Best Designs

[deeve007]

the GFX is OK ... but this forum here is for discussion of WB and not Flash!

cheers

Klaus

But it could also be for discussing the merits of WB over a Flash website with (aparantly) no backend, no?



And have to agree with a comment above, the portfolio is the place to display your "Flash skills". A designer's/design agency site - if aimed at business clients and not agency employers - should be about showcasing your design and web development - including usability - skills and experience.

[kweitzel]

the GFX is OK ... but this forum here is for discussion of WB and not Flash!

cheers

Klaus

[underg]

http://www.bestdesigns.com.au

What you guys think?

Question for the smart ones:

How can I insert a php script inside page editor? say something like

<?php include etc.php ?>

Truth? well I dont see the point in designers making flash sites like that and personaly I only pick designers that have a normal site like everryone else I find a designer that does this hasnt really heard much of load time etc and could they really make me a site on the base that dialup users must view it?
its nice and all I just dont belive in heavy sites for busniess design and your find most people wont!

[i2Paq]

I haven't been here for ages. My old design really sucked.

Oh well, now i scraped the whole WB. The site is now fully Flash. So .. yeh..have fun guys~! There is a Hexic game in my Arcade section!

Yegh! A site fully in flash. I keep waiting and waiting because all I see is: loading 6s 28 - encounting.
Then, when it's fully loaded the only thing I see are pages saying: Commin Soon.

Anyway, have fun building in flash (wonder why Flash is was so popular, to me it's overrated and not-done).

[deeve007]

Flash with what backend?

[kori]

I haven't been here for ages. My old design really sucked.

Oh well, now i scraped the whole WB. The site is now fully Flash. So .. yeh..have fun guys~! There is a Hexic game in my Arcade section!

[dellington]

the flash anoys me... i think he might be Includeing the wb pages.
but... take a look at the copyright(and the title by the hat) on the wb login page... is he aloued to do that?

I believe the rule is that you can change anything as long as you keep this footer text:

Code Select Expand

WebsiteBaker  is released under the GNU General Public License

Isn't that correct? I have also changed the text at the top of the admin screen from "WebsiteBaker Site Administration" to "[Whatever] Site Administration" on several sites. I thought that was okay.

[generic]

interested in knowing how you trademarked the word BEST.

[treepwood_g]

thanks kweitzel, it's true!!! 

[kweitzel]

I think Treepwood_g wants to know how to make a template in flash, where and how to insert the WB tags right???)

cheers

Klaus

[treepwood_g]

perdonatemi se scrivo in italiano ma il mio inglese lascia molto desiderare.. 
Una curiosità.. ma come si fà a realizzare un template in flash? c'è una guida da qualche parte? Come e dove si inseriscono i tag? Grazie.. 

[kickarse]

I really like the design A LOT!... it's a wonderful blend of information and design... keep up the good work...

[kori]

Thank you all. This is exactly what I want. Detailed criticism and ideas. You know when you create something, you get carried away with the concept that you don't know how to improve. Thank Isabel and ISPAQ

[isabel]

Hi Kori,

I think you've got a great site there.  I'm very impressed with the look and feel, which you obviously specialise in.  Most WB sites I've seen are pretty simple in nature, which has been more than fine for their target audience.  So the question here is: what is your target audience?  If I was visiting a site for, say, a music group, I would expect a fairly simple site with maybe some music samples.  If I was visiting a site for people who specialise in design, I would expect something pretty fancy, which is what you've made.

The comments about making the site available to non-broadband users are valid, but it is easy to make a simplified site once you have the more fancy one complete. 

I hope you don't mind if I put forward a couple of ideas for you:

- you could limit the sound clips to about five seconds in length so you get the emotive feel without causing annoyance in the audience
- you could highlight the top (main) menu more clearly; perhaps with bright colours.  It is always a useful technique to _help_ the audience work out what buttons they should push.  The dark grey looks good but it blends in so new visitors to the site miss it (like I did initially).
- you could change "The Department" to "About".  I like the idea of having a cool name but it confused me when I was trying to work out what to click on. 
- you could place your services in a bright colour as a sort of slogan under your name with bullet points like this:

