Portfolio site up and running

[nakedkafka]

Hi,
I've been working on this site, It's a portfolio site for a graphic designer, here. (http://www.ditaash.com)
It was coded in Flex,
Any comments will be greatly appreciated.

[kkbbcute]

When I first visited the site, there is one important flaw you need to know, it just gave an unprofessional look. A graphic designer should have a suitably well-designed site, yours looks like a random mashup I could do in 2 weeks, no insult. The hand-drawn "border" looks unprofessional, more like a scribble instead of an ornate well-drawn illustration.

Secondly, your navigation system seems quite clunky. The words on the side of the thumbnails are very unnecessary, I suggest changing them to a tooltip or something that pops up when you mouse over instead. Right now it just feels that a bunch of tiny text names are flooding the hell outta my mind.

I'll give it a 6/10
Color Palette is poor
Navigation feels clunky
Design scheme and feel is unprofessional and weird

Hey, its a pass:p

[nakedkafka]

thank you.
It's not my design, I did the code, but i can say that a descision was taken to create the site in a hand-drawn scribbly feel. I've taken in what you have said about the left-side Labels and tooltips (very good idea).
Thanks again, valueable input.

[cjx3711]

Design:
Ok I have to agree to what kkbb said, but since you want script wise, i will not comment much about this.

Navigation:

On the fromt page, the rollover effects for the about and portfolio buttons are not smooth. Try running yuor dursor over and off it a few times and you will see what I mean.

Your pictures on the portfolio page also ha the same flaw.

Overall:
In terms of scripting, you have done a great job. I have browsed your site and I have not spotted any bugs.

[GFX Complex]

Aside the fact it was made in flex for reasons I don't understand I thought it look good. I seen a very small UI bug with the base navigation.

[kkbbcute]

Aside the fact it was made in flex for reasons I don't understand I thought it look good. I seen a very small UI bug with the base navigation.

Which brings me ask a question, why use Flex?

[nakedkafka]

I just like it as in IDE, it's easier to use when handling loads of AS code files, I am working a couple of other projects and they are in Flex. So Flex.

[rawmantick]

Clicking "View" and "Home" makes site background to jump up and down. I doubt it's a feature. Do you re-create and reposition the same background everytime on menu item click?

[nakedkafka]

Never seen that to happen, could you please tell me which Browser/OS/flash player are you using ?
Thanks for all the feedback, guys.

[rawmantick]

Never seen that to happen, could you please tell me which Browser/OS/flash player are you using ?
Thanks for all the feedback, guys.

Win XP, FF3, Flash Player 10 Debug

[yell0wdart]

@cjx3711 & kkbbcute: For a couple of amateurs, you guys are pretty harsh. Cut the guy a little slack on the design. And why does he need to defend his choice of IDE? Would you rather he code it directly on the timeline in Flash?

I actually don't mind the design so much. A lot of artists are going after that look right now. The hand-drawn, collage look is getting pretty popular.

I think it turned out rather well. I haven't seen any glaring bugs. I'm not a huge fan of animated buttons, but the client gets what the client wants. I think the OP did a solid job with the material provided.

[nakedkafka]

The client gets what the client wants.
Truth spoken.
Thanks man, good to hear some positive words.
I tried my best with this site (as with any project i take). The purpose of the design was to show some kind of different approach to a web site, while throwing away shiny transparencies, glow effects and the rest of the Web-2.0ish looks. Loads of designers loved the site, so we kept the design. As a coder I'm still doing a few improvements on animations, and I'm preparing a back-door game which the site will have soon (hopefully).
I love the negative feedbacks too, keep em coming.
and as a bonus to you all:
here's a lovely link to some nice fonts:
http://bit.ly/B6YWi

[kkbbcute]

@cjx3711 & kkbbcute: For a couple of amateurs, you guys are pretty harsh. Cut the guy a little slack on the design.

Because I can design better sites possibly even being an amateur or whatever you call me (I don't really care), anyway it's all part of criticism, a good piece of criticism pokes at every flaw till perfection, if you don't like harsh comments then you can never make great improvements. It's a fact, unless of course you are telling me that all my comments are not valid of course, which I assume isn't the case.

And he doesn't have to defend his choice, I never meant it that way, I was just inquisitive.

[yell0wdart]

Because I can design better sites possibly even being an amateur or whatever you call me (I don't really care)

I called you an amateur because you've revealed that you're only 14 years old and are not doing professional work. That, by definition, would make you an amateur. Also, with that said, I'd be willing to bet that you've had limited formal training in regard to artistic criticism.

I'm sure you think you can do better, but that's not constructive at all. You're just saying the OP's work sucks because you dislike the site's aesthetic. There are two things that are very wrong with that assumption:

1) It's extremely subjective. Because you don't like the aesthetic style, you say you can do better. That's great, but I haven't seen any proof of such claim, especially under the same constraints. THAT is part of doing professional work. You do the best job you can with the hand you're dealt, whether that hand proves to be advantageous or not.

