Could use some lay-out suggestions - Webmaster Forums - Webmaster forum for HTML, PHP, ASP, CSS and more

ecaria · 06-19-2006, 06:20 PM

Would like your feedback on the basic site design/look/feel.

http://galesgifts.windhavenweb.com

Could use some lay-out suggestions --not so much or the front page, which I'm satisfied with (though suggestions here are welcome too) but for secondary pages I would like to add.

Basically, I am attempting to sell artwork through CafePress--and this is my "outside of cafepress" front page. Right now the main images link directly to the CafePress stores. I would like to have an "in-between" page with a larger version of the artwork, and some selection of the products visiable. I'd like it to give the idea that here are some of the things you can get with this design--but not that those are the ONLY things they can get. I want it to be clear that there's more. I haven't yet come up with a design that wasn't cluttered or awkward looking and I would really appreciate any ideas you might have.

Or, do you think secondary pages aren't necessary--that they would just be one more click people would have to make before being able to buy? My main concern is that its hard to see the detail of the artowrk without having a larger picture that people can view.

Right now, I just know basic HTML. I don't know how to do scripts or CSS or flash or anything like that. (And my HTML is a combination of self-taught and friend taught--haven't ever taken classes). But if you point me to a page and say "something like this would look good" I can often figure it out.

warlock · 07-18-2006, 06:07 AM

Yeah, the front page looks great. With the complexity of the scribble designs listed, going with a lightweight page makes them stand out, and works well.

Or, do you think secondary pages aren't necessary--that they would just be one more click people would have to make before being able to buy? My main concern is that its hard to see the detail of the artowrk without having a larger picture that people can view.

Adding additional click through pages would be tough, without complicating the order/selection process. If you were to try and make something workable, you would probably be circumventing the cafepress layout so much, that it wouldn't be worthwhile to use cafepress at that point.

makeshift5 · 07-21-2006, 02:08 AM

i wasn't sure what to do at first. the pictures are larger than the instructional text so i was drawn to them first. then i thought, are these navigation buttons? are they pictures of products.

most sites, the way we're all used to, have nav buttons right where you have your product thumbs so thats why i thought they might be nav buttons.

kinda confusing.

ecaria · 07-21-2006, 10:50 PM

Thanks all!

Well, I did sort of get a working "secondary page" going with my new design (the page you go to when you click the big NEW DESIGN button). I was thinking that format might work well for other designs like the heart which come in multiple colors.

nomax5 · 07-22-2006, 02:44 PM

I think the layout is just fine, a little more content would be nice, perhaps showing how you make the patterns with photos.

I'm sute there are many other people doing similar sorts of art work, you could contact them and perhaps do guest or featured artist page where you help each other out.

ecaria · 07-25-2006, 07:57 PM

That's somethign I am working on. I have a couple scans I did of un-completed designs. Now I just have to finish those designs *grin* !