BEST DESIGN
*Interior Design  *Website Design  *Website Hosting

this would clearly show what you are about.
- you could use a consistent bright colour for your headings.  That will help orient people to each section.  A good case in point is the news section on the front page. 
- you could try going straight into the site without requiring the user to hit 'Enter'.  You need to be careful to give the user early gratification when at your site.  That way, you might be able to entice them to wait at a later stage to see something that might take some time to load.  From the point of view of the user: what benefit do I obtain from having to wait here or having to click this button?  (I imagine the idea was to provide them with the information about requirements for viewing the site.  If you could make the site available to more people, that would be great.  If you have done your market research and know that your target audience will almost always have broadband and flash then you're fine.)
- your featured project is great.  It's bright and interesting.  But you need to ask yourself this question: is that the thing I want my visitors to click on first?  Because it is the most attractive and click-on-able thing on that site (apart from your logo) due to its bright colour 
- you might consider having an option for the visitor to make the font larger.  Small fonts look great but I know of so many people that struggle with small fonts.
- you could add a search function and a site map function

Overall I think you have a really great site and it's likely to only get better.  The squiggly flash thing is cool!  I wish I could do graphic design that well.  (Actually, at all   )

I'd like to suggest one last thing that's a useful technique in design.  Remember and include the human element.  People like to see things that they can associate with.  People respond to pictures of other people --- not objects.  So, keep that in mind when making/choosing your images and designs.

Cheers,

Isabel

[i2Paq]

Well, there is no point just criticising man. Tell me specific problems like how can things be improved. eg, make the menu more obviouis etc.

Don't just go around telling people hey your site sucks, it doesn't have a point etc...

help others to improve, that's the whole purpose of this showcase forum...

yeh? let's hear some more intelligent words and ideas from you.

You asked for comments, why else come here?

Anywayz.

1. When I switcht pages the musci comes on again.
2. Eventhough the music is switched of the buttons make anoying "swizss" sounds.
3. Outdated info
4. The Department, Services & Products, Contact - pages look different (read: layout)

I don't say I don't like your work/site, in fact it's almost a work of art. 

Website builders should keep in mind that people come to look for info, not a quest on where to find it on "your" site.
Plus, having a fancy site is maybe something Hot! but in the end it's like having a design chair, it looks nice but can you sit comfortable in it?

[kweitzel]

Hi, I have to admit, that the first time I didnät reallz bother to look deeper into the site. It shurlz advanced quite a lot. I would though, trz to "remeber" the decision to switch off the sound bz the user on the subpages ...

keep it on, I think, it is quite nice to see the extremes of what can be done with WB!

cheers

Klaus

[kori]

Well, there is no point just criticising man. Tell me specific problems like how can things be improved. eg, make the menu more obviouis etc.

Don't just go around telling people hey your site sucks, it doesn't have a point etc...

help others to improve, that's the whole purpose of this showcase forum...

yeh? let's hear some more intelligent words and ideas from you.

[i2Paq]

I used WB so that I can update the contents without using dreamweaver.

Yeh I need to clarify the purpose of the website a bit more in the front page. It is kinda user un friendly?

It is totaly user-un-friendly as I have no(!) idea how or where to find my way. The layout, sounds en visuals totaly destract me from what your site is or could be telling me.

[kori]

I used WB so that I can update the contents without using dreamweaver.

Yeh I need to clarify the purpose of the website a bit more in the front page. It is kinda user un friendly?

[jchord]

the flash anoys me... i think he might be Includeing the wb pages.
but... take a look at the copyright(and the title by the hat) on the wb login page... is he aloued to do that?

[mysticcowboy]

Why bother with WebsiteBaker at all? This isn't a CMS site but a Flash one. You don't even offer a no-flash option. Or if you do it needs Flash to access it. As an exhibition of your Flash skills it's okay. As a CMS example or even a good business site it totally misses the mark.

I realized that after spending a couple of minutes on the site, I had no idea what it was for. The sounds and whizzes distracted me. If the medium is the message this message is about Flash not the business.

[kweitzel]

@ProSam

it does have a login page though ...


@kori

On thing I have to agree on with roSam: the flash .. I am not a great fan of it.

And the "broadband" limit puts people off visiting your site ... why voluntarily limit the amount of users? It's like ordering a Porsche with a VW 4 cylinder engine ...

cheers

Klaus

PS: for the PHP Code you need a codesection or implement it to your template (but then don't forget to wrap the code into the PHP Tag like here:

http://forum.websitebaker.org/index.php/topic,2127.0/topicseen.html

[ProSam]

I doubt this is a WB site. I think it's a template, actually.

[i2Paq]

http://www.bestdesigns.com.au

What you guys think?

Honest?

Site/layout looks nice.

What is it with everybody that they want/need flash on their site's?
Not to mention sounds.... (button to switch sound off does not work).

Why do I need to click on images / -> read more on one part of your site to read more and on the -> click here on another part?

Furthermore I find it a little difficult to find my way arround, plus the site is rather slow because of the flash.

Latest news 22 july 2005?

[pcwacht]

You can't include php in wysiwyg.

Make a extra section on that page, choose code, enter php.

John