and should find its way into the logo or at least be a supplemental part to a custom designed logo. Using the tag line as free standing leads to a "torn" impression.
In terms of functionality, link the logo to be clickable and lead the user back to the homepage.

The nav bar is a bit on the conservative side, :imho: could be a bit more "rounded" and present. while you're at it, revisit the color of the nav bar, i haven't seen this color being used elsewhere on the site. The font size of the nav bar is a bit on the small side. Your target group (age range) is most likely wearing glasses or contacts, how comfortable is the font size for them? I have 20/20 vision and after a while, the font becomes a bit difficult and straining, even for me.

The footer of the site is centered, the site itself is not? I'd consider to center the entire site and set the CSS to 80% of screenwidth of the user. This way you'd retain the side panels for precious advertising/branding spots in the backdrop. Don't be overbearing there, just watermark the backdrop with the occasional company logo, it would greatly contribute to recognizability and branding of the company.

Also, does your client have video clips of some of the items? If so, consider a flash player layer.

That's it from my side, i'm sure there will be some other more technical opinions soon.
Overall, a good site that needs some tweaks and a bit more color composition, other than that, solid use of a CMS.

IB

 

[harkster]

Hi Richard,

good to see another of your projects come to fruition. Here's what stands out to me.
The site loaded extremely fast, even though it's heavy on the picture side.

I am almost compulsive about finding that balance between image quality and compression.

Onwards to the design, positioning and branding arguments:
Generally, the content of the site is good, it's active and shows turnaround as well as success. However, in terms of positioning of the company as well as branding, the site lacks a decent logo; just "a font" is not what's standard any longer. The logo area is also extremely small, which inevitably leads to lesser visual positioning, branding and recognizability of the company.

That is the area of discussion. He had the banner designed to fit the area I felt would work without wasting desktop. He thinks that the Dirk Soulis Auctions needs to be larger. After your comments and playing with the link bar he is right.

Interestingly enough, you have a custom Favicon, yet this Favicon doesn't find its way into the main logo.

Will be changed later.

"Performance with Compassion" is essentially the tag line of the company and should find its way into the logo or at least be a supplemental part to a custom designed logo. Using the tag line as free standing leads to a "torn" impression.

Interesting because the whole header is a single image. The performance with compassion does 'overpower' the company name.

In terms of functionality, link the logo to be clickable and lead the user back to the homepage.

The header image will be broken up or mapped to the entry page.

The nav bar is a bit on the conservative side, :imho: could be a bit more "rounded" and present. while you're at it, revisit the color of the nav bar, i haven't seen this color being used elsewhere on the site. The font size of the nav bar is a bit on the small side. Your target group (age range) is most likely wearing glasses or contacts, how comfortable is the font size for them? I have 20/20 vision and after a while, the font becomes a bit difficult and straining, even for me.

I am not a real fan of curved nav bars as they are either a pain to make or require javascript. Woops, I need to look at css except IE would likely crap out. The background color actually is used in the header image. Am playing to find a better color though. Font size increased and bolded (that really makes the company name look small.

The footer of the site is centered, the site itself is not? I'd consider to center the entire site and set the CSS to 80% of screenwidth of the user. This way you'd retain the side panels for precious advertising/branding spots in the backdrop. Don't be overbearing there, just watermark the backdrop with the occasional company logo, it would greatly contribute to recognizability and branding of the company.

Actually the content is centered at 10xx by 768 px screens. There is a small black border at top, left and right. At that resolution we are squeezed for space. It is not what I like to do but based on our use the content area is fixed at 975px and centered.

Also, does your client have video clips of some of the items? If so, consider a flash player layer.

That's it from my side, i'm sure there will be some other more technical opinions soon.
Overall, a good site that needs some tweaks and a bit more color composition, other than that, solid use of a CMS.

IB

Thanks for the great critique. Helped me see around those damn trees. The light colors are the 'in thing' with a lot of auction, collecting, modernism sites these days. I'm getting to old to tackle flash and video stuff.

I hope it has lost some of that standard Drupal site look. If I ever get the time I want to design my own template/skin from scratch.

Anyway thanks again.

Oh yes, I have lost track of how many years I been doing this sites and how many redesigns have been done. I actually wrote the PHP script to display multiple images of lots before any of the other auction outfits had one -- including the big name ones.

 

[Epic]

Even though there are a lot of images on your homepage, it loads just fine. I'd keep it the way it is with all the images.

A small adjustment that may make the site look better is adding a bit more margin-top on your main container. On a 1024x768 resolution it looks a bit squeezed against the top of the page.

 

[BrewerFan]

The first thing that drew my attention was the black background and the fact that your site is not centered. The second thing that drew my attention were the pictures in the middle.

 

[Marck]

First: 150 years!
Second: pictures in the middle

 

[harkster]

I find myself chewing on a big chunk of crow because the content wasn't centered above 1024 x 768 resolutions. It is now and the background color is no longer black.

Actually the content is centered at 10xx by 768 px screens. There is a small black border at top, left and right. At that resolution we are squeezed for space. It is not what I like to do but based on our use the content area is fixed at 975px and centered.

Have suggested to Dirk to have the company name enlarged and reduce the performance...portion of the header.

Thanks for the input.

First: 150 years!
Second: pictures in the middle

That is very good. Most important stuff here.

 

[IAmAllanShore]

150 years
Ads at the top
Naked guy

(Images loaded a little slow here, so the ads took some attention "up" the page... I know the ads are for the site, but I didn't know what else to call them.)

-Allan :gl:

 

[OctaneInv]

It loads great for me, even with the images.

BUT, if the client wants it changed, there shouldn't be an argument. You can suggest, but in the end if they want it changed, no matter how go relationship you have with them, it should be changed.

 

[createmx]

Don't even need to see it.

The client is always right.

 

[NameCharger]

tell me the first 2 things (in order) that catch your attention when the site loads.

1. Header
2. 150 Years image

 

[Carlton]

First things I notice ...

1. The Morgan silver dollar
2. The greek statue below "150"

The site layout and graphics are fine in my opinion

 

[BSmithTT]

First things I notice ...

1. The Morgan silver dollar
2. The greek statue below "150"

Exactly the same for me.

1. http://www.dirksoulisauctions.com/images/pimp-coin.jpg
2. http://www.dirksoulisauctions.com/aug25-07/pic-0.jpg