MountainGoat

I have built this site for a local businessman, and I know there are some things that still need tidying up on the main pages (Copyright notices in respective language, Menu looks slightly odd, page banner/title needs a touch of work...) Hopefully, now it is nearly finished, because when I manage to get something done, the client changes their mind, again!

The things that I am at a loss to proceed with are the product (gallery) pages, and also the first page... Any ideas would be good. Just please do not mention SEO, as I have tried to convince the client that SEO text is needed, but they want this text, nothing else...

The link is here

Thanks for having a look, and please, don't hold back if you think something needs to be said!

PornBlogger

hey there Goat'

suggestions:

1.
sketch-out the page flow on some paper/whiteboard, to help with the mental block on which direction to go next.. if you are at a loss; and include the client in the process, to find if the layout/page flow workds

2.
consider using a free business template that you can tweak. this website should be about showcasing the clients metal work, my guess from the galleries.. so look at templates that offer room for showing pics w/text on the page.


things i noticed:

- the navigation needs tweaking (contact link under galleries).
- you have the redundant company/title under the main logo.
- maybe consider putting the languages in a dropdown, or in the top header/footer.

peace

__________________
- Reading can help your $$$ status
- "knock'em out the box yoooooo"
- "stop beating up my hand with your face!"

MountainGoat

Thanks there PornBlogger, I have been scratching around these conclusions myself, and the navigation is my biggest bugbear!

I've had a look at part of the template, and have made the changes in part of the template, but I am going to have to wait until I get a little more free time to dig in and sort the rest out. As with any change, I have found some more work that needs tidying up!

Once again, thanks for having a look, much appreciated.

PornBlogger

hey there Goat

you're welcome! i have had the same roadblock with navigation myself.. but having that road-map/site layout is handy to make it easier.

i'm not a webdesiger/graphic designer, just a hack programmer, so i gut out free templates and just put in my functionality. lol

kudos to anyone that does design for a living.

__________________
- Reading can help your $$$ status
- "knock'em out the box yoooooo"
- "stop beating up my hand with your face!"

MountainGoat

I think with any design, it is always good to start by ripping in to someone else's to find out how they have done it, and then start understanding what affects what from there. Then over time, when it starts making sense, then start building your own designs. These won't be good at first, but yeah, later, they progress.

As for planning, I usually go and draw the pages out on paper before I build them (templates and that) then I try and draw the diagrams of what the site will look like before I build it. (Sometimes it doesn't usually work, especially as I said earlier, when people change their mind on things!)

In the day and age of modern web design, still the most useful tools are pencils and paper!

french-webbie

Hi,
I would go for a multi-pages/themed gallery, like for example one for the stairs, and another for the gates. Some text would be great too, seeing it as a portfolio with the client desires for a specific piece, the techniques used... Of course, if the client agrees
I would put the languages as header/footer links unless you plan to support many more, you'll see all supported languages at a glimpse, hence one click only. Plus each language name in its own language (English, Español, Català), as the "localized" user will get it directly.
And lastly, I would redo the menu to have the 3 pages at the same level (it seems like gallery and contact are subcategories of home), and replace 'home' by 'about us' or 'who we are'.

__________________
ICQ: 448043846

French translation, localization - I like sharing videos - Alternative to AdSense

amj-marvin

need more work on header logo text.. seems it is not smooth enough and too much bold..:P

__________________
Pimpin Superstars Ca$h Program - Sign up Now and make CA$$$H!!!
NN Superstars - Free Pictures of Non Nude Teen Models!
Solo Teen Girl Sites: Alyssa Teen | Amazing Aila | Sweetheart Ashley | Alexia Star | Karissa Booty

MountainGoat

Galleries are going to be changed, as for the menu structure, I will get on with that, when I get a few minutes, as the menu has been bugging me for a while. As for the other languages, probably more languages will appear in the next few weeks, as the linguistic mix in the area where the business operates is quite substantial.

When I get round to this, I am going to change it to make it more like extruded metal work.

Something really big and quite urgent has popped up, so this project is going to take a little bit of a back seat for the time being.

Thanks for everyone's input on this, and more will happen when I get a bit more time.