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Concept Reviews
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My suggestions are given in the attached notes.
Hope it helps
Notes Added to Images View
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1Lot of empty spaces on both sides
There appears to be more free space on the right and left size. Gives an empty feeling. Try to put some content.
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Ionut Resetar commented:
well I added a big image, the website is design for resolution 1024x768 and bigger, so that is why there is a lot of extra space, my resolution is 1920x1200
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Ionut Resetar commented:
well I added a big image, the website is design for resolution 1024x768 and bigger, so that is why there is a lot of extra space, my resolution is 1920x1200
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Ionut Resetar commented:
well I added a big image, the website is design for resolution 1024x768 and bigger, so that is why there is a lot of extra space, my resolution is 1920x1200
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Ionut Resetar commented:
well I added a big image, the website is design for resolution 1024x768 and bigger, so that is why there is a lot of extra space, my resolution is 1920x1200
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2Reasons why I should buy from you
You need to mention the top 3-5 reasons on home page why I should buy from you. What are your strong points?
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Ionut Resetar commented:
right, well the content was not discussed yet so this is just the design, Good point about 3-5 reasons, I will think of some text that has what you suggested
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3Add Pictures here
"Categorri Produse" assuming it means Category of furniture, should contain pictures instead of just text.
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Ionut Resetar commented:
it's product category's, I don't know if I should put pictures there ... I will think about it
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4Put email id and phone number here
Put email id and phone number on the right top so that it is prominently visible.
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Ionut Resetar commented:
I don't want that, it's not the main focus, the products are the main focus, and we will have a contact page to.
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5Call for action button missing?
User likes your home page. What do you want to the user to do? Where's the call for action button?
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Ionut Resetar commented:
Good point, I should invite the user to access the product page
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6Make tagline prominent
Your logo tagline "Furniture Manufacturer" is too small to be seen. Please increase it so that is visible.
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Ionut Resetar commented:
I will have to redesign the logo, I don't like it really. But for now I don't have time for that, the website was urgent.
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Notes Added to Images View
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1Call for action?
"Buy Now" or "Add to cart" seems to be missing.
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Ionut Resetar commented:
Sorry for the misunderstanding, it's not a store. It's just a presentation website. Of course we have the products for sale but the company it's a manufacturer so we address first to big stores as clients, and the to individuals, I think I should change the description :)
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2Where's the price?
Also price of product is not displayed.
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Ionut Resetar commented:
Sorry for the first comment, somehow it was added 5 times ...
Thanks for your help, you point out some good stuff that I have to add.
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First impressions are that it's not too bad, but could do with some tidying up.
A few things I would consider are below:
- Make the tag line much larger so it's 100% clear what you do
- Does the produse menu item at the top dropdown to show the produse categories? I think you should have them at the top and at the bottom of the page. I quite like the menu on the category page. Maybe you could reuse that everywhere?
- On the homepage the line length of the text is really quite long. I would consider halving splitting it into 2 columns with the text on the right and something else on the left, maybe a customers testimonial and some currently featured products
- The image at the top is really quite big. Maybe you could overlay some text on top of it explaining what the photo is showing and linking to a page with more information. Make sure everything on the page has an obvious purpose.
- I would add some sort of transparent background to the page with the lightbox so that the image pops out to the front and the website behind is slightly obscured. That may just be my personal preference though.
- I would consider using some sort of grid system (960.gs perhaps) to create a bit more structure in the design. Also pay attention to the margins and spacings around things (such as the margins on sofa images, and the spacings on the colour swatches) to try to keep them more consistent.
- I am not entirely sold on the transparent/ glassy buttons, and I don't understand why the selected button is a speech bubble. I think the metaphor may have become a touch confused. Going simpler there may help
- Not sure about the colour of the blue breadcrumbs and the blue categories. They seem to go against the browns and golds used elsewhere.
In answer to your actual questions.
Overall the design is nice but the wood is becoming a little cliched now (that said I am using a wood background on a site I have recently designed as well :))
I think with attention to the details (alignment, grid, colours etc) that it could happily give a professional feel.
If I was a store I am not sure I would work with the company simply because it doesn't look like you are a supplier for other stores. The website looks like something targeted to the average consumer and not other businesses.
As an individual I think I'd want to see more social proof. Since (I assume) you're a smaller retailer you don't have the trust that large companies have built through advertising campaigns etc. This means that independent testimonials and reviews will make a big difference to increasing trust in your brand.
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Ionut Resetar commented:
very helpful, thanks, testimonials and reviews are a good idea, didn't think of that. But I will have to think about it because the people here will not spent time to give us reviews and testimonials, have any idea how to make that happen ?
