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Concept Reviews
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What's good:
- home page is clearly focused on users' key tasks.
- It contains contains a search input box in a noticeable area.
- The product categories are provided and clearly visible (using the master detail pattern metaphor).
- Useful product content is presented within one click from this page.
- Links on the home page begin with the most important keyword (appears to be industry specific).
- The value proposition is clearly stated on the home page.
What doesn't Work:
- Some of the graphics are distracting, and look dated.
- The Product Catalog will require scrolling at certain resolutions (example: 800x600).
- Navigation choices may not be ordered in the most logical or task-oriented schema.
- All corporate information is grouped in one distinct area (e.g."About Us").
Direction
- Refer to the quick mock-up I crafted to address the scrolling issue
- Add the "Fat Footer" to address ancillary navigation
- Use the 'tabbed container' to present catalog items, sales and featured content.
- Make catalog items more persuasive by adding a comparison design pattern (example: http://patterns.endeca.com/content/library/en/home/patterns/persistentcomparisonlist.html)
Hope this helps!
Michael Rawlins
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Michael Rawlins commented:Hi Lukasz
A few things:
- The circle graphics are distracting... I urge you to do a very simple usability test with 3 random people (one at a time). Show them a printed version of the homepage - and ask them to point to what they see first, second & third. If they point to "graphics in the circle" - ask them to explain what they are (don't give them clues - and don't defend the treatment). What I anticipate is - that they will see those graphics early on - and not understand what they depict. Hence - the design treatment takes away from their meaning.
- Scrolling on the homepage may hurt conversion rates/opportunities.
- the tab sections in my mock-up were of course placeholders. Your client may find this approach compelling. I would encourage you to usability test this (or have it tested by someone) to determine whether this works for target users.
- The Footer area can be used for lots more functionality than links. Perhaps you can post a user feedback capabilities - or articles/whitepapers showing client customization success stories. What's key here is - it's additional real-estate (a good thing for future site growth)
Last - but most important, if your site goal is to "ake them call for custom projects or 2. buy standardized products" - you need to use the large banner to get that point across. Be direct, use a clear shot of a product (or something emotional) to make people look at that banner area. Be deliberate about it...
Hope this helps... Good luck!
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Lukasz Gladki commented:
Thanks Michael, I got back to work on home page. You are right about not getting the message across. Guess I find it a bit confusing myself.
I've already decided to divide Catalog menu into "standard products" and "custom products" as the later is only a description of a service with a few examples rather than ready to buy product. Now time to change the large banner.
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Hi Quickly reviewed your website and my suggestions as as listed below:
Avoid Use of Gradients. Looking to the color scheme, you must avoid the present color gradient used on homepage.
Emphasize on Search. When trying to sell something, make sure your search is powerful and users get what they are looking for, Put somewhere in header image along with featured products.
The top navigation. Include some more items. Like 'Products' 'Want Custom Products?' etc...
Hope you find the suggestions useful. Though, nice design, I must say. All the best cheers Prashant
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This is good even thou it might be a bit dull. But then again, steel construction isn't a roller coaster theme park i guess.
I think its very easy to look at. I easily find what i might be looking for and products are all presented in a high quality way.
The illustrations with the two balls in gray and orange is a nice touch on the first page. The graphics over all are good.
I am not a fan of the fading boxes in the "interested in custom design?"-box since its a totally new pattern that isn't found anywhere else on the page. It feels very 90ish.
Same goes for the circular cut images. They just feel wrong. I would rather see full images presented in a rectangular photo shape.
Hope my critic helps and good luck!
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Lukasz Gladki commented:
Hi Jamie, thanks for feedback.
I agree that it may be dull, but most of the products are pretty plain and I don't wont to have graphics getting in the way of products.
thanks for confirming on those circles, Michael pointed them out and got rid of them already, no idea what I was thinking.. guess you are right with the fading boxes pattern as well.
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Thank you for your feedback!
Can you put more light on navigation problem?
I like the idea of tabbed container but is it better to click than to scroll? My client wont be using sales or best selling products anyway (custom made products are main income of the company and their sale is not counted in the on-line shop). So the main idea of the home page is to introduce the company and 1. Make them call for custom projects or 2. buy standardized products.
Also is there a point in ancillary navigation if there is just 3 pages and catalog and they are all accessible from every single page?