A few pointers in redesigning a web site

[DimesDan]

Hi everyone.One of the tasks I have at work at the moment is to redesign my company website. The reasons for this is because, well the site is very below par and dosn't market the business well at all. I've had a few ideas of what to do and I have experience in web design (well I have a certificate in Web design from college which is now six years old) but I'm not sure and to be honest, feel a tad out of my depth.So any constructive critisium would be grand and any books or sites that can be used to assest in my endevour would be greatly appresiated.Oh and the site is:www.wessexchambers.org.uk

 

[Deckerd]

A good way to look at it is to get one or two people who haven't used your website; give them a list of 3 things to find on your website. Watch them use the website but don't help them. It gives you a great insight on what can be improved.

 

[Shazam!]

We Sex Chambers?

 

[DimesDan]

We Sex Chambers?

Oh you're funny, I'm in stitches here! So what pointers do you have then?

 

[Deckerd]

The other thing I would do is look at all the free style sheets on the web rather than starting from scratch. If you see a design that suits you, you can then tweak it.

 

[Shazam!]

Oh you're funny

Thanks!

 

[HitechLolife]

I just found this site but I do this for a living so here's couple of quick things I would do off the bat with that website:

*Shorten the width of the main centre content - reduces the tennis spectator feel to reading the site.

*Darken the tone for the background of the same area. It's too similar to the white of the master background colour making it harsh on the eyes.

*Bring the menubar and logo closer to the centre (Not dead centre by any means). The logo graphic should probably be rebuilt from scratch. I'd suggest making it larger.

Hope these are of some small help, good luck.

 

[Deckerd]

I never suggest styles, me. They're too subjective.

 

[Barbreader]

I know nothing about web design, but I'd try to get a flattering photograph of the business district (it's your job to promote the business district, yes?) and include it near the top. Either a nice summery photo making it look like shopping in Wessex is as good as a vacation or a Wintery one that implies anyone who doesn't enjoy shopping in Wessex is closely related to a certain E. Scrooge.

 

[Deckerd]

West Saxons. That's all I know apart from Prince Edward getting it as a present from his mum.

 

[Mr. B]

I spent a few minutes on your website and I still didn't really grasp exactly what the purpose and actual function of the organization is. Ideally, the viewer should know who you are and what you do no more than four seconds after loading your home page.

I'm not a UK resident so maybe I'm at a disadvantage, but I would recommend distilling the homepage content to something more digestible before worrying about the layout and design. After all, content is king.

 

[Nick Ryder]

I mean the design isn't totally horrid, and I can understand what they were going for when the site was designed, a lot of content and quick access to some of it. But its boring. Like Windows 95 boring. So I would definately say give it a splash of color here and there. Maybe like someone mentioned above, photographs of the business district, events, people, etc. What might work, dunno what software is actually running this site, but maybe switch to an open source portal application, that you can install some pre-made styles to which you can then go and tweak to fit your style.

The logo isn't too bad, but I think in the opening "Welcome" thing, don't put the logo in there again. Put a picture of your board, or just people.

 

[tharpdevenport]

No flash, no crowded or hard-to-use features, make sure it will display properly in different monitor resolutions, try not to use any bmp images (though png is okay), and don't list your e-mail unless you WANT to receive lots of spam (one of the best ways around that is having a picture of your e-mail, so it has to be seen and typed out).

 

[jamestyler]

What software is being used for the CMS?

It's not a bad site - it's just not visually appealing. Whenever I have a new site to put together I always look at what else is on offer, how they look etc. Informations important, but I always want to catch someones eye as much as the competition. Plus find out what they're missing that I can offer.

But I tend to build very different sites :/

 

[Deckerd]

It's a good idea to have this separate area for webby people so we can bore each other to death.

 

[jamestyler]

Very true. I had to redesign a site recently and I'm sure my girlfriend was getting homicidal with me talking about it while I worked.

 

[Deckerd]

If I start talking about work everybody slips into a coma. BTW my daughter has just moved to Glasgow. Now we can go and freeload on her for a change and go out in a proper entertainment city, instead of making do with Edinburgh for all these years.

 

[jamestyler]

Take every opportunity you get. I've lived in both cities and, it may just be me, but I find Edinburgh incredibly dull. I only go there now if I'm sent there or for a screening.