Afam:


So, if you have an idea you think is cool, just let me know and it will be implemented.

On the web, it is all about data manipulation, think it, we actualize it.

juintade:

@poster

i am must say congrats for the brief decision to undertake such a project. But common let us face it, the website is not up to standard, don't mean to insult who designed it, but my dog (if i had one) would do better.

juintade:

Someone did talk about mtv.com, i think there site is a bit to heavy to be entertainment site.

A good site i would recommend you look at are

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/default.stm
very accessible and fast loading with minimal/close to none flash component

http://www.eonline.com/
well designed with links on the front page to the relevant section

I am not sure what your devine goal is for the site, maybe you might want to share it with us

out of curiosity are you using a Content Management System and what programming platform are you using

But common let us face it, the website is not up to standard, don't mean to insult who designed it, but my dog (if i had one) would do better.

Maybe you need to seperate style from content by putting all your CSS in an external file.

Maybe you should add more content and complete the site before you start asking for review and please learn to accept criticism

But lets face it, if you can't take insult and crticism then I suggest you don't ask for website review, i do apologise seriously for my previous post and for this one.

Honestly, let me start by apologising if you think i insulted you, I do seriously apologise.

If you are intelligent enough you would notice that I did not design the blog,[b] idiot [/b]it was done on google platform, hence my dog would not be able to desgin that.

Afam:


I agree with you on this one. I have perfected the art of accepting criticisms just as I have perfected the art of responding to insults and believe me I know the difference between the 2.

somze:

Its too official . . . if you know what I mean
Loosen it up a bit

Header
[list]
[li]The look of the title is boring, you need to change that[/li]
[li]Dont like the fonts[/li]
[li]Dont like the menus, shorten them and use drop down menus. Also the spacing between them are not equal[/li]
[li]The search box is much too large, check other music sites and see what i mean[/li]
[li]Take the login . . . to the extreme right[/li]
[/list]

Finish with the header and lets take a look at the rest of it.

onydchic:

Hm, where to begin. As can be expected Nairaland. Useful reviews are rare and far-between. I usually dn bother reviewing such sites, but you seem like you want to make a difference so,

First, I believe what's killing many nigerian websites is this mentality of multi-tasking and it's-mine-so-ill-do-it-alone. If you know you have weaknesses in design, then why don't you get someone who's focal point IS design, instead of creating something's that sub-par, and justifying yourself?

The site, I don't know. If you don't have an eye for aesthetics at all, then you can't understand the way i feel. EVERYTHING's WRONG. If it has all the functionality in the world and it's not easy on the eyes, people will get bored and walk away, not expectin much. Kinda like a bashed up car with fancy features.

1. The colours. What exactly is the colour scheme? I always say this, before u start throwing up a css, it helps tp create a graphic of what you ultimately want the site to look like. Photoshop is my tool of choice. Play around. Try to avoid using so many unrelated colours. Cos thats the only way i can describe using orange and maroon in one place. Try online colour scheme choosers if your not too good with complimentary colours.

2. The gradient header and footer thingy? No. Just no. Nothing screams unprofessionalism like graphics that look like they were created in MS Paint.

3. The different navigation bars are inconsistent in width. Why aren't they straight and alignned at the edges?!?

4. Fonts too big and too drab. Refrain from using Arial. It's easily one of the dullest fonts EVER. IMHO. Try stuff like Tahoma, Verdana, Georgia, and Trebuchet MS for dynamic text, then try other fonts for headers titles that won't change often (which can be saved as images). http://dafont.com. Just don't go crazy.

5. It's boring. Thought it was an entertainment site? Add more graphics, use rounded edges for corners, put images, SOMETHING. I don't think you've visited enough sites, or you would have seen what im talking about.

6. For goodness sake please do away witht that HUGE orange ad. Ads shouldnt be so distracting from the content. It's annoying.

7. Just start design again. I didn't talk about functionaity because thats not my area. I strongly suggest getting a graphic person.

