New Project

[Gorkfu]

Well it's been quite awhile since I posted here on Powweb. I use to be the one critiqing other websites in this section. I also never asked for a critique before on any other sites I have created, but I really wanted to know what people think about this one. Anyways shoot away...

PS: I did notice I have errors with my css and xhtml validation, I just havn't fixed it yet. I usually do, just pressed for time lately.

Well here is the new project:
UPC Food Search (http://www.upcfoodsearch.com/)

[Kitchensink108]

On the whole, the site looks nice and clean. Some things I would change, though:
-The topnav kind of bothers me. Not the concept of it, but just how the strawberry draws so much more attention than the actual text. If there's a way to, like, bold the text or make it bigger or something that would be good. You might also consider making the strawberry semi-opaque when not moused-over. You're on the right track by desaturating it, but it still overshadows the text too much.

-I don't like the green background color on :hover for links. It doesn't really fit with the rest of the design, so far as I can see.

-The icon and the 'Website launch' text aren't aligned very well:
http://kyle.barr.name/files/launch.jpg

Otherwise, I like it.

[Gorkfu]

Thanks for your feedback, Kitchensink108 :)

If there's a way to, like, bold the text or make it bigger or something that would be good. You might also consider making the strawberry semi-opaque when not moused-over.

I'll play with the nav and see how bold text looks. I was worried maybe the navigation might be a little confusing for some visitors since the sub nav changes according to the current section the user navigates to.

I don't like the green background color on :hover for links.

Should I just remove this or change the color? This is first time I did highlighting on links.

The icon and the 'Website launch' text aren't aligned very well

The news is linked from the forums, makes it easier for me to post news. I can look into the forums php code to see if this can be changed, but I don't see it as a huge problem.

[g4mby]

Should I just remove this or change the color? This is first time I did highlighting on links.
If you must change the background colour when hovering over links make the colour change much more subtle. Your shade of green is far too bold. Make the colour change so that it's barely noticeable, although some will then say, why bother at all? :)

[Kitchensink108]

Colors that *might* look good:
#eee
#ddd
#EFE7C2

Usually I don't change background colors unless the element has like 3px padding all around, which doesn't usually work in paragraph text.

[Gorkfu]

I removed the green highlight. And actually the navigation text was bolded...

Also I'm curious how the site looks on a Mac in Safari, I don't have access to a Mac to check myself, would appreciate it if anyone can check for any problems.

[YvetteKuhns]

I created a login and submitted one item for testing purposes. We tried searching the UPC of an existing item. A full UPC is found, but if I type the first part, I didn't get a listing of items from that manufacturer as expected.

The General Stats page showed pending submissions. I did not see a pending manufacturer and I know I added a new manufacturer, so I don't know if the item is pending or not. The categories listed on this page could link to their own pages for easier navigation.

Welcome to UPC Food Search where you can search for Food Products by UPC, Name, Brand and many more search methods.

This line could link text to their own searches for easier navigation as well.

The forum could have a recipe section. ;) I just figured I would discuss the functionality of it. Others get hung up on design.

[Gorkfu]

Thanks Yvette for testing.

We tried searching the UPC of an existing item. A full UPC is found, but if I type the first part, I didn't get a listing of items from that manufacturer as expected.

If you used the upc search it only looks for exact search, to directly take you to that page for the upc.

The General Stats page showed pending submissions. I did not see a pending manufacturer and I know I added a new manufacturer, so I don't know if the item is pending or not.

No new manufacturers got entered when I checked earlier... Although I did have one fear, that adding manufacturers and categories may not be clear enough on the add page. You have to hit the "Add" button that is directly next to the manufacturer field for it to be entered before hitting the main "Add Product" button at the bottom.

Maybe I should make a note of this on the submission pages?

The categories listed on this page could link to their own pages for easier navigation.

You mean the categories on the stats page?

This line could link text to their own searches for easier navigation as well.
The forum could have a recipe section.

Thanks, I'll note these ideas. :)

[YvetteKuhns]

If you used the upc search it only looks for exact search, to directly take you to that page for the upc.

Yeah, that worked. But I wanted to test the first part since that belongs to the manufacturer. I worked in a store where I had to add all of the items into the new computers. It took a LONG time! If someone wanted to search and compare Kraft BBQ sauces (I tried to submit one.), then they could search the first part for Kraft. Just a suggestion.

No new manufacturers got entered when I checked earlier... Although I did have one fear, that adding manufacturers and categories may not be clear enough on the add page. You have to hit the "Add" button that is directly next to the manufacturer field for it to be entered before hitting the main "Add Product" button at the bottom.

Maybe I should make a note of this on the submission pages?

So, the manufacturer must be submitted and/or approved before adding the product? I don't remember what I did, but I didn't find the manufacturer in the list, so I entered one before hitting the "Add Product" button.

You mean the categories on the stats page?

Yes, if possible. ;)

[Gorkfu]

But I wanted to test the first part since that belongs to the manufacturer.

I see what your saying, that ability does exist from the search link that appears on the sub navigation. I'm thinking I'm going to remove it from the sub navigation and have the link under that UPC Search form and just label it Advanced Search.

So, the manufacturer must be submitted and/or approved before adding the product? I don't remember what I did, but I didn't find the manufacturer in the list, so I entered one before hitting the "Add Product" button.

Ahh ok, no the manufacturer doesn't have to be approved before being added, it gets added to the first item, it just won't show up for other people in the list until approved.

The page has a hidden form basically that appears when you hit, add manufacturer, so like I said before have to hit the add button on the hidden form for it to be actually set up prior to hitting the add product button. To make this clearer for users, I'm going to try and set up a tooltip that will point to the other add button telling the user to hit that first. I had someone else e-mail me today that was also confused about this.

[YvetteKuhns]

I just tested quickly before leaving the office. I like to act like a real visitor, in a hurry and very stupid. ;)

[Gorkfu]

I just tested quickly before leaving the office. I like to act like a real visitor, in a hurry and very stupid.

Lol, no worries, I'm like that also when I go to other sites, but of course it's something I want to avoid my users from doing, which is the hardest thing in the world, lol :p