2) The OP already stated he had absolutely zero control over the aesthetic of the site. So you're slamming him for something he can't control. That fact alone shows me that you're being critical for the sake of being critical. How is that going to help him in any way? How do you propose he make the site better without changing something he has no control over?

anyway it's all part of criticism, a good piece of criticism pokes at every flaw till perfection, if you don't like harsh comments then you can never make great improvements.

Good criticism doesn't just expose flaws. Good criticism also exposes strengths so that the recipient of said good criticism may also learn what he or she is doing right in addition to what they are doing wrong. Harsh comments are fine, but again, yours were directed at something the OP had no control over. It's like making fun of a short kid, just for being short.

Artistic criticism can be a double-edged sword at times. If you create something, everybody's got their own opinion to it. That's fine, they're more than entitled to form their own opinions. We need to remember one very important thing when offering good/constructive criticism to our peers: Criticism is not just pointing out what is wrong with the piece in question. Criticism is about showing the piece's creator the bigger picture.

They're asking us for criticism because they're wanting a fresh pair of eyes to help them see the piece's, strengths, weaknesses, what the creator can do to improve it, and what the creator has done well, so they can expand upon those good ideas.

[kkbbcute]

Geez, relax, I commented on his design before he revealed to us that he had no control over his design, so relax dude. I did not know at the time of my first post in this thread that he had no control over the design, as he only told me that after I had made my post, so you cannot blame me for being harsh in his design. Anyway harsh criticism is like intense pressure. It helps some improve but others just break down under it, so its all personal. Anyway I don't think the guy felt hurt by my reply or anything from the tone of his reply, so can we stop this argument?

Anyway fine, ignoring the design, the site is pretty okay.

[yell0wdart]

Geez, relax, I commented on his design before he revealed to us that he had no control over his design, so relax dude. I did not know at the time of my first post in this thread that he had no control over the design, as he only told me that after I had made my post, so you cannot blame me for being harsh in his design. Anyway harsh criticism is like intense pressure. It helps some improve but others just break down under it, so its all personal. Anyway I don't think the guy felt hurt by my reply or anything from the tone of his reply, so can we stop this argument?

No need to be defensive. I was simply criticizing your criticism. For somebody who makes such claims, and goes out of his way to call that sort of attention to himself, you're not taking your own medicine very graciously. I simply aim to help the "extreme critic" be more efficient at his job. ;)


Anyway fine, ignoring the design, the site is pretty okay.

Fair enough. :)

[kkbbcute]

@yell0wdart: Haha, fine, though you do have to admit that the hand drawn feel can be improved upon, if you check out magazines like Advanced Photoshop, you'll have a rough idea of what good illustration is. His hand drawn feel needs to be more detailed and colorful so that they spring to life. Try adding different colors to your illustration using differentt blend modes if your illustration was done in something like illustrator/photoshop, otherwise I recommend doing so.

Having said that, since your client loves the hand drawn feel as it is, changing it would make little difference anyway, always strive to please the client.

Side Note for yell0wdart: Quoted from Wiki "A critic might usefully help an individual artist to recognize what is poor or slapdash in their body of work, but the critic may appear harsh and judgmental in the process." So there, point proven,

but that's not constructive at all. You're just saying the OP's work sucks because you dislike the site's aesthetic

That's so untrue. Who says I only insulted his design, I gave him tips as well (add tooltips), and explained to him why (too much text all over is distractive/clunky). So THERE yell0wdart, I rest my case. And I also gave him the bigger picture, by telling him that a graphic designer should logically need a well designed site to look the part, and therefore for him a well designed site has a extreme level of importance, in fact thats the only reason why I was concentrating on his design in my criticism, point proven again.

And
I'd be willing to bet that you've had limited formal training in regard to artistic criticism

You'd be suprised;)

[yell0wdart]

@yell0wdart: Haha, fine, though you do have to admit that the hand drawn feel can be improved upon, if you check out magazines like Advanced Photoshop, you'll have a rough idea of what good illustration is. His hand drawn feel needs to be more detailed and colorful so that they spring to life. Try adding different colors to your illustration using differentt blend modes if your illustration was done in something like illustrator/photoshop, otherwise I recommend doing so.

Having said that, since your client loves the hand drawn feel as it is, changing it would make little difference anyway, always strive to please the client.

I won't argue that. The design wasn't the best collage-style layout I've seen. I've done much better work in that particular style myself, but the OP has no control over the skill of the artist. So we can't really offer him any useful input on the site's aesthetic.


Side Note for yell0wdart: Quoted from Wiki "A critic might usefully help an individual artist to recognize what is poor or slapdash in their body of work, but the critic may appear harsh and judgmental in the process." So there, point proven,

Point proven how? I see nothing in there regarding good criticism.


That's so untrue. Who says I only insulted his design, I gave him tips as well (add tooltips), and explained to him why (too much text all over is distractive/clunky). So THERE yell0wdart, I rest my case. And I also gave him the bigger picture, by telling him that a graphic designer should logically need a well designed site to look the part, and therefore for him a well designed site has a extreme level of importance, in fact thats the only reason why I was concentrating on his design in my criticism, point proven again.

