ZoomConcept Reviews
Summary:
Hi Aaran,
I'm keeping my review based on the visitors that you are trying to pull into your site. I spend a lot of time on sites like this, and I'll be the first to tell you that the ones that get the most traffic are surprisingly not the ones with a really stellar design. As long as the content is displayed properly, and the information is current and consistent, your market will come. Your site is just what the community your targeting for is looking for.
Positives
The dark color scheme is really different. I don't really think I've come across any with that thus far, so different is always good at setting your site apart.
Your organization. Its well organized in way that is similar to what I have already seen, but you've done them up with the way you've organized your latest articles and the section below it.
You understand white space. Most websites in the area really are way too cluttered, which can become a clear issue. I shouldn't have to explain this to you, so kudos.
- Clear message.* You've made it perfectly clear who your target audience is, and you've targeted them perfectly from what I have seen to be their liking.
The only negative is that the categories and popular tags section seems cluttered with all the links, and the social icon links blend in too much despite suiting the sites design.
Overall, the visitor base your looking for actually will love it. They don't care too much about design, and you've covered all the main points they ask for. Clean, not eye straining, organized, and gives them what they want up front. Now just gotta make sure the content is always up to date and you should be good.
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Jamal Jackson commented:Lol, no problem. Here is a site I was comparing yours to so you can see where I'm coming from, http://www.phonearena.com/.
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Aaran Casey commented:
Wow, that's a busy site… but it's also, quite cool!
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Jamal Jackson commented:
It is, great when I need to look for a new phone. Only problem is, its tooooooo easy to get lost o.O
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Alex Colina commented:"They don't care too much about design" OUCH!
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Jamal Jackson commented:
Lol Alex. Its true, they're mostly hard core techies that go to these sites. As long as they get good info on hot new phones then they are happy, simple people. :)
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Lisa Tweedie commented:Agree with all of this Jamal ... cheers... fascinating site.
Critical Problem on homepage_rd.jpg 1 Need a lotta love. could the logo look like a calendar date page? maybe? 2 I know one of these two is a button..I just know it...dont ask me how...really don't..I can't tell 3 Button? title? self-destruct mechanisim? I am afraid to click -
Aaran Casey commented:
It's a title - ya latin american twit!
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Alex Colina commented:
LOL!
Summary:
My review titles are always negative. so let me pull back a little and just come out and say that the layout is great. HUGE improvement over previous version. Clean organized, great use of color (love how the shades of gray guide and impart order while the red hilites what is important.... AND it's all about the pictures. cool.
having said that here comes the rip:
Design: Does not feel "tech". now I realize that the sexy is in the products, but we are talking about object of lust here so it feels under done (if that is a word) templaty (I am making all kinds of additions to the English language!)
Speaking of theme.... I think it could benefit from one, or at least a sense of one..like for example play out the "date" part and make it feel like a calendar, the Now buttons like calendar pages.. that challenge is not to let it get cheesee (no yellow posted notes!)..but some kind of a unifying if subtle theme like a high tech calendar, countdown clocks, vanishing point backgrounds to give it depth/sense of time, speed .
USABILITY: id' use this as it is. true...I would. Like I use Google...very utilitarian.
STRATEGY: see "theme" above
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Aaran Casey commented:
Alex, you're spot on with the dates, I wanted them to feel cool and different, however they do that calendar feel to them, and I am sure that James (owner of website) would want that feel more as well, so I'll have to work on this… I am not keen on "themes" as such as all my designs are individual and quirky in some way, but I like the idea that there is a common element, which will have to be the calendar type pages that high light the different releases.
I will keep this in mind as I tweak it tonight and start on the product page…
Thanks Mate
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Lisa Tweedie commented:
Yeah like the calender thing... Thanks for all the ideas Alex... great stuff.
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Minor Problem on homepage_rd.jpg 1 I think this was already mentioned, but Latest Articles is a pix or 2 off to the left. -
Aaran Casey commented:
good spotting... must have missed it - D'OH!
2 compared to the Products contents, the Category contents are a couple pix off to the right. -
Aaran Casey commented:
yeah
3 possibly change this color to match the red of the pre-order button -
Aaran Casey commented:
yeah probably should I was just trying to make it slightly different
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Lisa Tweedie commented:
I think try to stick with a common palette... agree with Rebecca here.
New Idea on homepage_rd.jpg 1 just a thought, but these ads could look kinda cool with a "peeled down" paper effect added to the top right corner of each... -
Aaran Casey commented:
yeah, these are "borrowed" from places on the net, I didn't wan't to change them in case someone came across them and were like "those are my ads"!
Summary:
Hey Aaran - I have been staring at you concept pretty much going over it with a fine tooth comb. Really hard to find flaws in your work....
Things I like:
- the ribbon treatments on the "NOW" items
- color combos
- well organized, my eyes are drawn to where they are supposed to go. which is right to the pre-order button.
I could only find 2 alignment issues, which shocked me because you are always spot on.
