Your page looks good. One little critique--on my screen, the black text is difficult to read on the red textured background. Where the text is white, it's fine.
I like the color and the photos very much--good job!
4. You come across as a genuine bloke. No airs and graces, no BS.
The not-so-good:
5. Autoplay = bad (I, like many others, am already listening to something when surfing. If, say, I'm a user who just wants to check out when/where you're playing, your site has just annoyed me. Not good.)
6. Flash sites = not terribly good. They won't play on iPhones, search engines (not always) have trouble indexing them, they often don't allow for useful accessibilty (can't zoom text, for example, and I'm not sure how a browser for the blind / partially sighted would cope). Better to go with HTML.
7. The black text on the red background (shows, videos, contacts, links) is - for me - illegible.
Now, to the cons :) Of course the text color. black on red... IMO it works for the titiles but the main texts should be white. I don't like the font on the first page, but on the second the font and text color are just right... In general you are changing fonts, sizes, colors quite a lot. There should be a constant style throughout the site. I'd go with the old style font for the headings in black. The main text as on the second page (white and kinda bold), and that's it.
At 'links' you change the font of the heading...? I would do it the same as on the rest. It doesn't matter that it isn't easy to read (black and weird font) as they have just clicked on it in the menu.
'Official Myspace' is barely visible...
Autoplay,... well I'd just offer them first thing on the main page to listen to a freaking awesome song...
And then last, you have (just like adam) chosen a rather long title: 'Official website of harmonica musician Brandon Bailey'. However, all I can see on my tab is: 'Official website of harmonica ...'.
I'd go with something like 'Brandon Bailey: Harmonica & Beatbox'. This makes sure that they see your name in the tab. And it's also short and clear. See the title of the page that you have opened at the moment... not as if anybody has ever read it further than '...: freewheeling chat...' :) ---------- YT - Music isn't created... it's evolved.
Last Edited by on Jun 08, 2010 4:06 AM
Thanks for the feedback guys. I have made some changes to the site as according to your suggestions. Pleas take another look and tell me what you think. ---------- Brandon Bailey
/Pleas take another look and tell me what you think./
1. The white text is much more legible and looks much better (have you changed / standardised the font?).
2. I still can't read any of the black-text-on-red-background (I'm on a netbook with nothing like a high contrast screen). Including the title.
3. Another thought about using Flash for the whole site: I've heard that some companies block Flash. HTML is something to think about in the long run, maybe?
4. I'm not sure about the font for the "offical MySpace" link but it's certainly easy to see!
5. I really like the clarity. It's all pleasingly obvious. No "where's this" or "what does this do" or "how did I end up here?" That's good design.
6. GermanHarpist's point that
/However, all I can see on my tab is: 'Official website of harmonica ...'.
I'd go with something like 'Brandon Bailey: Harmonica & Beatbox'. This makes sure that they see your name in the tab/
Looking good, Brandon. Very simple and effective site structure.
I agree with the German & Bliss - autoplaying the song can be a rude surprise for people taking a sneaky look at your site while they're in the office, or while they're playing their own tunes while browsing the web.
For consistency I would use the same typeface - or the same family of typeface - for the site header and the page titles.
As it happens, I was designing a band website this weekend (will announce it here when it goes live) and read this great article during my prep: http://www.myinkblog.com/2010/01/14/elements-of-a-great-band-website/
Elements of a Great Band Website... looks like your site ticks all the major boxes for an emerging performer. Congrats.
I have deleted the autoplay feature, and replaced it with a player on the top of the webpage that is accessible from anywhere on the website.
Also,I have redone the page description so that it displays: Brandon Bailey: Harmonica & Beatbox
The website that I used to design this one is done completely in flash, so it was free. I may switch to html later on, but for now this will be the current format. ---------- Brandon Bailey
