Outside opinion...

[jamestyler]

With the webbyness of this forum, I was hoping to get an outside opinion on a little project...

Basically, a division of the company I work for has separated, trying to walk on their own two feet and want a website. The goal was to make a brighter site, something different from what others had to offer in the market (which can be dreadful) and I wanted something that was youthful and vibrant.

I think I hit 50% of my target. I wanted to make it as simple as possible so others can understand how to update and so it's not cluttered. But I'm still not sold on the look of the latest pass.

Most of it (graphics mainly) are quick fixes - I just wondered if anyone could offer an objective/not me opinion before I move onto further passes.

http://scottishwrestling.co.uk/Screen caps...

Cheers in advance for any opinions shared

 

[Greylock Crescent]

Tough to say without a live site to interact with. Offhand, what's most noticeable to me are the different heights of the various header images. If the header is too big, the important content is pushed too far below the "fold" so-to-speak. And the lack of uniformity might prove to be a bit disconcerting for some visitors. The page background graphics and overall color palette seem to be pretty good. But again, operating from just screen caps, it's tough to be sure.

 

[jamestyler]

There is a live version (here), I'm just still in the uncertain stage.

The banners are bigger than they should be and will taken down to 80%-ish of what they are now. The page banners are to be random images if they page goes live of action shots, about ten or so, or close ups - which is part inspired by an old site I maintained years ago. Basically to liven it up and add an obvious and hopefully interesting wrestling element.

The splash menu-banner makes things seem a bit syfy.com but it to be (if live) a rough grungy poster-like image for the main event of upcoming blocks of events.

The banners aren't refined in the slightest so they block out the next event date in the upper right corner (as well as the video preview on the splash) which would need tweaking.

The splash-like banner in the test star pages (only one available - and it's not even a real person) was just added in at last minute. I figured there was already a banner, why add more images for a profile? It also mimicks the profiles of the million dollar backed WWE.com - it's one of the few things I like about it.

It's all very unrefined and quickly put together - which I don't mind at this stage - what really worries me is that it might feel like an old guy trying to do something youthful and miss the mark. Which is even more depressing a thought as I'm only 25 :/

 

[Barbreader]

Jeremy, Trust me, you are NOT an old guy. I'm 54, and I can't help you because I'm hopeless on the website thing, but I've been building my first website. Lots of great information, but the presentation is admittedly bad. But things change fast, and what may work best now may look old in 6 months. The constant is change.

 

[jamestyler]

Sadly I'm all too aware of change Though mostly it comes because I sense a dating or a dislike in a style than anyone else. One site I maintain has a scheduled design every year - using the excuse that the big show to promote is December so the overhauling comes before I work on the press stuff.

With the old thing it's more feeling out of touch than anything - My daughters only two but I already know I'll be the uncool geek dancing dad