CODE77™ - new version is up

[CODE77]

It's 90% done, but here's what I have so far. Link --> http://www.code77.com

[carter the artist]

Sweet. BTW, heard in the rags that you are now owned by microsoft...

[hewligan]

Your site resizes my browser window. If I'd wanted it that big, I'd have made it that way.

Sorry, but that's the kind of annoying behaviour that makes me close a site straight away.

[urstwile]

I really think audio should be off by default. I often leave a site if there's music playing at start-up, because I hate the cacophony it creates when I'm listening to iTunes.

[CODE77]

Yup. We're owned by M$.

Awesome. Thanks for the constructive critiques. So far, all I'm getting is hatemails and what nots. Like flash sux, or the audio you use sux, or whatever. Haha. It's all good though. :-)

[carter the artist]

wow, hatemail, already?

as for flash, you really cannot say it sux. Since most of the viewers should be business orientated and running at least DSL. Audio, everyone does it, yes I hate it tooo... put an on/off.

The truth is tho, it is clean, conceptual and cool. The three "c's" of design, baby.

[JPnyc]

Well some of those are legitimate complaints, for example resizing the browser window is a serious no-no. Any site that does anything at all to my browser window will never get a second visit.

Audio on a website is a matter of preference, I think. But at the very least, if you're not going to have it off by default at least give the user a clearly visible way of turning it off.

I'm not going to get into the flash debate, but suffice it to say I surf with it disabled

[CODE77]

Cool. Like I said. This is 90% done. So full-browser is a no-no? Some are ok with it. I think the main reason why a user will not visit for a second time is because maybe they are not interested with it. I mean I've seen a lot of site that uses the full-browser thingy, and people keep coming back. I can't seem to remember one, but I've seen alot in FWA.

As for the audio, I do have a button that says "AUDIO OFF". Maybe its the fact that they hate my site too much, they don't even bother to look for it. :-) It's all good though.

Yea, I don't want to get into a flash debate. 'Cuz flash is just a tool, like a pencil. It's like saying, what good is a pencil if you don't know how to draw or something like that. I'd rather get into motion graphics or animation debate or maybe design principles or whatever. Ya know.

[JPnyc]

I would say doing anything at all to the viewers browser window is a no-no. Sorry I didn't get to see the site so I didn't see the audio off button. I was just going by what others said in this thread

[hewligan]

Well, I did go back and have a look, and did eventually find the audio off button. I'd prefer it to default to off, but if you're gonna have it default to on, it would be good to make the off button a lot more noticeable.

And a lot of people browse with a maximised window, so they would never even notice that you're resizing the browser on them. But for those of us who don't browse with maximised windows, we find it very rude when someone takes control and resizes the window for us.

[CODE77]

Yea, the full size browser window is more of a UX (user experience) issue that a design issue. I don't know. I need to do more research on that. I guess we have to wait and see when the site is 100% done. ;)

[urstwile]

You could offer the full size browser window as an option, rather than just taking over. I agree with what Hewligan says on that one.

[tZ]

Personally I really like it putting aside the fact the entire thing was done in flash.

[John G]

I don't mind the music. Maybe have it a bit quieter, just a tad less intrusive.

I like being able to select text when I read it just one of those things that helps me keep my place and such. Especially with most body copy being so dim. Otherwise I don't really have any beefs.

[resdog]

When most browsers are auto-enlarged, usually the content is enlarged as well, making it bigger (this is a plus for the scalability of flash). My monitor resolution is 1600x1200, and I keep my browser on about 1/3 of the my screen (the rest is taken up with other programs - I am a multi-tasker). So when I go to your site, my window gets resized to full 1600x1200, and in the middle is the content, surrounded by this mass of black. So it made your site look really tiny to me. I'm assuming you have your site sized to 800px right? That's what turned me off of your site. It looked too small. I'm sure it would have looked fine if the browser wasn't maximised, but there you have it.

[cj2a]

Resizing and audio issues aside, I really like the site. Beautifully done, IMO.

[CODE77]

daamn resdog, you must have a nice expensive monitor then. haha. I was i was rich. :( I have a 17 inch monitor. I'm a multitasker to. I'm sure everybody is the same. I mean there are designers with multiple browser windows and apps open at the same time. What I'm trying to say is that I'm a multi tasker too and whenever I visit a site that maximizes my browser in a small @$$ monitor, it doesn't bother me. I don't know. Maybe I'm humble? Haha. I mean if another designer asked me to critique his site, I wouldn't emphasize on the browser thing as much, I would give constructive criticism like "using a 2 by 3 5 grid system is a smart way to layout your content but I would recommend giving out more negative space in your grid so your content could breath a little bit more" or something like that, ;)

As for the audio, all I can say is that if people appreciates art, then they should do the same with music. I mean I appreciate music so much, I listen to everything. Even country, classical, celtic, new age, etc. Ya know! :)

[urstwile]

Code77, you're ignoring the fact that the browser is the medium which delivers the content, and if the medium isn't optimized to deliver the content in a pleasing and/or effective way then the design fails.

