Hi Guys,

 

I am designing a site for myself that relates to finding karting events and people to share experiences with in the UK.

 

http://www.kartingdays.co.uk/test2.php

 

No content just yet - but would really appreciate feedback on how the design strikes you? What impression you get and what message the design is giving you?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Look forward to your comments!

 

Paul.

 

ps. Any browser problems? I have used all CSS and XHTML. Anyone able to test in IE. 6 for me? I'm particularly wondering if the nav buttons display correctly also.

I think this layout has a lot going for it, but I'd also suggest one or two changes.

First off, I think it might be a bit too dark. I like the black, but I think it needs a little contrast or an injection of colour to balance it out a bit.

Also, the images are a little dark on my system - this could be partly be because the background is so dark.

As far as checking your layout in IE 6,7 8etc, I use a handy tool called netrenderer. It takes a screenshot of your site in your chosen version of IE. It's not as good as getting a copy of the browser itself, but it's good to see if your layout is ok. Unfortunately, your layout breaks in IE6...

Good to see valid code though.

Like I said, a few changes may go a long way on this layout, and it has much potential.

Thanks very much for your time and comments. I will take a look at the contrast for the site, and also Ie. 6. I was worried about that!

 

Look forward to other comments!

 

Paul.

It looks like i have very bad logo drop in IE. 6 (Damn I wish people would get with it!).

 

All other browsers display just fine. Anyone got any ideas how I can fix this? I will post the code in the help section just as soon as I can find it. I know IE.6 is a pain in the ----. I can actually get the logo without the drop - but there is a 3 pixel gap between the positioned divs in the header then...

 

Paul.

Bro I don't like the Green tone used for the navigation and titles of panels..

And I can't see any sort of errors in IE6..

Yeah, Iv'e just fixed it for IE 6 after 2 days trying - so its okay across the board now...

 

What colour do you reckon?

 

What about the general design other than that?

 

Paul.

Yeah, Iv'e just fixed it for IE 6 after 2 days trying - so its okay across the board now...

 

What colour do you reckon?

 

What about the general design other than that?

 

Paul.

Nice, nice, nice. Very cyber and modern.

 

Only comment from me, and I'll qualify this first is I have a real thing about gratuitous use of rounded corners - not aht you've done that. But though the one at the top works really well for me and is comepltely 'right'. the rounded corbers on the footer somehow seem not so 'right'.

 

Likely they blend nicely with the graphic on left in banner but miss that in the footer.

 

good luck

Only comment from me, and I'll qualify this first is I have a real thing about gratuitous use of rounded corners

And I thought I was alone!!! Rounded corners are to the net what pointless key changes are to music - Evil!

 

So, I salute your aesthetic measure, sir, and feel honored to sign off with your personal avatar/ smiley

Why thank-you kind sir's. I have not heard much of the discussion around the measure of rounded corners appearing on the web. I presume it just gives a change in some areas to what has been the norm with less control before css?

 

Is there anything I could read up on this - or is it just a personal dislike by some web designers?

 

Thanks for the comments on the site. I hope its going to be a great success.

 

Paul.

Is there anything I could read up on this - or is it just a personal dislike by some web designers?

 

Paul.

 

Its like every aspect of design, just a personal choice. The reason, I suspect, is that nearly every site has them now and it can feel a little cliche.

For the record, I don't mind them

And I thought I was alone!!! Rounded corners are to the net what pointless key changes are to music - Evil!

 

So, I salute your aesthetic measure, sir, and feel honored to sign off with your personal avatar/ smiley

 

your not alone mr banksy.

 

by the way i was smashed in the pub smoking garden late last night, as the manager (yes the manager) proceeded to graffiti art the side wall of the pub garden and out back by the bins.

 

lady headcoat drunk as me if not more so, proceeded to tell the next chap who came out about it - he was the restaurant manager (me not too drunk to recognise him it's a pub/food place as they all are these days), he said yep that's my manager and proceeded to tell us about the time he was chased across building in new york with the real banksy. wouldn't believe him but it's a bit of a boho hangout and in fact given it's nature very likely.

 

your welcome to use the avatar.

 

rounded corners are just being overused, oft badly and oft to hide / disguise a mess. not always may i add.

 

but have to say they work at the top of the karting site.

 

have a spiffing w/e

 

toodle pip

 

Rounded corners, eh;) - I have to admit I didn't mind them at all until I started to see them on every site. For many sites I think rounded corners are used for no reason (except imitation & lack of original ideas), and that's when I fall out with them. To go back to my musical analogy, there are some songwriters who know how to use a key change, and it can sound amazing.

Unfortunately, you usually hear one for the last chorus of every song on the radio these days.

Lazy!

 

I think the corners work well on the design in question, however.

If you are on Windows you can use this to check your site in all versions of IE: http://tredosoft.com/Multiple_IE

 

As for the design, I agree about the unnecessary rounded corners at the bottom, and I have to ask you to de-bevel your site a little bit. Gradients are fine but I think you have overused the 3D look. I would leave it on the nav and change it everywhere else!

 

The image at the top and in the logoey-thing look quite dark, but otherwise I really like the design, I like the use of black red and green And the text is not at all hard to read as it can be on dark sites - the grey is perfect.

 

BTW you missed the L from Lorem Ipsum when you copied your text which makes it look like some of the text has disappeared, I looked at the source and found it wasn't, but then I found that your text isn't properly contained in an element!

If you are on Windows you can use this to check your site in all versions of IE: http://tredosoft.com/Multiple_IE

 

As for the design, I agree about the unnecessary rounded corners at the bottom, and I have to ask you to de-bevel your site a little bit. Gradients are fine but I think you have overused the 3D look. I would leave it on the nav and change it everywhere else!

 

The image at the top and in the logoey-thing look quite dark, but otherwise I really like the design, I like the use of black red and green And the text is not at all hard to read as it can be on dark sites - the grey is perfect.

 

BTW you missed the L from Lorem Ipsum when you copied your text which makes it look like some of the text has disappeared, I looked at the source and found it wasn't, but then I found that your text isn't properly contained in an element!

 

Thanks for the comments.

 

Too much bevel in the grey titles you think?

 

I know i missed the L. It was just a copy and past job to put some text in and test the content didnt break...

 

The logo is quite dark - but it looks terrible lighter, as does the banner. Just doesn't give the same effect...

 

Also, a fading background colour doesn't seem to look right either. Whenever it try a 999999 to black fade on the background - again - it doesn't look right and I go back to the darker carbon fiber look.

 

Think I may change the footer because I probably need to put more information in it also.

 

Thanks for all your great feedback.

 

Paul.

website layout is very good, i think you can use red color font(on link and heading). so it looks great.