Fruitle has 4 Reviews
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![[img: avatar]](/avatars/Vera.jpg)
Vera gave it
on 13th Sep 2010 and said:So... I've finally run out of reasons to procrastinate. Plus I now have a shiny new OS, so I'm (theoretically) highly motivated.
= First Impression =
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I don't like it. But... not in the sense of "ewww another teeny- bopper/weborexic/celebrity blend layout". It is mostly not my style. If I weren't reviewing you, I'd probably leave. I would however notice the cute doll/girl place on the right.= Presentation =
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My first impression probably discouraged you quite a bit, but I should mention that I do that with a lot of sites. My first impression is something like "oh well, not too great". And later, I'd return and think about it differently. Or you might even have a different design. But let's analyze things in a more detailed manner.First and foremost, everything is so pink. I don't dislike the color per se, but I am not too keen on designs which use the exact same shade of a color for 80% of stuff. And in this design, you use pink way too much.
Second, you have this techy/pixelled background and header image. I admit, I prefer artistic to geeky designs, but I've seen people pull of the weirdest stuff in the most amazing way. The problem with your style, however is that you try to combine two completely different things. On the one hand, the background and header image (background) remind me of old DOS games. While the site title and the cute doll on the right remind me of... well dolls. With frills and bows and little tea parties. The two things just don't mesh together. Also, the font style you used is way too complicated, with too many curls. For someone unfamiliar with hand written letters, it can be difficult to read (yes, there are people like that).
Thirdly, the girl on the right is taking up too much of my attention. From what I gather, she is merely supposed to be a cute imagery for contacting you (the webmistress). Sure, highlighting the way visitors can reach you is very important, BUT it is not supposed to be among the first things someone notices. The main problem with the image concept, is that the eyes are mostly drawn to the character's face. As opposed to the enveloper she is holding. I suggest you make an illustration with a huge envelope being held by a very small girl. In other words, the person holding the envelope should mostly be overshadowed by the envelope.
Fourthly, I'd also use a larger font size for the navigation. The large amount of colors used on the header image, distract the user from the text. Alternately, you could lower the opacity of the header image's background.
I remember having seen other cute little girl cartoons drawn by you, and they were very very cute. The problem, however was that they were not well placed. I see your latest blog entry says something about changing the design. How about going for a different design style?
Instead of using a sidebar, why not use a large footer for all that information? And you could put up larger images in place of "important links". For example, something like: http://whinos.deviantart.com/art/Webdesign-PsyCrea-179131427?q=in%3Adesigns%2Fweb+sort%3Atime&qo=31 I'm thinking of you putting illustrations in place of the 3 boxes bellow the header image.All in all, you have an amazing talent at drawing, but the organization and emphasis of various design elements is poorly done. I suggest you go visit some CSS galleries and look at various websites for inspiration.
= Content =
================================================- Blog -
Generally I avoid to comment on this, unless I really like the writing style, otherwise I'd end up sounding as if I'm telling someone their life is boring... and unworthy of a review.
In any case, I noticed that you tried to curse "elegantly". Don't! It looks stupid. If you want to look elevated, as in "you're above cursing", then avoid using strong words. If you think that using strong words will emphasis your point, then don't replace one vowel in attempt to make thinks more kid friendly. I'm referring here to your use of the word sh!t.- About -
Man... you really like annoying people, more specifically me. If, for some reason, you don't want to talk about something (too complicated, too long etc etc)... then don't. Saying things like: it's too complicated to list my race just makes me think something like: how many races could she possibly be? Is "Martian" included among them?
Another thing about such things: is it relevant, seeing as you chose to include this information in your brief self description? If it isn't, why mention it? If it is, explain why.As you may have already know
should be
As you may have already known
Three websites that I visit daily is
should be
Three websites that I visit daily are
Your self description feels weird. The tidbits you mention are interesting... but they way you choose to phrase them, somehow makes it seem like they're not important. As if the visitor should remember something else about you, which is yet to be revealed. You say you're a writer, so put a bit more thought into your self description. Try to keep focusing on one idea for at least a paragraph. Jumping around from one thing to another is incredibly annoying, not to mention confusing.
My overall impression is that you don't know what you like, so you try to impress the visitor by making this huge list of hobbies.Remove the text "comments are closed", when no comments can be found on a page. Easiest way for this, is to not include the comments' template in the page.php file from your theme folder.
- Extra -
I'd rephrase this section as Goodies, or something along those lines. When I see "extra" I kind of expect that there is a lot of somewhat similar already offered. Or... maybe I've been reading too much manga, where extra means "side story". =.=;- the download button uses a nice color scheme, but the lines around the arrow are too harsh, and the white contour looks grainy
- the illustration are ABSOULTELY ADORABLE you should have more of these, even if just for showcasing purpose (i.e. portfolio)
- the free layouts are not bad, but the newer one needs some work. It has some interesting elements, but it feels like you stopped halfway around with it. Almost as if you got bored making it, and decided to just wrap it up.
