Hi all,
Please can I have some views on 2 websites, our current site design and the like, and the one which is being proposed to replace it. The first one is Joomla based with an altered version of the 'beez' template, and the second is one created by another member of staff here using Serif Web.
Opinions? What improvements need making etc...?
Welcome to Minehead Middle School
Home
I prefer the Joomla one!
Trouble with joomla one is that the header takes up half the screen at a typical school res!
The new one is simple and straight forward and 'fits' much better. However the menu order is a bit on the didgy and could be looked at.
I prefer the second one but i think thats only because there is so much 'dead' space on the first
Joomla one. Have you thought about retheming the current site?
Yep, we've thought about it but my comments fall on deaf ears every time. I have been told that Joomla is too complicated to update pages.
My comments have been as follows:
A website design is irrelevant if the content is crap. Sticking a single 'prospectus' pdf on there is not providing content.
The website has to be too many things to too many people now. We have to provide info to current parents (fair processing notices, uniform shop etc...), advertise to new parents (prospectus and photos), link to and use our VLE and SLP for the kids etc...
The site must be accessible - to comply with the DDA. So, it must be valid (X)HTML, and have things like alt images and the like.
There has been little guidance as to what is actually wanted by the head other than something fancy to draw new parents in. All the other requirements of the site are ignored.
I suggested that we move to the Edugeek Joomla template, but that fell on deaf ears too. I've also suggested that we use our sharepoint based learning platform as the site (as that can be many things to many people without clutter, depending on the login), but this also fell on deaf ears...
I prefer the template on the Serif one over the Joomla version (too much empty space, flash image doesn't load straight away and then pushes the page content down); but functionally it's not that great (embedding PDFs in frames etc).
Second one just needs CMS ing and the first one has too much white space, but that is my opinion:
Check out Bishop Barrington School - Welcome
How do you like this one?
ShinyOriginally Posted by bossman
Second one just needs CMS ing and the first one has too much white space, but that is my opinion:
Check out Bishop Barrington School - Welcome
How do you like this one?
Prefer the joomla one for manageability, think ultimately going to be better in the long run if training occurs on how to manage it rather than relying on a single person with a copy of Serif Web to maintain it!
Have a think about offering up some different themes to show just how 'different' it can look if the design is the problem.
I prefer the second but menu is kak, that said it should be CMSed not serif...
Also check change the Favicons!
The second design is cleaner, but not great. The first one as others have said is too much dead space.
What I will say is that whatever the design it must be easy to update pages or else no-one will bother. Static HTML pages are unmangeable in the end. Most CMS, be it Joomla/Drupal/Sharepoint/Alfresco should be easy to train staff to use once set up correctly.
Just to point out, staff have been trained to update the Joomla based site, and still claim it is too difficult - they want it to be drag and drop wysiwig editing like publisher or the like...
I prefer the second one.
I think maybe the more important thing to get through to them is that the web is not a publisher document - reiterate the point that you can't just throw things all over the place and change the font to 24pt Comic Sans lime green.
A website is a professional and structured approach to publishing the school's information in a consistent fashion.
Sylv3r (23rd October 2009)
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