your opinion about navigation and graphics appreciated

[bendavid]

I got lucky to work on the last update of TruffleJunkies.com, as much as i like site itself and even more their gorgeus truffles and chocolates, i do have few thoughts in mind about navigation - please let me know your thoughts about design overall and whatever you think in particular!
Thanks a bunch!

[Zebb]

Wow that is scary!

Yeah personally I think the Navigation needs work, all I can say is SIMPLIFY, use basic text and not so many graphics, take the links out of the main body, and get to them from one menu system.

I got there and was like, where do I go first, I'd say it would be quite overwhelming for an average user.

Zebb.

[bendavid]

Im considering rebuilding left side navigatioin - please let me know what is in your opinion can be lost or moved and where?

Thank you all!

[John G]

Im considering rebuilding left side navigatioin - please let me know what is in your opinion can be lost or moved and where?
-_- not to be the internet jerk or antyhing... but isn't that your job?

[CkretAjint]

not to be the internet jerk or antyhing

you bully, YOU!!! :D


I agree. It is rather cluster fudged and confusing on where you want their eye to go....

[jessicam]

I think the style is pretty cool and fitting, but it's busy and there is no visual heirarchy. I'd work on reducing the total amount of content, giving everything a little bit more space, and simplifying the text in the navigation.

The logo in the upper left corner is not the same style as everything else. I would want to integrate that better (or redo the logo, possibly).

Also, at 1024 by 768 with my browser maximized I still have a horizontal scrollbar. I would reduce the width of the content so that less users have to scroll horizontally.

I think it's a great start and could be a really good site with some refining.

[bendavid]

-_- not to be the internet jerk or antyhing... but isn't that your job?

Dear John G
thanks for your deep thoughts, not to be the internet jerk or anything...

it is indeed and this is what i am doing - correcting my own mistakes by asking people with fresh eyes, i could be puzzled between business objectives of the company and graphics - don't forget it is not my personal site but client's and for me to get second opinion from those who understand such issues and capable of maintaining discussion and advice professionally is very important before ill do anything drastic, isn't what this forum is all about?

[John G]

Then don't ask me to organize it without you proposing what you plan to do first. I don't know the goals of the site, what the owner wants to get across to their viewers. You do.

[bendavid]

im planning to loose guys on top and move shopping links into white field there instead (wholesale, bulk, etc) parallel to the slogan (our only competition...)

[Birdie1483]

Now kids be nice. I would suggest using simple text for the menus and links. The font right now is hard to read fast and most people don't want to concentrate on the menus. Also, all of the links have outlines and that can be hard to read. I like how the side bar is split up by colors to distinguish sections, but try using a simple font like Helvetica or anything without san-serif and use contrasting colors to the background color. The red on tan can be hard to read, so I would use a dark brown on tan. Just some thoughts! I also agree with getting rid of the links in the main body. It looks like a link exploded on the page.

[John G]

imo simplify simplify simplify. At first glance it's just visually overwhelming. Sites like these can be the hardest to organize and get into the goldilox zone.

I agree with Birdie on simplify your text. You're font does grab attention, but the problem is it's used everywhere and you don't know where to look and some headings that should stand out more than other things, don't. Like 'Hand-made, hand-rolled, & hand coated, chocolate truffle collections', speaking of which, does that need to be so wordy? Why not use that text as part of the main description in each truffle section and use something in the navigation bar that's not quite so wordy? A good use of indentations can also help further seperate and accentuate some of your icons next to a few of your links.

I think MC-Chocolate Bars, Liquid Fix links could be in the 'Chocolaty Fruits, Nuts, Beans & other goodies section. Being as the main focus is truffle junkies I don't think they need to have quite the focus that the truffles do (unless that's a huge portion of what they sell, if that's the case I'd at least get them all under the same main heading and seperate that out from the truffle section).

I would suggest perhaps using a third column for some of the non real navigation links. Like the Truffle Junkies News Section. Get that up to where you can see it when they open the page, and not keep it so hidden at the bottom. Coming soon, Word on the Street, Choco-Gallery likewise. I'd also put the contact information more near the top. Don't want to hide that.

I'd also suggest a footer for contact(assuming you have the telephone number link that you have at the bottom more near the top (or at the top)) and who da junkies links (that's just typically where those are found).