You wouldn't recommend that someone print something on a paper bag simply because their grid is stellar so the paper the layout's printed on doesn't matter, does it?

[CODE77]

Haha. I never said nor I ignore the fact that the browser is a medium that delivers content. I think the main reason why design fails is because maybe the idea was not executed well. Design is not about pretty pictures, its about communicating an idea through type and images right? Like I said, in the beggining, this site is 90% done. I posted this site so I can get constructive design criticism not about the medium I would use. For me idea comes first, then design, then the medium.

As for your paperbag question, the answer is yes. If the idea and design works well together, then I would print it on a paperbag. Here's a good example, check out http://www.code77.com/email_ad. The idea was inpsired from a bum holding a cardboard box saying will work for money. So basically, it's a same idea but im conveying myself as a starving designer.

I think that idea and design is more important, because the medium will come later. I'm sure you and I have seen sites with full browser majaber thingy. :) But you didn't close that browser right away. Maybe because the idea was nice or the design stimulated your eyes or whatever is, it made you not close the browser window.

Let's just say I'm 97% done and I've taken off the full browser majaber thingy. Do you think people will give contructive criticism or do you think they'll try to find something that they hate?

For me, the way I see the medium is like Macs pr PCs. It's like I love photoshop but I hate PCs cuz I uses a mac. But photoshop is a same thing on PCs and Macs. Or another example would be, you have a project that requires you to animate a shape from left to right. Most people would do it in flash, some would do it in after effects.

So I'm not disagreeing or disrespecting the fact that maximizing the browser window is annoying, but I've had successful results when showing my work to clients with a full browser window majaber thingy. ;)

I don't know. It bothers you, it doesn't bother other people, I dont' know.

[urstwile]

I think you've entirely missed my point. Whatever.

The people I work with, experienced art directors and creative professionals, factor in the paper at the initial stage of the design.

Yes, if it's appropriate to print on a paper bag, then yes, paper bag it is. What I'm trying to say is that your work in this instance is delivered through a browser. For you not to care that it looks bad in some browsers or on certain monitors means you don't care about the design, IMO.

Secondly, I think you're being overly sensitive about the browser resizing critiques. Again, because the browser is the medium that is delivering your design, that's a valid critique, in my opinion. The fact that people aren't critiquing other aspects of your design should make you feel good, not bad.

[CODE77]

Whatever? Haha. It's all good though. No worries.

I do agree with you that everything starts on a piece of paper. Believe me I do to. However, if you notice that before designing, scribbling, or jotting down anything on a piece of paper, the first thing that we do is conceptualize, right?

I am not over sensitive about the issue nor ignoring it. :) I'm not even saying that I don't care. I even respect your opinion. But IMO, I think the full browser thingy is more of a user experience issue rather than a design issue.

OK. How about this, let's just say we are both creative directors at a different company and some awesome talented designer is applying for a job. The first thing we both noticed was the browser issue. Now what? How would you hire this talented designer? Are you going to based it on his skillset or the browser issue. Right now, I'm trying to get a design job. That is why I've redesigned my portfolio. What if I apply at your company and let's just say I have all the skillsets I need to fill the position. And, the CDs noticed that I maximized their browser window. Now what?

That's all what I'm trying to get at. I think we often to judge a book by its cover. Maybe its that UX feeling that we get. Ya know! What if one year later, that book gets the "best book of the year" award. Haha. :)

[typographics]

is it just me, or is it not possible to actually look at your work? i tried clicking on the thumbnails but only received a description of the job.

if this is a portfolio site, id like to actually see your portfolio...not just zoomed sections of it.

[CODE77]

It's all good. Once you clicked one of the thumbnails, a description overlay window pops up. Then on the bottom left there should be a link something like View Project or View Comp or something like that. I am still in the process of organizing the IA for this section though.

[urstwile]

But IMO, I think the full browser thingy is more of a user experience issue rather than a design issue.
Isn't user experience important? If people are clicking out of your site because of browser or audio issues, I'd say that's something to think about.

Maybe its that UX feeling that we get. Ya know! What if one year later, that book gets the "best book of the year" award. Haha. :)
I have no idea what you mean by a UX feeling. And the "what if" argument is a lot to pin your hopes on. Because "what if" it doesn't?