Point 4 very nice idea, I will do that, but maybe I will add some good copy writing some promotional text, I don't know yet
On point 5, I have a darker background under the lightbox, probably the opacity is to low :)
6- I don't have a standard grid system, but I created a grid there, I have the same spaces in different places, I mean I calculated the spaces and margins for all the areas, you think it's there something off ? 7- hmm it's a good point, I will make it an arrow
8 - yeah probably a green would work better ... I will try some thinks
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OK, honestly I think you have a pretty well designed and polished site. Graphically you are on solid ground, and I think the things that still need work are small points of concern.
See my notes for some things to consider...
Notes Added to Images View
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1your background works really well
I think your background is a really sharp touch
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2language choices - excellent feature
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3like the opacity and rounded corners
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4Great nav...
I really like how you've handled the nav. Only one point of criticsm: I could go either way on this, whether you keep it or change it, but I think you should consider whether using black active state and transparent normal state is the best choice. Alternatively you could use a normal state that is light brown, like the highlight on the body background image.
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5great graphic work here
I like the subtle touches of the stroke and inner glow. Graphically this is very appealing.
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6more obvious
I'm concerned these buttons are going to be lost to the visitor. SInce the content image is pretty high detail and lots going on, those little circles may get lost in the image. You may consider instead handling the slider navigation as left or right arrows to the side of the frame.
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7this just needs work
This content is just not very compelling. Try splitting it up into columns, or even better - make three or four boxes out of it and try to just highlight three or four main points of what this is saying. You'll have a hard time getting people to read this much copy on a home page.
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Ionut Resetar commented:
Yeah, Priyadarshan sad that to, you both have a good point, I will do something like that there. I just need to figure out what to write there. The text that I have there now it's not good,I put it there until I figure out what to write.
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Joel Glovier commented:Yeah, honestly I don't know if it's your actual copy so much as how it's presented. Just try thinking of other ways to represent it. Also, I'm having this same challenge on a site I'm building, http://tuscaroratackle.com - there is a section on the homepage that says "What is Tuscarora Tackle?" and next to it there is a big block of copy that the client provided. I'm having the challenge of how to present that area. One of the options I'm considering is simply making it two lines of larger copy with a link to the about page.
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8footer top border effect is too dark
I noticed you have a top border effect going on here, but since it's black I could hardly see it (and I've got a top quality monitor). Consider changing that to a much lighter color that will stand out well against the dark background. Also consider changing the footer background color altogether to be lighter. It will create a sense of distinction between the footer and the rest of the page.
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Ionut Resetar commented:
I will try that ... but I didn't wanted to much attention on the border, it's made out of furniture symbols, it was just for design, but I will try some lighter color, thanks
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Joel Glovier commented:
Yeah I can see your point, but as it is it is nearly invisible.
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9excellent way to highlight the contact info
I think your choice to highlight the contact info here in the footer was brilliant.
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Salut Ionut,
This design is really really cool! I like the background a lot!!
Home Page: The Header is cool, but you might move the contact upper next to the language flags!
The First content text I think is okay, but the "Categorii Produse" I think there you can also put some nice pictures of the products, people see the products easily then read you know...
I will add some notes for the rest of the screens, but don't have to much to add because I really like the design and the details, and for a presentation website this very cool and gives nice image of the company!
Nice Design my friend!
Notes Added to Images View
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1I like the frame border! Nice One!
This is really cool frame border, I like the texture and the details! Awesome
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2I don't know about this footer...
I understand now that this the footer, well it's okay but maybe something is not in place here... The Google maps is cool, and I think you can arrange the Contact Zone also in right, and maybe add a simple online form, with Name, Subject and Message!
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Ionut Resetar commented:
hmmm ... you have a point there, I could do that and for the contact button add a jquery slide to bottom, that could work
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Notes Added to Images View
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1Hmmm, the Category List is cool this way but when you have more?
What happens when you have more categories, they decide to make another product? I think the best is to make vertical menu, maybe they also want to add in the futures subcategories, and it's easy with vertical menu!
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Ionut Resetar commented:
well this is my family business :), we wont have more categories there, and if we will have I will make some changes then. But yeah I did that first, but didn't like the fact that I lose a lot of space on the left under the menu, and I wanted to have a full focus on the products, the only problem I see here is that it can be crowded if I have for example 15 products and a lot of scrolling down, what do you think of that ? do you think it will be a problem ?
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2I like the Thumbs!
I really like the way you showcase the thumbs, how you put the title, it's really cool!
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Notes Added to Images View
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1Products Page - no comment! Really cool
I really enjoy your Product Page, it's very cool and it's everything you want!
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Ionut Resetar commented:
ps: the bg is not done by me, I've found the texture and just made some effects to it.
