Review: Blandless.com

Hello there,

I'm looking for reviews on my web gallery: Blandless.com which is currently in unofficial 'beta' stage.

Blandless is a showcase of site's that aren't bland.

I would like the following to be reviewed:

1)Site design
2)Site functionality
3)Site features
4)Site bugs
5)Anything else you can suggest.

Please be honest. . . I really want to do whatever I can to improve my site.

I look forward to hearing comments.

Skinny

 

i think there is a problem with your server , i can't open

 

Problem seems to be fixed.

Please try again.

Skinny

 

I just tried to view your site, and it wouldn't pull up in Firefox or IE.

 

Seems to have some problems with my host's server ATM. I can't access it either.

I'll let everyone know when it's back up again.

Skinny

 

Okay,

Support helped me out. Wasn't a server problem.

It should be working now.

Skinny

 

The page load time is slow, that would be a problem for most people wanting to view the page. Load times can make or break website - many people will see this as boring and inefficient and any competition will latch on to it as an opening to get their market in front of yours.

For a site that is promoting websites to be outlandish and stunning to look at the website itself is surprisingly boring and not eye catching.

The out link function would be much better controlled if it was PHP redirected so it retains a redirect instead of a direct traffic output. It would be better if you could compress the categories in to a drop down menu of some kind, something more appealing for users to enjoy.

 

I really like the concept of this site. I have bookmarked it and I will be viewing it often. The site looks nice and clean. The functionality is smooth, and easy to navigate. Your logo looks nice, and is very recognizable. Your site does look like it can be spiced up a bit though.

 

too slow. clean up your codes

 

I will clean up my codes. . . but I compare the sizes with other CSS gallery and they are comparable or even better then others.

I think I will have to redesign it.

You can still review the site if you wish! I need all the feedback I can get.

Skinny

 

You page size isn't too bad. You might be able to cut down on the load time by using the "Save for Web" feature in PhotoShop, or some other program. Usually you can cut down on image sizes without losing the quality of the image. It basically saves the image more efficiently. You image sizes don't look to big, but you may be able to cut down on load time. I did find that your page loaded slow, but I think it may be your host, inefficient server-side scripting or something like that. Your output html page size really isn't that big.

 

I am now able to open your site, and the load time was just fine. It opened right up for me. As for the design of the site, I like it. It is very clean and simple and it directs your attention to the sites you are showcasing. I have also bookmarked the site, and will refer back to it for ideas and inspiration. Good Job!

 

i have no problems on my end, i like the concept of the site.
Good Luck

 

Thanks for the reviews . . . if you still want to submit one go ahead!

I'm on a shared host ATM and that might be the problem.

Really confusing: Some people think I should redesign and others like the design.

I'm not sure if I should pull it down and redesign it based on the current color scheme (which no one seems to have an issue with) or to just keep what I have.

I'm comfortable doing both.

I've looked at many CSS or web showcases and frankly those sites don't have amazing web design themselves.

So what do you guys and gals suggest? Redesign or keep as is?

Thanks very very much for the input.

Skinny

 

If you change it too much and make the design too crazy and exciting, it will distract people from your content. Since your main content is cool visual websites, you don't really want your site design to visually compete with your content.

However, you can spice your site up with some small elements of "flair". For example: shiny buttons, drop shadows, reflections (you have that in your logo), etc. These things can really make a site more visually exciting without taking away from the content.

 

That's a good point. I'll upload a screenshot of my concept and see what people think before I redesign it.

At the same time I don't want my site to be outdated by putting in ton of web 2.0 elements which will eventually fade out.

Skinny

 

Nice design, but i think it will be great if you add few description about the showcase sites.

 

@Robert Garcia what kind of description would you like to see?

Okay so here is a screenshot of a concept of what I could redesign Blandless to be.

Major changes:

1) Menu and search combined at the top of header.
2) Header gradient lightened
3) Lighter and Brighter gradient for background and emerging white graphics of various intensities on sides.
4) Width of content reduced slightly cutting into old whitespace.

What do you guys think? Would this concept look better then what I have up now?



Skinny

 

I'm not seeing any screen shot.

 

It's there. . .LOL. I can clearly see it.

Reload the page.

Here's the URL in case people still can't see it:

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j34/plumpcherry/blandless.jpg

Skinny