My Website

[jwmdesign]

What does everyone think?

This is the first site I have "ever" designed, so some advice/constructive criticism would be very welcome.

www.jwmdesign.org.uk

Many thanks
James

[lolly]

Welcome James,

Good points are.....

You have a certain style, using grunge style text is very modern by you haven't overdone it by filling the background with it, so you get a nice clean finished effect.

I like the change in colours on certain pages it separates the different sections.

The main nav is great for me, it's clear, along the top and takes you to the sections you want. The internal nav can be a bit confusing, I was enjoying your logo work then when I came to last one I wasn't really sure what to click to go next?

For your first site it's good, but it's what I call a designers site, now you've got to learn a little bit from the web developers handbook on useability and Search Engine Optimization to really make an impact.

Read some articles on CSS and start by trying to build text based content in. The page really needs to be centred and there's no reason why you can't fill the page, use the space well.

Also look into various interactive portfolio options.....

Great work, bad portfolio.....

Graphic Design Portfolio / Branding / Logo Design / Nottingham

Way too much scrolling.

Flash Portfolio...

Nate Smith :: Graphic Design Portfolio

Nice for users not so great for search engines (although not completely)

Lightbox style....

www.fergalkeane.com - graphic design portfolio for fergal keane - ireland

Great for users, can be all localized on one page and good for search engines.

An alternative to lightbox.....

Web Design Portfolio UK

As above.

Using sliced images....

Graphic Design Portfolio

Slow, not in much order and poor for search engines.

All have pros and cons, pick what's good for you and have a play.

Good luck with the site, hope this helps.

[DownFallX]

And your roll over is messed up when you rollover the Portfolio it goes from a Cap "P" to a small "P" yet the "A" in abount is always small...

[tommylogic]

Not bad for a Dreamweaver Template.. and your first time.

Here's what I'd start working on immediately:

• You'll want to give your <div>'s meaningful names.
• Make the "about me", "portfolio" images into styled text, images are difficult for search engines.
• Also, I would also turn div #Layer4 images into meaningful text as opposed to images.
• It looks like your about 75% done with the comp rev.1

Keep working on it.

[zumojuice]

It's nice and clean and a great first side. I'd change those about me/buttons as they just look a bit big are cartoony.

I note Lolly calls this a designers website. Fact is, there are very few sites out there that work on both a design/code level, unless they have been touched by both. It seems strange but web designers are often on the one side of that fence or the other. There is apparently a fair lack of people who can both create great design and code it. Some exist but they are a rare breed...