[typographics]

It's all good. Once you clicked one of the thumbnails, a description overlay window pops up. Then on the bottom left there should be a link something like View Project or View Comp or something like that.
wow. thats a lot of work for the viewer to simply see your portfolio.

first i have to go to your website

second i have to resize my browser, because you maximized it and i hate that

third i have to turn your music off

fourth i have to click on "work"

fifth i have to click on a specific piece

sixth i have to read the description and/or click on something else to see
the piece in its entirety.

so to recap, thats six steps to merely look at your work. and to be honest, i could only look at one project because even after i resized my browser the first time, it decided to disobey me and go full screen again after attempting to look at a project more closely. sorry, but i gave your site a try and it failed. you want to force me to go full screen, but i dont want to. so that means i cant/wont look at your work.

everyone is bitching about the full screen mode for a reason. its uber annoying. i know you dont want to change it, but you should.

this site needs a serious revamp.

[CODE77]

I do agree with you that user experience is important. But my main concern is putting my work together. Like i said earlier, I was never against that idea.

Anyways, just to let you know I already talked to a couple agencies and asked them what do they look for a designer. Basically they both said someone with a strong backround in design elements and principles and an eye for detail. Then I asked them what they think about user experience. Then they both said, I don't need to worry about that, because they have UX people.

Don't get me wrong, I do agree with you that user experience plays a big role. But right now my focus is design. If people are clicking out of my site because of the browser or audio or whatever that doesnt tickles their cherry, then thats great. I think fixing those issues right now will not help me get a job. You know. :D With the situation I am in, I really need a job. All I need to be thinking right now is finishing the design and development phase. $h!^ i still need to optimize and do some QA, just to make sure all the links work. Haha.

I mean put the browser and the audio issue on the side. What can i do to finish this site sooner. I haven't slept in a week. I mean if I changed the audio to hip hop, I'm sure someone out there will say, "it doesnt go with your site or whatever." I dont even know if making sense anymore. Haha. I really need to get some sleep. Anyways, the browser and the audio issue seems like apples and oranges. All I really want to do is design or execute this idea in my head.

How about this, once I'm 99.9% done, I'll fix the browser issue just for you. Haha.

[pinoy_boy]

Hey code, don't mind these people. I really liked your work. Your site is simple and straight forward - clicked on worked, scrolled a couple times, saw something that I liked, clicked on the thumbnail, then clicked on the project link. I liked the fact how you animated the project link from bottom to top draws attention.

If I had my own company, I'll hire you for sure.

[urstwile]

How about this, once I'm 99.9% done, I'll fix the browser issue just for you. Haha.
No need, I won't be visiting again.

Your attitude seems hellbent on ignoring certain principles that affect your design, principles that in my opinion you should consider.

Once again...whatever. :)

[Two-Toe Tom]

typographics makes a really good point. i also found it pretty hard to check out your portfolio pieces. in addition to his points, i had to scroll through each piece three at a time, so if i had to leave the site while viewing your portfolio for some reason, i'd have to go through all the pieces to get back to where i was. if you want ppl to hire you based on the website itself, i guess that's fine, but if you want them to hire you based on your portfolio pieces, i'd think about functionality some more.

[pinoy_boy]

WOW! This forum is crazy.

I think code was never opposed to your idea.

[Two-Toe Tom]

oops, i should add that the look and feel of the site was very slick and professional, i really liked it. i personally didn't mind the music, but i can see why others would. i did find the site a bit small tho, especially when viewing the portfolio pieces.

[jessicam]

Ooer, do you have permission from Evanescence, Enya, and Edgen to use their music?

[CODE77]

Like I said in the beggining, it's 90% done. Anyways, I figured out a way how to show my work 10 pieces at a time. So my next steps would be building it out in flash.

However at the same time, while taking all this madness in, :) my initial idea was to have an option to choose between HTML or flash version of my site. So far here's what I have so far - http://www.code77.com/work.html. I know it needs a lot of work, but at least I have something to show for now.

by the way two-toe tom, what's your monitor screen resolution? maybe when i have enough money, ill get a bigger monitor.

[pinoy_boy]

He is not selling music on his site so he should be fine.

[Two-Toe Tom]

i'm on 1024 by 768, but i guess you gotta take into account the 800 by 600 ppl. some more things i noticed: i found the text a bit hard to read, esp the gray text in the profile. also, i did not notice the bottom menu options at first, i'd move those up to where ppl won't have to scroll down to see it, seems like you have enough space for that.

[jessicam]

Uh I don't think so, actually. You can't just snag music and use it for a soundtrack without permission from the copyright holder.

[CODE77]

The audio is FPO for now. Trying to get a feel what kind of music I should put in mysite, whether ambient, classical, rock, or whatever. But I'll figure that out later.

Oh and Edgen is a good friend of mine. As long as I'm giving him the credit the more publicity he gets.

[carter the artist]

He is not selling music on his site so he should be fine.

you still gotta have the rights. Just like any public event is supposed to legally pay royalties. Every restaraunt manager knows this and every business owner should. In fact restaurants cannot play any stations, they have to have music that has a royalty structure...