Excellent work (no surprise!) Please see my notes...
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Aaran Casey commented:
Helpful as always!
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Lisa Tweedie commented:
Lovely review Rebecca ... thanks.
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Minor Problem on homepage_rd.jpg 1 Search box could be a bit lighter. -
Lisa Tweedie commented:
yup
2 Make tweets same width as sponsored ads. -
Aaran Casey commented:
good point didn't think of that
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Jamal Jackson commented:
I agree here, forgot to put it in my review.
Serious Problem on homepage_rd.jpg 1 Inconsistent alignment. Links under Popular Tags are aligned with left edge of box, while lines under Categories are tucked inside the box. -
Aaran Casey commented:
Sorry my bad - I am still working on the footer
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Lisa Tweedie commented:
(:
2 Needs more line spacing. -
Aaran Casey commented:
I know - I copy and pasted it - was getting a bit tired at this stage, so didn't adjust line height
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Lisa Tweedie commented:
(:
Critical Problem on homepage_rd.jpg 1 Logo is getting lost. It has the same or less visual weight as other elements. It needs more space around it and the red in "dates" should be brightened. -
Aaran Casey commented:
In your opinion is it an improvement from the current one?
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Tim Sullivan commented:Both have strengths. The current one is probably more unique, though it suffers from typography that is too close to the edge. Its big advantage is its size and the space around it that sets it off from rest of the page. Your logo is solid but a little standard, and it gets lost on the page. In part this is because it is approximately the same size as most other elements on the page, in part because it is the same color as rest of the page, and in part because there is not sufficient space around it. The red and white blends it into rest of the page. In some way address color, space, and size.
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Lisa Tweedie commented:
Hmm think I still like the original...
Positive Feature on homepage_rd.jpg 1 Great icons for your site. -
Aaran Casey commented:
Thanks - made at the last minute
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Lisa Tweedie commented:
Very nice
New Idea on homepage_rd.jpg 1 Maybe spread out menu items a bit more. Summary:
The strength of the design is that it is well structured. But this is also its weakness. It would benefit from a clearer hierarchy. When I look at the page, I really don't know what is important from the design. I struggle trying to assimilate all the information and deciding what to focus on. Better use of white space will help a lot.
Overall, the design has a nice "techie" feel, appropriate for its content.
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Aaran Casey commented:
Thanks for the in-depth review Tim, appreciate the comments and feedback…
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Minor Problem on homepage_rd.jpg 1 Free sign up instead of register and with the focus from login, i think it is more important than login -
Lisa Tweedie commented:
Hmm ... could be a good idea...
Serious Problem on homepage_rd.jpg 1 more focus, try changing the color -
Lisa Tweedie commented:
yup
2 this gets to much attention, it takes my eyes away from "Join now" , try making them grey i think it will look great -
Lisa Tweedie commented:
maybe true...
3 the links are to powerful, try making them a light grey instead of white and add more space between them ( they look a little crowded) -
Aaran Casey commented:
Ah yes thanks, I was having troubles with that, just wasn't sure
4 make the icon more visible, i think the search is very important for this website -
Lisa Tweedie commented:
Important point...
Summary:
Hi Aaran, very nice design, just a few more tweaks and it will be great, good luck with your project.
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Aaran Casey commented:
Thanks for the useful feedback, I'll make some change and re-post later, with some updates.
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Minor Problem on homepage_rd.jpg 1 The space between the red line and "latest Articles" is larger than the space at the bottom between the phones and red line -
Aaran Casey commented:
yeah, damn I must of moved it before posting it, it's all perfectly aligned now - good eye!
2 Ensure space is equal Positive Feature on homepage_rd.jpg 1 lovely navigation! 2 A well sized allocated space for the sponsered ads -
Lisa Tweedie commented:
Yes!
Summary:
Overall I think this is a very well designed web-page. The content is clear, the usability looks like it will be good and the imagery is well sized. The larger image at the top with the navigation is a strong aspect of this design, it balances the design well, and also allows space for social media etc...
I have only listed a couple of minor problems that I saw, other than that, Well Done!
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Aaran Casey commented:
Thanks Michael, a good keen eye is helpful after staring at a project for a while.
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Lisa Tweedie commented:
Cheers Michael...
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Summary:
Just a quick note... will review properly later today... but so glad to see this up. I am currently not in tip top health (concussion)... so takes me a bit more time than usual to get things done....
But looking good Aaran!
Here is to many more concept feedback collaborations (;
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Lisa Tweedie commented:
Just noticed I am concept feedbacks most active person this month... so obviously have been getting stuff done despite the concussion!
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Aaran Casey commented:
Sorry to hear about the concussion… looking forward to getting your thoughts, when you can manage!
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Lisa Tweedie commented:
Am finally doing this... sorry for the delay... will review the latest ... thought I would go through the comments on here first though.
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Jamal, that's the most thorough review, thank you so much, you have confirmed all the things that I was concerned about! Thanks Again!