Please help review my website (uni project)

[threefeethighandrising]

I went back to uni in September and I've nearly finished my first big assignment, wahey!
I've made a web page and applied two different styles to it.

I need to get some feedback on the two pages from adults and children, and I wondered if any of you lovely lot (and/or your lovely DCs) might be up for helping?

All I need is for a few people have a look at these two pages and let me know what you think. e.g. which one do you prefer? What do/don't you like about them? Any other comments?

Version one

Version two

It's my first proper attempt so I really don't mind if you think they're rubbish - I'm well aware I've got a long way to go until I'm a fully fledged web designer! I'd appreciate any feedback, good or bad.

TIA

DS age 9 says he likes version 2 best - which figures as it is the more fun of the two.

He likes the colours and background.

That's brilliant hobbgoblin, just what I need, please can you thank your DS for me.

Assuming it's OK with him, I'll quote him in my next bit of uni coursework - a report about the site.

Ds age 7 likes version 1 "because it has a T rex"

DD age 11 likes version 2 because the background is more attractive and interesting.

DS 9 says that the leaves are like camouflage which he finds agreeable!

So, it seems that V2 is more attention grabbing for my kids but as an adult I prefer V1 and also think it is technically better, what with the layout issues in 2.

No worries, is fine to quote them if you wish to! Hope you get good mark!

Brilliant thank you so much hobbgoblin children!

I will get marked for the quality of the evaluation, and having real feedback from real children should definitely help with me get a good mark, so thanks.

(Assuming you are all actually real and not beaming into mumsnet for outer space or something! )

"hobbgoblin Sat 08-Jan-11 15:19:53
DS age 9 says he likes version 2 best - which figures as it is the more fun of the two.

He likes the colours and background.
"

I glanced at this on my Threads Im On and thought itwas the one about Sex And The City 1&2 :o

Hee hee, very funny!

I used like watching Carry On fims when I was little, although I didn't understand them at all. The double entendre went completely over my head. I suppose SATC is a little more explicit than a Carry On though.

BTW I got an attack of the paranoias and took my name off after all, just in case. (In case of what, I'm really not sure! But it felt like the right thing to do)

They are both nice and clear/ clean looking. Here are my thoughts to do with as you feel appropriate...

Neither page actually identify the intended web address (i.e. .co.uk/ .com).

If I were following the recipe I'd probably print it so a print link/ fit to a page option would be useful.

There is a lot of blank space - is this the intended home page because I think that the recommendations are that home pages involve minimal scrolling also are very small in size/ fast in download.

Have you heard of web 2.0 standards - they encourage the option of use of plain text only/ no pictures/ larger font option(s) very useful if you're using a blind reader.

I like having a help link to the top right of the headings even if it only opens an email link for help. Same with a site search option, a box below the top right is generally considered a standard location.

You haven't shown a copyright symbol and year/ date to protect all your hard work. Likewise would it be worth having a bottom page link to a site user agreement. Company details like co. reg no., registered address are usually listed at the bottom middle of the home page.

shufflebums DH here...

My first question would be who is the target audience, child/adult/both?

Version 1:
Pros:
Nice and clean, and good use of white space which is in keeping with modern websites.
The background image used is nice, adds some style without detracting from the content.

Cons:
Probably not very engaging for a child, could do with more use of colour.
I'd suggest highlighting, in some way (colour/bold etc), the Tips and Adult only sections so that they are more prominent and less likely to be missed.
I'd also suggest numbering the steps of the recipe. (I always get lost!)

Version 2:
Pros:
More colourful and engaging for a child.
Good separation of Equipment, Recipe, etc..

Cons:
Background images can be a great idea to add style to the site, however, I think the one you have used is quite 'heavy' and detracts from the content of the site, rather than highlighting it.

TIP: a great place to get design inspiration is Themeforest.net here are a couple of examples of child focused sites:

tf.dtbaker.com.au/preview/?theme=3&style=0

tf.dtbaker.com.au/preview/?theme=17&style=0

Its difficult to know what else to say without knowing the brief you were given. If there is more of a technical brief let me know and I will see if I can help anymore.

All in all a good start, hope you enjoy learning more and progressing!

ANTagony thanks some great feedback, I take it you're a professional, or work with the web a lot?

shufflebums DH, another professional I see

Thanks for your post, some really useful stuff there

I didn't say what the brief was upfront as I didn't want to prejudice anyone, but they all seem to have got it anyway so here goes!

Our brief was to style two pages using CSS and keeping the html web standards-compliant. (When I try to validate it I have 27 errors at the moment but actually I'm not too scared by that - I had about the same the other day and got rid of them all in no time.)

It's been a really good exercise - the html for both the pages is identical, which has forced me to really think about how the CSS works.

We get marks for showing we've used the CSS in a variety of ways. We don't actually get marks for the graphic design as such (that's a separate module, next semester) although we do get marks for considering the different audiences and styling each page appropriately.

My two different audiences were simply children, and adults.

Thanks for the links, two really nice sites there. I really like their graphics.

I did try to highlight the tips bit by the way - they're all in divs and have a class, but it's not working

But actually it doesn't matter that it's not working. Our tutor said we won't lose marks for bugs like that as long as we identify them in the report, seeing as .it's our first go (We only learned about that the other day - it was a huge relief actually!)

having made biscuits today with 3.6 DD, I could've done with the "space them out cos they spread" tip.

So I like the tips , and version 1. I'm 38.

Hi JuJusDad, yup that one comes from bitter experience

The other tip I could have included is when your DP (ex-chef) and your lodger (an accomplished cook who hopes to open a restaurant one day) both say "I think they're cooked now", the correct response is "right you are, I'll take them out now", not "I don't think so, I'll leave it a bit longer". Well at least I now know they don't half burn quick those things!

It is a nice recipe actually, DS and I highly recommend it

Actually maybe I didn't explain that properly - one is aimed at children, and the other at adults, so I'm really pleased to see that mostly you all seem to like the one aimed at you.

Pinkem you're the exception. You should be pleased though, I guess it must mean your inner child is strong!

I am pleased with that result.

I prefer the second one - the green one.

I think that adults who are looking for dinobites would be looking for their children, so they would want somethign that looks appealing to children (I can see noone else apart from pink agrees with me)

I think version 1 looks very clean and clinical - If the dinosaur picture wasn't there, I wold think it was for something very serious indeed.

I don't like the font on version 2, though - you can get better fonts that would appeal to children.

yes, the website might be for adults, but surely most adults would show it to their children?

I'm an adult but I own a children's bookshop (so I spend my whole life trying to appeal to the children rather than the adults! )