One of the major structural changes was suggested by Brett and touched on by Chris. If you visit the site, you'll notice that there has been some major revision of the main menu categories and the way that these main menu links are now consistently presented on the interior pages. Brett's suggestion to better showcase the portfolio work helped me solve a problem I'd been struggling with anyways. Now instead of writing, design, illustration and interactive work all compiled within a portfolio link, each is a main menu item, accessible from any page. As Chris noted, too, there was a discrepancy with which menu items were included on each page. Each page now includes all six major menu items, as well a "brain" icon that takes users back to the home page and helps carry the metaphor throughout the site.
I also reworked some of the text, and fixed the justified text problem that was causing some shifting and incorrect realignment of other objects. I was also able to diagnose and resolve the issue I was having of the linkable items appearing outlined in hyperlink blue when viewed Internet Explorer but not Safari. I also added in hyperlinks to related information in the text blocks and my resume.
One thing remains... the podcast is currently linked to an html page that contains the podcast (but which you still need to either right-click on Windows or control-click on Macs-the html page otherwise looks like a black white screen) to bring up the contextual menu in order to access the "play" controls. I struggled (unsuccessfully) for hours over the weekend trying to embed a flash player on the podcast page - one that would actually play a podcast and not render as a white box. Will continue to work on this.
Have also been working on the Linda Reedy site and hope to share something from that project here soon.
* there also seems to be a weird color shift on the homepage that wasn't on my Mac's screen last night, but now appears on my Mac at work but not on the Dell computers in the lab... grrr!
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If I knew how to spell it in French correctly, I'd be throwing out 'tre magnifique'-s all over the place. I'll just leave it at the first badly spelt one. :) These are all great changes, and they really improve the experience and flow of your site. (Flow... who'd've thought that the word I'd banned from my own classrooms would become so vital to my own student experiences... ah well.) ;)
ReplyDeleteI believe that's "très magnifique," Chris. (Pardon! Je parle français!) And I agree, Monica. You've improved your page with some of these small (but significant) tasks. Just fixing the justification of the text radically improves the professionalism of this page. Congratulations! I'm jealous--guess I need to start on a personal website soon! :-)
ReplyDeleteI agree. The justification fix is a wonderful improvement. The original odd spacing clashed with your very nice design. Now it is much nicer. I like it.
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