Thread: Website finished (i think)

Apart from some extra links, I think I've finally finished my first venture into web design. It's been built with tables because I know nothing about CSS (yet) so have had to work with what I can remember from Uni.

I would appreciate any input if you wouldnt mind?

Brambles Antiques and Collectables


Something I have learned from this excersice is that I NEED to get on top of css and xhtml!! Dreamweaver is a fairly restrictive tool if you cant read and write code!

Not bad - but do get to grips with html & css... I started with a book called Head First (publisher) HTML & CSS which really does help start you off... and then google for other bits you need. You have meta tags and headers which is good. I would though put the phone number on each page... and also the address on the Home page. People do use the web as a phone book!

I have a copy of Dreamweaver - but have no idea how to even start using it!

Hey Dave

Sorry to be blunt but looks very amateur, like something you would see 10 or so years ago, lots of issues with it both visually and coding wise, tables are just not good as you know.

Look at other websites similar such as http://www.callaghan-finepaintings.com/gallery.php (not the best example but one that popped up on google) do you feel they are on the same level design wise? Not having a go as this is your first attempt and we all have to start somewhere but you can see they are a million miles apart.

Is this site for a real customer or just something you are playing around with?

Again sorry to be blunt but hope that helps in some way.

mmmmmmmm. Best left to an expert.

It's been done in my spare time for a friends mum. It's not to my taste either but it's what she wanted. I am in the process of teaching myself CSS and HTML but not really with the intent of doing much, more to just say that I understand it.

The amateurish use of tables is a direct result of my lack of code knowledge.

I think there are a few basics that you can do to improve the site even if you don't know CSS.

1. You need to add a few different button states on the navigation to indicate visited and active links.
2. The page would look better if you had a variety of font sizes based on importance of the content (research H1-H6 tags)
3. The gallery page would be better if each thumbnail had a pop-up window
4. There's no call to action on any of the pages
5. You can add code from Google Maps to your contact page so that your map is interactive
6. All of your active links need to be underlined

Sorry to put your efforts down but I think you need to look at other websites and do a lot more work on getting the site up to a decent standard (and also not be guided by the client)

hi dave

have you looked at joomla to get a pro look and fell with very little effort

e.g. Welcome to the Frontpage

bacon

I welcome your criticisms, it's all useful!

I agreed to do this without really thinking about whats involved. I am reluctant to actually put anything else into the site in it's current form because I'm thinking it might be better to rebuild it from scratch as I learn CSS & XHTML?

Originally Posted by Bacon

hi dave

have you looked at joomla to get a pro look and fell with very little effort

e.g. Welcome to the Frontpage

bacon

Joo wha?......

I think I should finish reading my CSS HTML book, sort this site out and draw a line under the web thing! It's clear that its not going to be a another string to my bow! I'll stick to the design for print thing! It's what I'm good at (I think?... Phhhaa,... It pays the bills).

dont give up m8

that site you have done is a lot better than my first design.... lol

trust me look at joomla the hardest thing is installing it on the sever but if you can get your head around that the rest is easy very

bacon