Peace.

http://onydchic..com
http://aboutdisgirl.deviantart.com

my2cents:

All,

Let's not forget, anyone who gets this web solution is not bound to the design. Just like joomla, I would imagine that Afam will allow the client buying this to customize it.

uspry1:

Maybe they do not know the different between graphical entertainment site and entertainment portal site.

Afam, I do believe in simplicity and functionally to bring customers attractively.

Good job in programming on entertainment portal site. If graphic design is not your bag, i suggest to have partner with artistically visual designer who know how to incorporate your programming dynamically.

Like me in the past, I was hired by old-fashioned traditional graphic designer who do not know nothing about web programming---all i do is sliced his graphic work to be employed actions/behaviors resulting in my programming on the website much easier and quick-turnaround project. He does not want to upgrade his graphic skills dramatically due to his age---near retirement.

He paid me so handsomely that was suppose 50/50 or 70/30 split, it was my 100% earning, because he was the one sent me 18-months accelerated Visual Communication school. After I earned my 2004 bachelor degree with my 3.90 GPA Summa Cum Laude replacing my 1999 Web Development certification, he disappeared with no forwarded address that i wanted to thank him.

onydchic:

I admit im a bit fascinated by your reply. I don't claim my blog is perfect , but white text on black background is as stark a contrast as black text on white. Besides, I'm aware there are problems with my design, and you're the one that asked for a review.

onydchic:

If you're not going to take advice in good faith, why ask for it? You're doing that jusification thing again. I don't have a problem with functionality. I'm sure your site is swimming with it. My point IS that it LOOKS POORLY designed. There are a lot of design errors you really should take into account. Did you even read the other points I mentioned?

onydchic:

Honestly I can't really think of an entertainment site, right now because I don't visit many, but visit sites like Technorati, Netscape, Facebook, hell, even Google. Flash and colours arent flying across the page, but they look like the layout was well thought through. Tables are aligned, ads are non-distracting, pictures are adequately padded, colours are consistent. And you know what? They are functional. Highly functional.

Let's not get carried away with this 'functionality is key' concept. Your site still has to look appealing.

somze:

have you made any changes to the site?

Na wa o, I'm actually helping you here ok? I'm not getting paid and i'm not jobless. Get that in your head and we can move on 

So, visiting Technorati, Netscape, Facebool and Google will bring ideas that will turn the poor design into a good design even when these sites were set up for entirely different purposes using different web strategies?

I am not against the site looking appealing but a website that is not appealing but highly functional is far better than a website that is very appealing but not functional. On this statement lies my idea of a successful website.

This is supposed to be an entertainment portal where users can and should find information easily without any problems.

Many thanks for your time but I am not bound to agree with everything you put down just as you obviously disagree with some of my positions.

somze:

Afam
The day you will change eh, I'll think it was your sister doing the posting

Na wa o, I'm actually helping you here ok? I'm not getting paid and i'm not jobless. Get that in your head and we can move on

I'll click the link

onydchic:

@ somze
i don't understand o.


Afam,
u realise you've got some attitude problems, right?

onydchic:

I've given reviews to other people on this site, and i never got this kind of attitude. I don't care if you agree with all of my points, but your replies are bad. Like i said before, if you don't want the truth, why are you asking for it? You've managed to give lip to everyone that has tried to help you out. It's childish and ungrateful. Yes, your site is 'functional', WE GET IT. But are you the first person? There are 100s out there, and yours will never get far if it can't stand out. I'm very aware those sites I put up aren't entertainment sites, and i said so before. If you could get off your high horse for a moment, you would see that I was pointing you, however, to sites that had millions of users nonetheless, and got far on minimalist designs and high functionality. And that's the issue. I wanted you to take a cue from there. It doesn't have to be an enertainment site.

onydchic:

So please get over your pride, or whatever it is that's ailing you and stop attacking me, and everyone else for that matter.