Are we looking at the same site? It's a fairly simplistic layout. I don't see "too much text all over", and I tend to disagree regarding the links on the left. They could be bigger so they're easy to read, but from a usability perspective, most people inherently know how to use an accordion menu without having to think about how to use it. The tooltips were a good idea though.

I'd also argue that your points are invalidated by your constant use of "so there". :p

[kkbbcute]

Are we looking at the same site? It's a fairly simplistic layout. I don't see "too much text all over", and I tend to disagree regarding the links on the left. They could be bigger so they're easy to read, but from a usability perspective, most people inherently know how to use an accordion menu without having to think about how to use it. The tooltips were a good idea though.

But you just said that ideas on design is very subjective, so you are being unfair by saying that my criticism is flawed because yours too might be. Reverse ideology states that if something is subjective, neither of us is right, and the Kantian Categorical Imperative (One of the main schools of logic/philosophy) states that we cannot jump to conclusions or your argument will be fallacious, making it invalid.:p

Also, you are committing an informal logical fallacy known as poisoning the well
I'm sure you think you can do better, but that's not constructive at all.
So I'm to assume that what you said (quoted below) is really constructive?I've done much better work in that particular style myself,

Be more consistent with your arguments please.

Point proven how? I see nothing in there regarding good criticism

You complained that my criticism was harsh and subjective (heavily judgmental), and note that I helped him recognize what I thought was poor about his site, based on the quote which says "A critic might usefully help an individual artist to recognize what is poor or slapdash in their body of work, but the critic may appear harsh and judgmental in the process." I have fulfilled all the requirements for a proper piece of criticism as defined by Wiki and in turn many qualified sources over the web.

Lastly, "So there" does not invalidate an argument.;) So THERE.

And you just agreed that the tooltips was a good idea so I don't see why you are complaining in the first place. Secondly, keep the argument on topic, don't drift off and wedge the poor thread starter between us.

[yell0wdart]

But you just said that ideas on design is very subjective, so you are being unfair by saying that my criticism is flawed because yours too might be. Reverse ideology states that if something is subjective, neither of us is right, and the Kantian Categorical Imperative (One of the main schools of logic/philosophy) states that we cannot jump to conclusions or your argument will be fallacious, making it invalid.

My comment wasn't directed at design, though. If you'd re-read the comment you quoted it should be fairly clear that my comment was directed toward best practices in usability, not aesthetics. Two completely different things. The only comment I made that can possibly be construed as aesthetic in nature would be my remark about the font size... and dammit, that's just common sense. :)


Also, you are committing an informal logical fallacy known as poisoning the well
So I'm to assume that what you said (quoted below) is really constructive?
Be more consistent with your arguments please.

It only works in your favor by taking what I said out of context. :)

You left out this entire part:

... , but the OP has no control over the skill of the artist. So we can't really offer him any useful input on the site's aesthetic.



You complained that my criticism was harsh and subjective (heavily judgmental), and note that I helped him recognize what I thought was poor about his site, based on the quote which says "A critic might usefully help an individual artist to recognize what is poor or slapdash in their body of work, but the critic may appear harsh and judgmental in the process." I have fulfilled all the requirements for a proper piece of criticism as defined by Wiki and in turn many qualified sources over the web.

Fair enough, but what Wikipedia defines as criticism it doesn't necessarily define as good criticism. The interwebs don't teach much about critiquing effectively. I hadn't learned to offer it very well until I got into upper level university art courses.


Lastly, "So there" does not invalidate an argument.;) So THERE.

And you just agreed that the tooltips was a good idea so I don't see why you are complaining in the first place. Secondly, keep the argument on topic, don't drift off and wedge the poor thread starter between us.

Honestly, that's the first good point I think you've made. LOL.

I think it may have been your delivery... the whining about the site's aesthetics overshadowed your single line of good advice the first time I read it through (causing my comments on the harshness of your initial reaction). :p

[kkbbcute]

But if I didn't whine about the design, you people would just ask me why don't just keep with the current design and all since its fine. Using my "whining", I emphasized that there was a better solution and that was to used tooltips. Without that so called whining, my suggestion would never have had as much impact.

[yell0wdart]

LOL, sure. If you didn't whine, we wouldn't be having this conversation. :)

[kkbbcute]

LOL, sure. If you didn't whine, we wouldn't be having this conversation. :)

Which isn't really particularly useful to the thread starter anyway.
*random conversation closed*

[yell0wdart]

Which isn't really particularly useful to the thread starter anyway.
*random conversation closed*

That's the spirit! Now go offer criticism that's more helpful than insulting! :)

[nakedkafka]

I think it's a very usefull conversation, here or elsewhere. Continue.

[kkbbcute]

I think it's a very usefull conversation, here or elsewhere. Continue.

Errr... why is it helpful again?
Anyway, any updates on your site that we can take a look at, maybe a nice new feature or something?

And yell0wdart, the criticism was insulting and helpful at the same time, its unique.;)