Hi Guys,

 

I will kill two birds with one stone and throw a little introduction in here. I have been using this forum as a resource of information for the past few weeks and have found it invaluable, so thank you all!

 

I am in the first year of a degree in Business Management with the aim of running my own (or someone else's) businesses in the future. I am an all rounder but see the internet (web sites- e-commerce, blogs etc) as an especially interesting area of business. I am hopeing to gain enough experience/knowledge during this semester to perhaps attempt some basic web design work over the summer for local businesses to start a portfolio.

 

The latest version of my site is at: http://theatre.peterbooker.co.uk

 

I would like honest feedback (I am not easy to offend) but please remember that I only started web design 8 weeks ago, so keep it simple, hehe!

 

Known issues:

 

W3C Validation Errors: Nearly all are from my initial lack of understanding the difference between "id" and "class". Some from my lack of knowledge of javascript so using javascript tags to populate a dropdown list instead of having the original script edit the html.

 

IE6 problem: One known error on booknow1.php where the labels and text boxes of a form dont line up.

 

Large images: I have not yet been through all the images I use and made smaller versions when using thumbnails, so some small images take a while to load.

 

Random clock: The random clock on the top header was a result of my toying around and testing if javascript works when it is part of a PHP include file. It might be moved in the hope of gaining an extra mark or it might just be removed. It does not really serve a purpose.

 

Same title for every page: Recently adding all fixed content to php include files has an unexpected result of making the title the same for every page!

 

Issues in my Opinion:

 

Lower header is redundant: I am thinking about turning the second header into a method of delivering quick one glance information e.g. Now Showing, Next Showing, but am open to suggestions (even for removal).

 

Lack of white space: On certain pages my design appears 'cluttered' to me. Either that or the design does not draw attention to the right areas (headings, content, etc).

 

Notes:

 

PHP is only used to keep all the fixed content of each page to 1 file, so updating is less hastle (im lazy!). Also why the title is currently the same for every single page, oops!

 

None of the forms do anything, I am just starting to learn PHP and MySQL and am hopeing to put some functionality in soon (e.g. Newsletter Signup, Booking forms that hold the Show/Date/Time selection, etc).

 

Lightbox 2 is used all over the shop, I am new at web design and easily wow'd!!

 

I used Expression Web 2 to make the website, but I have personally typed all the code by hand (although I do have two javascript files that I found on the web).

 

I have checked my website and it appears to display perfectly in FF3, IE7, IE8 and Safari, but if you notice any errors please let me know!

It looks alright to me, I can't believe you've only been doing it for eight weeks. Does javascript work when included as php? I really would like to know.

 

You now know that id is unique and class general and I think that is all there is to it, except it's harder to get at a class with javascript.

 

Good site, I can't give advice about design because my idea of pleasing is different to most people.

Hi - great job for your first site !!!!

 

For me the site is clean and uses spacing nicely but doesnt really stand out much from the crowd. I'm thinking the header font could be changed to something a little more theatrical or something and perhaps a little something else in the image below?

 

Well done tho

 

Edit: watch your grammar .... reviews not review's

Thank you both for the feedback.

 

arith:

 

Me neither, its been quite a learning curve! JavaScript does work when it is included from a PHP include command file. Which was a relief! I hadn't thought about the difficulty of accessing classes with javascript, theres a never ending list of challenges with webdesign, part of the lure I guess!

 

Guezala:

 

I feel the same way in relation to my site not standing out much, I will see what I can drum up logo/graphically at the top of the page to make it more theatre themed. Thank you for the grammar correction, that is going to be an issue I think, not my strong point!

 

 

I have started to think a certain level of proficiency with a graphics program (photoshop/expression design/gimp) is needed in web design, is this something everyone learns as they go?

Yes.... my first site was just blocks of coloured headings....

 

GIMP is a good free option... have a look at the blog in my signature Has links to downloads and great tutorials

Seems like you are doing well with your mac only webdesign! I just had a quick look at your blog and I love that the colour blend background moves with you as you scroll up and down, simple but effective!

 

I had a quick look at gimp and the tutorials. It looks great and is free so ive downloaded it and will get myself started soon.

will be better looks if u change left menu