Listing "www.TruffleJunkies.com" while you're at www.trufflejunkies.com?

The only misgiving I would have with the buying links up top is you might have odd lines conflicting with your red "menu" bar (2 lines, but large blank space in between). And honestly I like the way you have the Wholesale clients thing handled now.

The 101, B2b, 411. I think could use descriptions. I'm not sure what B2B is and 411 and 101 seem like they should/could be the same thing.

Simplify the main page. Put maybe the news or a special offer on there only, or mission statement, or welcome message. Right now it looks like you're trying to put the entire website onto the front page. You've already got a link on the side for wholesale clients, weddings & Parties etc. etc.

The main thing is to simplify your fonts like Birdie said. The custom/decorative fonts everywhere do nothing to help or show hardly any heirarchy as it is now (kinda like taking a highlighter to a whole page of a book). Don't forget colors. Some of your contrasts are a bit backwards i.e. body copy has a higher contrast than some of your headings which leads to some weird visual signals (my brain knows to read this first, but my eyes automatically want to read this first, brain wins, but then eyes don't shutup until you pay attention to them).



feel free to use the suggestions here for stress free internet usage ;)
http://www.zefrank.com/punc/

[bendavid]

Thank You!

[bendavid]

I think MC-Chocolate Bars, Liquid Fix links could be in the 'Chocolaty Fruits, Nuts, Beans & other goodies section. Being as the main focus is truffle junkies I don't think they need to have quite the focus that the truffles do (unless that's a huge portion of what they sell, if that's the case I'd at least get them all under the same main heading and seperate that out from the truffle section).


truffles, fruffles, and chocolate bars are their main drivers

[bendavid]

all edits should be done by monday night - hopefully

[bendavid]

Please see update! www.TruffleJunkies.com

[milano.design]

Do you get paid in chocolate?? :) now that is one barter agreement i could do.

Sorry to say i still think the site is really, really, really busy. I love chocolate and would utilize the site, but its too loud. the type on most of it is just too much stuff. Too many different fonts. hard to read. etc. only adds to the confusion of the navigation.

[bendavid]

Ive been huge fan of Truffle Junkies for years and have managed to strike a very sweet deal with a company - so you are right, we are talking about my plum-fruffles and cinnamonians at stake, not to mention SeeSeeBones!, and most all of their amazing products, yet as one of the owners expressed - the chocolate truffle fairy likes those fonts :)

[bendavid]

Is anyone experiencing any problems viewing site in safari?

[nyc_skater]

I'm not sure if you updated or not, but my eyes are going batty trying to figure out what is navigation, what is content and what type of hiererarchy lies within that content. The result is my eyes just sat there and jumped all over the page until I gave up (about three seconds)

Also, i have a wide monitor and that top hanging tab thingy moves way right on my screen.

And not to hit the bees nest with a stick, but I agree with JG that your post initially felt like you were asking for others to do your work.

[urstwile]

Is anyone experiencing any problems viewing site in safari?
Is it supposed to look like this?

http://i15.tinypic.com/6glv6t1.jpg

[tZ]

There is to much going on.

However, poor control of hierarchy is more so the cause over the amount of content you have to work with.

[bendavid]

of course not. still fixing that problem - looks like it is only safari 2 version - in third its fine

[mlevy]

Hi There,
The navigation is completely overwhelming. Here are a few Suggestions:

TYPE LEGIBILITY

The decorative type is very hard to read. Limmit it to headline copy. Use regular type for the links. You loses seo potential when you use graphics as links.

SEPERATE THE USERS ON THE HOME PAGE
You seem to list everything all at one time. I'd suggest having main links (Wholsale, menu, etc..) and having a submenu
or the different pages.

Good Luck Michael
LINK NAMING

Some of the link titles are cute, but its better to go with obvious. Like "101", b2b", "401". Ok , I know what b2b is but the other ones I have no idea.

[bendavid]

Thanks so much!

[Two-Toe Tom]

this has probably been mentioned before, but the outlined fonts make it a bit hard to read. also, i think the photographs could be more appealing, the ones there have pretty harsh lighting and you can see teeth marks on one of them. i don't know if you have control over that tho.