New site feedback

[alphadesk]

Hello All,

I would like to get some feedback on a site I am working on for a local art museum. They really don't know what they want. One of those "we will know it when we see it gigs". Most of the art members don't even use the internet, but the ones that do is excited about getting online. I am going to add more but before I moved on I wanted to get some input.

1. from web design view
2. from an artist view - what would you want?

http://www.art-tams.com

[MannInc]

Not a bad looking web site there. If you need any pdf work let me know. I'm extremely reasonable.

[Hurricane]

I really like the design and the layout. Really easy to navigate. Good choice of colors. Nice effects and not too much. Good JOB!!!
Hurricane
www.jclemens.com

[Ddr]

Hope you dont mind "straight from the hip" shooting. I will run through some quick thoughts (not intended to be critical, just helpful). If you want to email me to discuss any of these (or to cuss me for saying them) feel free.... dddr7@hotmail.com.

The colors are great, very "southwesty". The are subdued enough to be the backdrop for something a bit more eyecatching, if you could get some help from your client about what they might like to see on the site. (perhaps a key piece of sculpture, painting, or something representing the museum's collections?)

I like the appearance of those javascript alt tags. I did find it a little odd that they moved with the mouse, though.

While the site is very clean, functional, and easy on the eyes, it really seems to lack direction. Yes, it has some calendar listings, a phone number and few other text items of general interest. But to me, museums are wonderful places of discovery. They house rare, valuable collections, have special openings of new exhibits, and sponsor public education and community events.

If I was doing this site, I would be trying to use it to excite new visitation and community support with a " You haven't been here?Well, look at what we are about to do !" kind of approach....coupled with a " You are already supporting us? Thank you so much ! Your support has helped to bring in our next great visiting exhibition,,,,Can Openers of the Ancient Egyptians. Be sure to come to the exhibit's Grand Opening on,,,,".

Well, I think you get my point. I would find a way to make things leap out to get people excited enough to go and visit, join, contribute money, etc.

Hope this helps and was not too brutal.

Dale

[Spectre]

I wont be as brutal... :)

Looks great. I like the color scheme and the mouseover button effects are nice. Looks like you are off to a great start.

[paulselhi]

especially like the at your throat mouse over, nearly spilt my beer over the pc. now that's active art!!!

[alphadesk]

Thanks to all,

Dale,

Per our PM I passed on your suggestions and finally getting some feedback from the museum members and can move on with this little project.

[Ddr]

It really makes life easier when your client has a clue of what they want. I cant wait to see the finished product. Will you post again when it is revised?

Dale

[MarkHutch]

I really liked your new site. Since I'm from Texas, the lay out was just right for me.

[SonicSafety]

Alpha,

This may seem a bit too focused, but I'm a bit . . . wrong word. - I'm sortof a perfectionist- that'll work.

On the page for 'Classes' the buttons don't link, just the text. I know it seems overly particular, but everything else seems to have been said twice.

Other than that, I really like the site. Good job.

[DeafNLoud]

Well here is my opinon which is a bit more critical than the others. You have some nice color scheme going however, I think you can make it work even better using a bit darker colors. The banner and logo colors seem to clash with the background too much. Especially the bright yellow orange in the middle of the top banner.

Try to be a bit more creative...using frontpage templates are a bit overdone. Navigation on the left and big plain old banner on the top, blah blah blah... Boring after you have seen it over a million times. Explore creating navigation bars and shapes to implement on the user interface etc...after all it is a web site that is supposed to be featuring art and artisit so should it not reflect creativity and imagination a bit more?

If you need any help with design concepts feel free to email me (contact my PM first and I will send you my email address)

Mike

[bettyfordclinic]

Hi

This is intending to be constructive, so here goes....

The roll-overs. We may be a minority, but the Mac community is probably having a little bit of difficulty with them (they flash on and off, kind of crazy like..)

And in general, I think you could probably spend more time on the design side in Photoshop. I know the site was made in Frontpage, and to be honest, I'm not familiar with that apps limitations, but you should try and work up full designs in Photoshop and then use Dreamweaver/Golive for the html. The site doesn't have the full "glossy" web feel of a totally professional site (and I don't mean that in a bad way, I'm simply comparing to full, full, full prefessional web design).

And if you need any help with these appz, feel free to mail me too, or else pop by the graphic design forums and make a post. Trust me, if you were using Photoshop you'd have difficulty wiping the smile off your face.

please don't hit me...

bfc

[AwesomeAlice]

Oh gee... I hate to say it, but I have to agree with Mike (DeafNLoud) about this one.

Most people are not usually sensitive to such refinements, and under ordinary circumstances the site would be quite nice. Considering that it IS an ART-related site, however, should make a difference. As a hypersensitive artist who is particularly into design and color, I think Mike has expressed quite well how the site makes me feel. ("especially the bright yellow orange" which does not go with the soft tan background) Although his comments may seem rather harsh, I think they are worthy of some serious consideration here. I would also do something to draw a bit more attention to the Galleries.

Looking forward to future developments. :)

[alphadesk]

Would you make some suggestions from an artist view?