Opinions on a website

[localzuk]

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

[KWestos]

I prefer the Joomla one!

[lew_bob]

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.

[Danjns]

I prefer the second one but i think thats only because there is so much 'dead' space on the first

[localzuk]

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...

[webman]

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).

[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?

[kmount]

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?

 

Shiny

[kmount]

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

 

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.

[mossj]

I prefer the second but menu is kak, that said it should be CMSed not serif...

 

Also check change the Favicons!

[skunk]

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.

[localzuk]

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...

[webman]

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 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.

[Edu-IT]

I prefer the first.

[rad]

I clicked a link only to end up on either Ofsted website, might be better creating a Links page.

 

I did prefer the Joomla one as said loads of space on the other one.

[AyatollahPies]

The school logo looks terrible in both of them. I know that isn't what you asked about but I feel it needs mentioning.

[localzuk]

That's more of an issue that is caused by us only having crap quality versions of our school logo to use anywhere.

[soveryapt]

I agree with others, the second one is a nicer template, but as you know yourself, moving from a CMS to a static site .. OWCH .. not the brightest idea for anyone.

 

In terms of the dragging dropping element of things, there are some nice WYSIWYG editors out there for Joomla that probably replicate fairly well what they want. I've been responsible for a number of Joomla sites in the past and basic training linking it back to how they use Word and pointing out the different buttons they already know and getting them just to slow down and think a bit more seemed to work well, and that was with a group of NHS people too busy to even be at the meeting in the first place and they managed it! lol ..

 

As others have pointed out, 1 person with a copy of Serif vs staff being able to update their own areas as and when (with moderation I would recommend just in case) .. there's just no competition .. CMS all the way ..

[ahuxham]

Second one! Lots of comments, no time now, almost close of play, will update later.

[torledo]

the second one with a bit of tweaking look more promising.

 

i'd get rid of the out of focus flash nosh. That kind of thing always smacks me as.....'this lot are trying to compensate for deficiencies or lack of confidence in the design and navigability of the site'.

 

Same with the banner on the joomla site. On a website i don't tend to want something to move or jump around unless i hover the mouse cursor over it. Or maybe i'm just grey and out of touch.

 

sorry if that sounds harsh. I think both are great stabs at a website.

[p858snake]

I would prefer the joomla one if it had a few changes:

01. Better quaility version of the school logo (Ask around here, there are some wonderful graphic wizards on here)

02. Move the school name so its inline with logo and make it larger

03. Make the Top navigational menu and search bar into one section and make it thinner and add a button to the search box, there is no need for that blue bit to be so large.

04. Move to page breadcrums (eg: You are here: Home) closer to the page text

05. Remove the image slidehow, I've always found them to be tacky and to waste space.

06. Slightly alter the news section so the text isn't center aligned and possibly add some bullet points or have it backgrounded like the menu

07. Remove the hover from the links as well the picture boarders caused from the links being there (except for the news and menu hovers)

08. There is alot of whitespace between the content and the footer causing me to scroll for no reason

09. Needs more content.

10. Also non website related, your friday news letter seems to indicate a second page which isn't present and the borders are a bit fuged up near the date section.

 

To see what i'm seeing at 1680*1050 on Firefox Windows: http://localhostr.com/files/31ec43/Welcome%20to%20Minehead%20Middle%20School_1256259654269.png

[amvc]

I prefer the second one, but the picture blur transition hurts my eyes

 

Jon

[localzuk]

Thanks for the comments everyone.

 

I'll make some changes to the Joomla template and see how it looks afterwards. Only things I can't change are the photo changer, and the actual content - this is up to the head and his PA.