Comments and Critiques Requested for University of Toronto Website in Progress

[NoReMoRsE]

http://biome.utoronto.ca/

As some of you may remember, I was asked to develop the framework for a University of Toronto website targeted at life sciences students. The main purpose of the website is a "meeting place" where life science students can get information about life science news, courses, websites, etc.

I came up with the framework for the site, and my supervisor had a U of T designer create a website template.

I need your help to find as many problems and/or with the website, so that they may be fixed ASAP. Currently, the only link that works in the menu is news -> announcements. Thanks in advance.

Here's what I have so far:

1. At higher resolutions (1280x1024 and up), there seems to be a lot of "wasted space" on the page. That is, most of the page is white, with the actual website comprising a small section in the centre of the screen. Since many U of T students use these higher resolutions, this may be a major concern.
   
2. The colour scheme seems to be a bit too bright, especially on the white background. Perhaps a better choice might be a navy-blue and a darker red, similar to the colour scheme on the Arts and Science webpage.
   
3. If one selects a sub-menu option (such as courses -> biology), and then clicks on "courses" again to close the sub-menu, and then clicks on "courses" a third time to re-open the sub-menu, the red highlighting on "biology" is lost.
   
4. I like how when a menu item's background changes colour (i.e. royal -> navy blue) as the mouse button is being pressed. However, the colour changes back when the mouse is released. Would it be possible to let the current menu item keep the "navy blue" background, and only change back to "royal blue" if it is deselected or if another menu item is selected? I use the colours navy and royal blue in quotation marks as these may not be the final colours of choice, as per Concern #2 above.
   
5. Perhaps some "life sciences" pictures (e.g. cells or DNA strands) scattered here and there would make the website even more eye-catching and "friendlier". For example, the blue bar above the subtitle could be replaced by a bar with a collage image of cells, DNA strands and other life science pictures. The collage could be tinted to the same shade of blue as the rest of the website to look awesome 🙂.
   
6. Just a minor concern, but the titles of each page that appear in the titlebar of one's browser window use some capital letters, while the actual page uses all small letters. It would look good to harmonize all title text as small letters.
   
7. Another minor concern: would the Java Applet be compatible with both PCs and Macs, using either Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator or other browsers? Perhaps the designer could shed some light into this issue. Also, are there any security concerns with respect to the Applet?

CLIFFS NOTES: Click here and post any problems or concerns you see with the design or implementation (the website is in progress so hardly any links work). Thanks.

 

[jagr10]

As a former U of T student, i will be honest. The colours are funky and like you said, the site has alot of empty space. Try some neutral colours and some images here and there.

 

[NoReMoRsE]

Thanks, jagr10. I have added those concerns to my list.

 

[NoReMoRsE]

Bump for more comments 🙂

 

[NoReMoRsE]

Bump

Need more comments before the end of the day today...

 

[fatbaby]

increase the height of the left menu until its like 50 px away from that bottom line.

 

[rh71]

Quickie 1 minute critique... (I need sleep)

- Use a darker blue if you're going with blue of any kind.
- That color scheme clashes. Don't use red.
--> If those are UofT school colors, darken them for the website, PLEASE. You are allowed to vary the tone - use 3 shades of blue and a single neutral with it as a design idea.
- Either add some curves (photoshop some beveled images - keep all graphics < 3k in size if possible) or if you're going for the linear look, work out some kind of narrower lines, and use fade.
- Add graphics, even if it's just a tiny logo in the top corner
- Try to keep a uniform layout - I notice the links take you to various pages that look completely different. You want the visitor to feel as if you are the same operation.

And grab some ideas from coolhomepages.com

 

[NoReMoRsE]

Originally posted by: fatbaby
increase the height of the left menu until its like 50 px away from that bottom line.

Originally posted by: rh71
Quickie 1 minute critique... (I need sleep) - Use a darker blue if you're going with blue of any kind. - That color scheme clashes. Don't use red. --> If those are UofT school colors, darken them for the website, PLEASE. You are allowed to vary the tone - use 3 shades of blue and a single neutral with it as a design idea. - Either add some curves (photoshop some beveled images) or if you're going for the linear look, work out some kind of lines, but use fade. - Add graphics, even if it's just a tiny logo in the top corner - Try to keep a uniform layout - I notice the links take you to various pages that look completely different. You want the visitor to feel as if you are the same operation.

Thanks for those concerns. I'll certainly take them into account.

As for the links at the top, they're to other parts of U of T, which we don't have control over. I know they look confusing because they were all designed at different times by different people. U of T's very disorganized, I know 🙂

 

[fs5]

yeah definitely use some neutral colors, I personally don't like the fact that java has to load to access a menu. A VITAL part of the website. What if I don't have java on my computer? The website is totally useless..

 

[NoReMoRsE]

Originally posted by: fivespeed5
yeah definitely use some neutral colors, I personally don't like the fact that java has to load to access a menu. A VITAL part of the website. What if I don't have java on my computer? The website is totally useless..

Very good point. I'll include that in my email.

Keep the comments coming.