New Website Design

I just created a new template for my website. I haven't changed the homepage yet.

Here is a sample page.

http://www.wineryfinder.net/Jordan-Vineyard.htm

Criticisms on the design are welcome.

 

I'm no expert but someone once told me that was the best sort of criticism you could get -

anyway, first impressions, i think it would look better centered (i'm viewing in FF2) and if the faded/darker bits at the right and left went the full length of the page and a footer image was also included.

 

JMO...........very boring layout! Don't like your header at all. There are some extremely talented individuals on this site that could probably help you for under $50 bucks. Unless of course your learning....if that's the case not bad for a first try.

 

personally I guite like the header, think it speaks directly to the market.

 

-1 ) too big: alot of people of your target use 800x600

-1 ) nothing makes sense, there is no eye trace for a visitor to follow

-1 ) the picture is damm big, try to focus on something small that keep your eyes on it 800x120 or similar

if you're going to develop the site by yourself, try to get some infos first:

http://webdesignfromscratch.com/

after that reading (the all stuff ) read this:

http://resource.reh3.com/

and finally, this:

http://cssmania.com/

Good luck!

 

The guys above had said everything. Another thing I'd like to add it's:
Why don't you save the images with "Save for Web&Devices"? The size it's loower.

 

The site appears to be shifted on the right side below the header for me and the bottom seems disconnected from the header design.

 

@suckerpunch - what browser are you viewing the site in?

@scubita - how do you know what size my target market's browsers are at? Do you have a source I could take a look at?

I agree with what you said about how the eye moves on the page. I'll keep that in mind.

@lock - I like the idea of the footer. I think that would frame the page nicely.

Thanks for your criticism. Anyone else?

 

Just use common sense:

Wines: Target / 35-65 males with $$$.

Older guys dont give a $# about 19" screens, they have a lot of old screens with lower resolution.

Besides, older males tend to not appreciate "web 2.0" or "too flashy" or "frontforward" websites.

Keep it to the basic and with a more precise template, and i bet you will rewarded by your target.

 

The image on the right shows nothing and has illegible font.

 

@hermit57 - What image are you talking about? The google map?

 

Nice template

 

Its much better than I could have done. John

 

Awful design.

 

To wide and to much white space below "Jordan Vineyard".

 

nice! although i think it might be a tad too wide!

 

Oh noes! horrid & too wide

 

I'd kill off everything from the G map down, and put some kind of intro message in the white space on the left of the map.

 

There is a big white space left of map, maybe put a description there?

 

It doesn't look very wine-ish. I would try some berries, wine bottles, etc. in the background of the header and some more luxurious colors... burgundy, khaki, etc.