www.gloucester-ridge.com.au Winery & Cafe Restaurant

masterpeace · #1 (**permalink**) 11-08-2003, 02:04 AM

Hi all,

I have just about finished this site I have been re-designing for client. I was meant to just do a "clean up" of their old site, but I am doing some other graphic design work for them as weel (brochure etc) and the old site was... well old...

In the past I used the old familiar tables etc for layout & design and I decided to use this site as a learning exercise for CSS & HTML validity (I keep saying WebProWorld has challenged me to learn and here is the proof!). I am pleased to say the site is table free, and is valid HMTL & CCS2 and still functions (albeit without some of the finer trimmings) in Netscape 4.

All that said, in my nrrow minded focus on valid code, have I missed anything else? (It wouldn't surprise me...)

The only other thing I didn't like too much was having to move the "home" text link of the main navigation to the top left corner. I did this a few days ago becuase the client asked me to add another page. If I had kept it in the nav bar it would have blown the total page width out of a 800 x 600 screen and I didn't want that, so instead I added it into the top left as well as the links at the bottom of each page...

matauri · #2 (**permalink**) 11-08-2003, 02:36 AM

Good show! I'm in process of trying the same at moment, thanks to some wise words of wisdom from WPW pros.

The only one thing that I would suggest, is maybe make the font size a bit bigger. I know it is condusive to the 800x600, but to the higher res. it is a little small. I think the 800x600 users now know that sites are gearing more to the higher res. screens, so they accept that things wont look as sharp on their resolution.

Mental note>>> cross that one off my list of wineries to canvas! Got any more up your sleeve I should know about? :-)

Cindy

masterpeace · #3 (**permalink**) 11-08-2003, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matauri

Mental note>>> cross that one off my list of wineries to canvas! Got any more up your sleeve I should know about? :-)

You mean you get time to canvas people? ;)
Seriously, I always seem to keep busy, but I never seem to do any marketing. I don't have that enough of a competetive "sell myself" attitude. But I do tend to find my clients are loyal and I have a pretty big client base here in Pemberton. I gotta admit I get a cranky when "city" firms come and try take away my clients...:(

On the text size... I must think about that. I have just bought a bigger screen, and the text is the same size as the WPW cotent for me in Mozilla and IE 6, but in Netscape 4 the text size did seem unreasonably small. I set it in pixels because I thought that would be more standard, but maybe I should have used points... I know I don't like "chunky" text, but what I like and what the site visitors want may be two different things...

matauri · #4 (**permalink**) 11-08-2003, 05:47 AM

That was fun...got logged out of WPW in middle of post. (Wen's ghosts must have got into system) ;-)

I haven't had a look at your script, but I find that size 2 or 10pt is a pretty safe size. Especially if you have a site that will be frequented by the more mature eyes.

No, no time to canvas as yet, it's in the pipeline. At moment I have a small clientel that suits me fine while I learn new techniques. But they in time will have run their course, so I decided to hit the wineries (there's so many of them!) I'm currently working on Newbliss winery in Dwellingup.

Know what you mean about 'city' firms! Try living in Mandurah! So I try not to step on the locals toes if I can. Gotta stick together ;-)

Did you ever hear about the Dept of Arts & Culture here commissioning their site to a Japanese company & paid $4million for it? Now that was a real slap in the face for Oz designers. It also wasn't that fantastic either.

Cindy

rocky1 · #5 (**permalink**) 11-08-2003, 12:22 PM

Beautifully done Masterpiece, I loved the combination of grape colors used.

Pictures were just a tiny bit slow loading on dial up, but I wouldn't change them. Their clarity is worth the brief wait, once the header loads, and there's sufficient text on each page to keep one occupied while they load.

Found following Typos you might want to correct

On the "The Wines" page -

*First line - 2003 UNWOODED CHARDONNAY ~~ "tropical ruits "
*Last line 2002 PINOT NOIR - conbining dark berry
*Middle line - 2000 CABERNET MERLOT - finishes smotth and lingers
*Middle line - 2000 SHIRAZ - palatehighlighting

"History" Page Last paragraph on page - "Insert pic of first vintage." (Appears a directive or mental note, not a part of the text.)

"The Team" page - First line Gloucester Ridge Chief -"extensively oveseas and"

If any of this is Aussie spelling and correct, please forgive me, my Aussie is a bit weak! }:~)

Unless you've already made changes to the text size, I'd tell Cindy to get out her bi-focals, it appears it is size 2 text to me! - LOL - But, you more than likely made those changes already.

Checked it in Opera and Mozilla as well, (my Netscape is giving me grief at the moment!) and everything works beautifully in those browsers also.

Very nicely done.

Rocky

janeth · #6 (**permalink**) 11-08-2003, 12:36 PM

Hi masterpeace,
I have to say I think Rocky is the best at site reviews.

The site looks great to me, I'm a little jealous that you and Matauri get to live in such a beautiful country.
The site looks great I could not find anything I would change.
I would like to get one of those $4million sites Matauri was talking about. One of those and I would take a day off.

masterpeace · #7 (**permalink**) 11-08-2003, 11:48 PM

Thanks guys & gals,

Esp thanks to Rocky for those typos.

I only just got "the wines" text yesterday and it was so late I have to admit I was slack and decided the proofing could wait til today.

I normally try not to work on weekends but this time of year always seems to get busy so here I am on a Sunday... Oh well, at least I have the forum for some light relief!

rocky1 · #8 (**permalink**) 11-09-2003, 02:38 AM

You're very much welcome!

I assumed you hadn't gotten to it yet, but it was such an interesting site that I simply had to read it all. Figured I might as well write them down and save you that spot of trouble.

Rocky

AJCF88 · #9 (**permalink**) 11-09-2003, 05:47 AM

If you appreciate the "wow" factor. I say wow.

If you were trying to achieve a crisp vintage design...(pun intended) you nailed it and considering the subject matter it fits very well. Fast loading, nice accents in both text and images. Easy to read with the color scheme. The graphics view crystal clear on my screen.

I don't have the advantage of seeing before the changes but the result shows very well.

yulrika · #10 (**permalink**) 11-09-2003, 06:30 AM

Hey!

Excellent choice in pictures and colors. I loved every bit of your site. The clarity of the pictures used is amazing. I don’t have any suggestions to make. Just wanted to congratulate you on a site well done.
Cheers!!
.
.
y
http://www.totalconceptsllc.com

Nargule · #11 (**permalink**) 11-09-2003, 07:57 AM

Beautiful site! I can't think of any changes to suggest.

I see what you mean about the "Home" link being way off in upper-left field; it does look kind of out of place. I was going to suggest you make the title graphic a link to the home page, but I see that is something you have done already.

Once again - good job!

masterpeace · #12 (**permalink**) 11-11-2003, 09:54 PM

Thanks eeryone for the reviews.
It is nice to have had such positive feedback!

After AJCF88 comment about not seeing the old site to compare the changes I loaded up the old home page and the old "History" page for the curious.
http://www.gloucester-ridge.com.au/o...eset/index.htm
It wasn't "bad" as such, but it was old, and it didn't reflect the classy boutique atmosphere of the place as well as it could IMO...

I have to sadly say though that the site will not remain completely table free as I still have to put in a form and I am not prepared to beat my head against a wall working out how to do that without tables...