Hi!

Can you please give me your comments and/suggestions on my [B]layout[/B] of my website. Currently there is no content up, only placeholders. This is an educational website.

Thankyou for your time.

www.users.bigpond.com/zyusuf

EDIT:

The website is no longer located on:

www.users.bigpond.com/zyusuf

But now is at:

www.metrofest.com.au/pomo/

If you could still give me your thoughts i would much appreciate it!

Hum... mixed feelings.

Internet Explorer version:

If we're just talking about the *layout* then I like it. It looks good, and if you didn't use a template, then you did a good job. The only thing I might think is that it's a bit lacking in way of space for content, but since all that was available is the front page it's hard to tell.

Firefox/Mozilla version:

The layout is alright I suppose, but not great. A lot of the images do not line up correctly with the text making the page look unfinished and just not right. You'll want to spend some time looking at your CSS to make sure it's standards compliant.

--

However, I have one suggestions: dump Flash. Unless you _really_ need it, I'd just dump it. More and more people are browsing with Flash shut off to avoid Flash ads. By requiring users to have Flash on it makes your site much less accessible.

Don't use a "splash screen", just go to your site. If you do go ahead and have a splash screen, don't use Flash, or if you really do want to use Flash on the splash screen you shouldn't have, give users a way to get to your site if they do not have Flash enabled or installed. Basic moral of the story is: never make a 3rd party plugin required to view the site. Plugin detection scripts are easy to write or can be found for free all over the web. Grab one so that if the visitor doesn't have Flash enabled you can display a static image instead.

Also, expecting users to use a resolution of 1024x768 is still a little much. Playing music automatically is always (in my opinion) a bad idea. You can leave it there, but I'd have it default to turned off.

Just some suggestions.

As was mentioned, I hate splash screens. Get rid of it.

Secondly...it looks like you're just using some pre-made template. What's there to comment on? It looks exactly like...a pre-made template.

Thanks for your comments.

However, I didnt really explain what this was for. I am currently in my final year of high school in Sydney, Australia. One of the subjects that I do is: English Extension 2 (The highest level of english you can do at high school).

If you do English Ext. 2, you must submit a major work, the text type for my major work is a Website. It is a STRICT REQUIREMENT outlined by the board of studies (the body who marks the major work) that there should be a splash screen displaying your student number and center number. So bryan, I dont really have a choice!

Secondly, Since this work will not be viewed by anyone but the markers, the Board of Studies states that we are able to specify to the markers what screen resolution that the website should be viewed on. Additionally, we can provide any plug-ins on the CD that we submit to ensure our sites look the best as possible. We also specifiy what operating system and browser version to use. Having said that, my requirements will be a Windows 98 Computer (min) using Internet Explorer 5 (min) with a screen resolution of 1024 x 768.

Thirdly, i did NOT use a template! Do you think that the markers will think that I did, if so Ill have to change it! But no, it is made entirely by me using Photoshop and Flash. I have all the source files!

Also, I was planning to change the music to defaultly off, just havnt got around to doing it as of yet!

Thanks for your replies so far! If you have any other comments, okease post!

Zeeshan...

Yes, doing it for a project/assignment definitely changes things. If they want you to have a splash screen, then you had better put it in! =)

I thought it looked like a template just by the general look/feel, and by some of the text, links, etc. that were in there. As you say it's not, it looks REALLY good. You did a very nice job on the layout.

As you say it's not, it looks REALLY good. You did a very nice job on the layout.

Agreed. It looks very professional (even if you do have that Flash splash screen ;)

Nice.