I am finishing up a website I did for the Friends of the Houston Public Library. Anyone and everyone is welcome to take a look before it goes live and leave comments, suggestions, problems, etc. You guys are like my Beta Testing crew! http://www.friendsofhpl.org/test/
Thanks. I'm proofreading it now. Also, I should point out there are no news items yet. Working on those as well.
Looks pretty sweet to me, what exactly is Friends of the Houston Public Library, maybe you could use some flash animation to spice the site up. Maybe a flash intro, than some flash games about books or somthing on the main page.
looks really good, my only suggestion would be to the font that reads http://www.friendsofhpl.org in the title graphic to be a little more legible. It kinda blends too much with the graphic. otherwise, good job as always!
Jeff, Site looks pretty good. Just a couple of things I noticed (yea I might be nitpicking ) 1. The table on the right side of some pages is grey, while it's purple on others. The purple stands just a little too much and is a little hard to read. The grey is much easier on the eyes and doesn't detract as much. If you were looking for some color, maybe some light blues, greens, or browns ? 2. In the table on the Board of Directors page, you have the subject listed as "Board Members". Is this supposed to read board of directors? 3. The Abobe icon looks a little out of place on the Join Friends page. Maybe something a little smaller within the table? It might also help to say something like "If you don't have Acrobat installed you can get it here." or something, too.
Great site I got a couple of questions about design: What programs did you use to make the site? What languages were used? Do you just write the code or do you use an editor?
Very nice, Jeff. Very professional and aesthetically, I find it "soothing." One question, though: why do you have the Constitution in the Mission section? I found that a little odd, and had trouble finding the actual mission statement. I would maybe condense some of the info on the front page (which is very good) and use that as a mission statement (if that's your call to make) and either put the bylaws below it, or better yet, in its own section. If I ever need a website designed professionally (or rather, that of a company I'm with) I'll remember who to call.
Thanks for all the input, guys. Keep it coming. <b>Looks pretty sweet to me, what exactly is Friends of the Houston Public Library, maybe you could use some flash animation to spice the site up. Maybe a flash intro, than some flash games about books or somthing on the main page.</b> The Friends is a non-profit group that raises money to help support the Houston Public Library system. They've been in existence since 1953. I'll take the Flash suggestions under advisement. By the way, there is a very simple flash intro on the site for coming soon purposes - http://www.friendsofhpl.org/ . That is up just until the site goes live. <b>looks really good, my only suggestion would be to the font that reads http://www.friendsofhpl.org in the title graphic to be a little more legible. It kinda blends too much with the graphic.</b> Actually, that was kinda on purpose. I wasn't even sure I was going to put that on there at all but I did it with a digi-type font that is real wierd looking. I'll look at it a few more times and keep that in mind. Thanks. <b>I wish I could make my sight look like that...</b> Thanks. You can. It just takes some time to learn. Clutch is the king and he learned it all himself. <b>1. The table on the right side of some pages is grey, while it's purple on others. The purple stands just a little too much and is a little hard to read. The grey is much easier on the eyes and doesn't detract as much. If you were looking for some color, maybe some light blues, greens, or browns ?</b> I have it set to the same color on every page. Could you let me know which pages you see it in purple? I'll check the code and see if I missed something. Thanks. <b>2. In the table on the Board of Directors page, you have the subject listed as "Board Members". Is this supposed to read board of directors?</b> Excellent point. I'll change that for sure. <b>3. The Abobe icon looks a little out of place on the Join Friends page. Maybe something a little smaller within the table? It might also help to say something like "If you don't have Acrobat installed you can get it here." or something, too.</b> I agree on both points. That is on my list. <b>What programs did you use to make the site? What languages were used? Do you just write the code or do you use an editor?</b> I used a combination of Adobe Photoshop 6.0, Macromedia Dreamweaver 4.0 and a basic text editor (Simple Text for Mac). I wrote some of the code and did the layouts in Dreamweaver. I used to write all the code but Dreamweaver makes laying out tables so damn easy. But, I always check my code in a text editor for making final changes. It was all done in HTML with some JavaScript and a tad bit of Flash. I did use quite a bit of CSS mainly for formatting text. <b>One question, though: why do you have the Constitution in the Mission section? I found that a little odd, and had trouble finding the actual mission statement. I would maybe condense some of the info on the front page (which is very good) and use that as a mission statement (if that's your call to make) and either put the bylaws below it, or better yet, in its own section. If I ever need a website designed professionally (or rather, that of a company I'm with) I'll remember who to call.</b> Thanks. Yeah, that was their whole by-laws section. They didn't really have a "mission statement" and it would probably help but they aren't the easiest people to get text from. They are a tad web-unfriendly but they are SUPER nice people. Glad you like the front page. Mrs JB did that. She is the content QUEEN. Thank God there is a journalism major in my house! You should have seen the text on the site before she got her hands on it. Guys, you rock. You are hired permanently!
As far as i can tell it's only on the pages below: scholarship.html contacts.html sales.html board.html join.html
Thanks, X. I changed it to a slightly lighter, more web-friendly gray that should fix the problem. The gray I was using was slightly more purple/blue and wasn't ideally suited for every system. Thanks for checking. rockHEAD: I took your advice and made the friendsofhpl.org a little bigger and a tad more bold. I think it is more visible now. Thanks.
By the way, since I'm here, I should mention that if you or your business does need website design... The other site I am working on with Clutch currently is the Houston Police Officers' Union site - hpou.org . Anyway, free cheap plug now over.
Jeff or Clutch can you help me know the basics how to make a site? i am not asking you to design one for me i just would like to know how to make one. Like will i have to know HTML and crap if so dont even bother i wont want to have to memorize that bull crap.
Jeff, do you need my name, address and pertinant payroll information? I'd like my checks to be bi-monthly, thanks!
oh dude... that flash intro is so sweet... very library and it just looks 'quiet'... i love it!!! the site also is very 'library'... good job!
at some point we're gonna need web design, Jeff...not sure when. but i'm thinking it would intro in sort of a flash way and me and my partners would be in circa 1975 pimp gear, with "glory be, the funk's on me" playing over and over again. I think that would convey the real professional image of this firm.
Thanks. I am a novice at Flash but I've spent a lot of time with it the past few weeks. The stuff you can do with it is pretty incredible. Oh, your check is in the mail. We have your information on file.
THAT, I can do! Bring on Bootsy! Seriously, let me know when and if you guys want a design bid. Clutch and I would be happy to help you guys out.
