New site usability test

[ICD2k3]

hello,
I recently updated the design of my portfolio and was wondering if any of you could do a quick usability test for me. Just check out the site at: http://www.justinschrader.com and answer the questions below when you come back to actionscript.org...




Don't read below until after viewing










How long did it take you to realize that the middle bar is draggable for resizing the portfolio content? Did you realize it at all?

Oh, and what do you think of the design? Thanks guys

[David-B]

Hey ICD2k3, the site looks very nice, i like the design a lot. I may admit I didn't see the bar you can drag with, before I opened the page a second time. Then I noticed the arrows in the top and bottom, showing when you open the page.

Although, I think the menu is a bit to slow, loading. If your visitors is tad inpatient, they may think your navigation ain't working, as I thought =)

[newblack]

this is the first site posted here in a long time that's impressed me- well done on all fronts.

as for the middle being draggable, who cares! it's cool, but it's not necessary whatsoever... perfect usability insomuch.

[flyingchalupa]

well done, looks great...
i noticed the arrows right away, but only because i was 'playing' with the menu... somone who was there simply to see the content, may not notice or understand the functionality right away...

the only suggestion i would make, would be to incorporate something to conpensate vertically when resizing, or if the menu bleeds off the bottom...

at 1085x768, with the nav dragged to the left (and the content at its smallest) you're pretty safe. but if the nav is over to the right, and you get a level down in the menu, a user could be prevented from selecting the lower items on the menu... a quick fix would be to automatically slide the nav to the left when the menu goes off screen... or add a dynamic scrollbar (but i think that would take away from the design concept)

just my two cents...
again, nice work

[ICD2k3]

Hey thanks for the comments guys, based on feedback from friends and other forums I changed a few things from the first swf (as of 2am EST Wed.). The new one is still at http://www.justinschrader.com but u can compare the previous version at http://www.justinschrader.com/index_old.

Anyways, quick list of things added and changed:
1.) changed the description font (Verdana 10px)
2.) changed arrow rollovers using Mouse.hide to draw attention to the middle bar if the use unknowingly rolls over it
3.) added a "drag to resize" tab at the bottom of each portfolio item
4.) added small maximize (+) and minimize (-) buttons to each item
5.) changed the code so that if u click on any tab that is open you can close it (an X will show up on the right side of the tab). This way it allows users to go back to the main menu, or view all the selections without a portfolio image taking up screen space.

I think the addition of the max and min buttons paired with the ability to now close open tabs makes it a lot easier to navigate. Overall I like this much better than my last site, you can see it in the portfolio under web listed as e4v6.

I was thinking of submitting it to some awards sites. I don't think it's FWA quality by any means but if any of you know of a smaller design awards site let me know. I'm pretty proud of it :)

[isedeasy]

Noticed this site on FWA and was very impressed...

Congrats on the award, you deserve it....

[ICD2k3]

Thanks :)