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There are templates out there that work. If the goal is to feature images of what you manufacture, I would recommend focusing on finding an existing template that works well for other people in manufacturing or showing off products (like a photo gallery). Then, I would recommend you customize the template to fit your wood background or other look and feel elements.
Overall, it is a very simple site. It represents your business as a very small company and not a growing, innovating company who will deliver excellent furniture.
Second, and this has nothing to do with the design of the website, make sure the pictures of your product are great AND are neutral enough to play to different audiences you may want to manufacture for. Content is king... especially when your showing what you sell. The backgrounds and lighting in some of these may not necessarily featuring your product in the most appealing way.
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Ionut Resetar commented:
First of all I don't want a template, I want a simple website to present our work, not some store like website or some photography website and I will code it, I don't need the complications of a wordpress template.
And if you have some ideas on how to make it a more innovating company who will deliver excellent furniture, well that is what this review should be about and some specific comments on why the design is so bad.
Thanks for the help.
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Brian Regienczuk commented:Thanks for the feedback. My point was not saying the site was bad. It may be an improvement from what the company had before.
The point is, why recreate the wheel here, versus using a look or template that already works hard for this type of a site. The first step in the design process used at most agencies is to understand: -understand current site and audience -understand best practices out there that are similar (competition, related industries) -leverage learning from what is working for others
I wish you and the company the best of success!
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Brian Regienczuk commented:
example template: http://wizardthemes.com/magento/fucheekid.html
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Ionut Resetar commented:
Well Brian, don't get me wrong, I appreciate the fact that you took the time to write a feedback, but it's not a good feedback, I understand you tell me that I should use a template, but because I made a design it means I don't want to buy a template because I am a designer and I like to create, if what I create is bad I get feedback here on how to improve that.
"My point was not saying the site was bad" - well you gave me a 1 for design, 1 for originality and 1 for engagement, I don't mind that, but what exactly are you saying, explain why and how to improve the design, what you don't like and why ...
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I like the design but I do have some minor remarks:
- It isn't the best wood texture I have ever seen.
- I don't like the black furniture logo's below the text (above the catalorii); maybe you should just let them out?
- This is a personal thought: why not place the searchbox at the bottom and the contact at the top? If they want to find something, the first thing they'll do is scroll down.
- I don't like the blue in the catagorii, somehow it doesn't match with the rest. Instead try to use the same technique as the navigation.
- It's one of the most beautiful Google Maps logo I've seen, but it's big and heavy. Make it a bit smaller, it'll clear up the design!
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I have been looking over the site and it is all pictures.
So content is deffinately needed.
Reviews from customers Good product information Newsletters link building
these things and more will round off the company image rather than just coming from the sell sell sell angle.
I like the new look though, it will be interesting to see when the content is added (will you change the colours?)
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Ionut Resetar commented:
Can you elaborate a bit, Reviews from customers it's a good idea that I will consider; Good product information - well this is all in the detail page of the product, what else should I have there ?; Newsletters - well this is not going to happen very soon because there is no one to take care of that and I don't know if it's needed, I don't think anyone will subscribe, link building that is a good idea but I don't have a lot of knowledge about link building
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Web Design In Croydon commented:I just mean having related links and reviews on your products on your company, any advice information. is all good
not everybody finds your site through the homepage.
the only way to get an understanding of how to set up your website is to do it. But keep track of everything. keep urls you find informative and that increase your knowledge, and names and passwords. check out your competitors see how they are promoting themselves. take onboard as many good ideas as possible and apply them or parts of them to your project.
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First look and impression, I thought that looks cool, but I´m affraid I have to say when I look closer there are some things that you might want to consider doing it different ;)
- First the background, awesome I wouldn't change that
- The two flags above the menu, the Romanian is bigger then the English one, I would make them the same.
- Large picture, nice render but I would drop the cutouts on the corners, just show the picture it doesn't need anything more to let it pop out (2010 webdesign trend, less is more)
- About the content part, way to wide, make a left or a right side e.g. put there the contact info or the Categorii Produse.
- Last thing, the bottom of the page has a lot of margin on the top, try to shrink that down to make the site more compact.
I like the overal feel of the website, and im a big fan of the wooden background, make some changes and you got yourself a very nice website :)
Regards,
Gijs
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Ionut Resetar commented:
on nr 2 : that is what I want to do, the big one is the selected language, I will add some more efect on that but the idea with big and small will stay, I like it.
on nr 3 : I don't design after a trend, like 2010 webdesign trend, I design how I think works best with the content and the target market, of course I'm not doing a perfect job but this is what I try to do, the corners are a classic touch, and the company is making 80% classic furniture with some influences from the modern design like strait lines and so on. So that will stay to, I like it :).
Thanks for the help.
well I added a big image, the website is design for resolution 1024x768 and bigger, so that is why there is a lot of extra space, my resolution is 1920x1200