New Design

mtheory · #1 (**permalink**) 01-06-2008, 05:23 PM

I just finished a redesign of Web Site Design and Development - MTheory - Branford, CT

Critiques welcome.

davebarnes · #2 (**permalink**) 01-07-2008, 11:10 AM

Mark,

1. It is visually stunning.

2. Horrible for SEO.

3. I don't care for Flash-only websites as I find the navigation to be painful and hate the "loading xx%" messages.

ran_dizolph · #3 (**permalink**) 01-07-2008, 11:29 AM

I was waiting for Dave to kick off the Flash-bashery.

If you insist on building a site in Flash, you should provide an plain-text/HTML equivalent. I've seen some of your other posts, and I know you're ready to do battle in the name of Flash, but seriously, you cannot argue the Search Engine issues created with using strictly Flash. There is NOTHING there for SE's to index.

With this site, I don't even really see the huge benefit of using flash. The interactivity isn't much more than you could get building it without, minus the little page animation when it loads up. It just bulks up load times.

It's nice that you're looking at the big picture, and there's no doubt that flash will become more and more accessible down the line, but you also have to look at NOW.

mightyword · #4 (**permalink**) 01-07-2008, 07:59 PM

theres a spelling mistake ..."recently finished" on the right hand side. nice looking, good luck getting it seen

mtheory · #5 (**permalink**) 01-07-2008, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ran_dizolph

I was waiting for Dave to kick off the Flash-bashery.

If you insist on building a site in Flash, you should provide an plain-text/HTML equivalent. I've seen some of your other posts, and I know you're ready to do battle in the name of Flash, but seriously, you cannot argue the Search Engine issues created with using strictly Flash. There is NOTHING there for SE's to index.

With this site, I don't even really see the huge benefit of using flash. The interactivity isn't much more than you could get building it without, minus the little page animation when it loads up. It just bulks up load times.

It's nice that you're looking at the big picture, and there's no doubt that flash will become more and more accessible down the line, but you also have to look at NOW.

Thanks for the input. So, for rethinking the use of Flash, could you site an example of a site with similar visual aesthetics and experience not done in Flash?

ran_dizolph · #6 (**permalink**) 01-08-2008, 09:17 AM

Hey mtheory,

although I don't have one site in particular for you to reference, if you check out css remix and css mania, there are gobs of good examples of tactful use of graphical elements in site designs, most of which don't use flash, and those that do just use bits of it here and there.

I hope this is of some use.

craigmn3 · #7 (**permalink**) 01-08-2008, 05:19 PM

Nice Look, Confusing as hell...what am I looking at. where is the answer to my question "How much am I gonna pay"

a classic case of doing too good of a job selling the sizzle, where's the darn steak ;o)

mtheory · #8 (**permalink**) 01-08-2008, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craigmn3

Nice Look, Confusing as hell...what am I looking at. where is the answer to my question "How much am I gonna pay"

a classic case of doing too good of a job selling the sizzle, where's the darn steak ;o)

Great point. I've gotten complacent with referred clients where cost isn't the biggest factor.

I am wary though, to put prices because some potential clients will get sticker shock before I have the opportunity to speak to them first hand(the steak).

I also don't want to put any kind of minimum "Teaser Price" that I would probably never charge for 99% of the projects I take on.

There is also and air of confidence associated with "If you have to ask you probably can't afford it".

Toni Anicic · #9 (**permalink**) 01-08-2008, 09:00 PM

Nothing that couldn't be done in plain html, css and some ajax... I don't see the point in doing a flash site in this case.

mtheory · #10 (**permalink**) 01-08-2008, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toni Anicic

Nothing that couldn't be done in plain html, css and some ajax... I don't see the point in doing a flash site in this case.

OK, then I'll ask you the same question I asked ran_dizolph

Thanks for the input. So, for rethinking the use of Flash, could you site an example of a site with similar visual aesthetics and experience not done in Flash?

Toni Anicic · #11 (**permalink**) 01-08-2008, 11:51 PM

nop, haven't seen any, all I say is that it can be done w/o flash, no mather I haven't seen any of them looking like this (who the hell creates html/css websites with design like that)

tomlom · #12 (**permalink**) 01-14-2008, 03:41 PM

The row of boxes at the bottom (for changing backgrounds?) seem to work for me only part of the time. Refreshing the page helps somewhat, but not completely.