Coding-wise, both are very clean, semantically correct and nicely aligned. However keeping in mind that you offer these for download, I would suggest adding some comments here and there. Not everyone is familiar with coding. Also, for the CSS of the skull layout, when you have the time, I suggest you edit it, so that you put each definition on a new line, don't have all definitions for a tag/class/id on the same line. Sure, it saves space, but for someone unfamiliar with coding, it makes editing difficult.= Coding =
Your coding is indented and generally well organized. Only thing, sometimes I see this really big tabbed space. And there doesn't seem to be a particular reason behind it. Try to keep the spacing consistent. It makes editing easier, plus the code will look cleaner.If the images used in your design are all in your theme folder, in your CSS you can specify them using a relative path.
Eg: instead of
background:url(http://fruitle.com/wp-content/themes/Mosaic/header.png);
you can have
background:url(header.png);
Images, are searched for in the theme folder by default. Incidentally, for "cleaner" coding, it is suggested that you put all your image files in a separate sub-folder. Not compulsory, but if you ever decide to offer Wordpress themes for others, this is the standard practice.
Another thing about your CSS, try to keep a consistent style. If you start out by putting each definition for a tag.class/id on a new line, well keep it up till the end. Don't change it midway to having 2-3 definitions on the same line. You say you want to become a webdesigner (who presumably also does frontend coding). Well coding is most often a team effort, so try to adhere to a given coding style. That is not to say that you will always be allowed to set your own style.
Score 2.5/5
I LOVE your illustrations. They are absolutely fabulous! I can't believe you decide to use that ugly font for header image instead.
Your coding is also OK, for the most part, just keep up the same style, don't change it half-way through.Would I return? Well probably not very often, because it is not a site I'm interested in. But I can definitely see myself checking out your illustrations now and again. So good luck! Use your illustrations in your designs more, and your layouts will improve significantly.
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Misski's Response:
Thanks a lot Vera. That was REALLY, REALLY helpful. :D
![[img: avatar]](/avatars/inrhapsody.png)
inrhapsody gave it
on 30th Aug 2010 and said:Overall First Impression: Boy does this site have a ton of pink on it! The good thing is, the pink color is not too crazy, but it could be tamed just a tad.
Layout: The header on your layout could be changed just a bit, perhaps it's the purple color that you have on it, to me it just dosen't go well with the rest of the layout. The fonts on the titles in the sidebar could be just a tad smaller, they seem way to big, and a bit distracting. Overall I do like the way the layout is coming together.
About: I like that you kept information about yourself and your site simple. It adds a bit of mystery to you, but there will be others that may want to know more, such as where your site is hosted, and where you're from.
Extra: I love the illustrations, very cute and nicely done. The layouts section is pretty simple and the layouts you offer are perfect for beginners that are just starting out. Keep this section going, add more content.
Links Pretty basic really, but I like the descriptions you've added, that always helps the visitor know what the site that is linked is all about.
Blog I love your sarcastic wit, you have something going there. Your blog has a lot of potential, and you are already on your way to becoming a great webmistress. It's great that you can speak your mind through writing. I got a good sense of your personality and character just by reading your entries.
Overall Your site is pretty basic, simple and most of the pages are very brief and could use a little more information. My suggestion to you would be that you turn off comments for some of the pages and just leave them on for the blog.
Add a little more information about you and your site. Add a little more content for the visitor, and maybe change the header just a tad. Overall I did enjoy your site. Keep up the fantastic job. You have great potential, and I look forward to visiting again.Reviewed By: Bella @ Inrhapsody.com
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Misski's Response:
I agree with everything you said, and will definitely take everything into consideration! Thanks, girl!
![[img: avatar]](/avatars/Jamie.jpg)
Jamie gave it
on 12th Apr 2010 and said:Hi I'm Jamie :) my parents are supposedly asleep in the next room so I gotta make this short!
your layout is okay, Its very impressive for your age, I couldn't to better, or the same. (seeing that I'm 5 years younger that you) but its kinda boring... it just needs more.. colors, more rainbows! :P (sorry I'm bad at criticism its not my thing.)
I like your wallpapers, but they kinda look more like textures to me! :P
your poems are like, awesome! :P I like "Lacking Creativity"! its funny! :P and true!
your about page could defiantly have more info on yourself though ;/ ...just sayin... :P
Overall I like your site, its not like I'm standing on my chair going "!!!OMGTHISISTHEBESTESTSITEINTHEWORLD!!!!" but its nice :) keep up the good work
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Misski's Response:
Thank you, Jamie. I appreciate your review. I agree, the layout IS boring. Funny how I'm trying to make a layout for somebody else, and it looks better than my own. I'm not sure about rainbows, but I'll create something more interesting!
It's not really about the age. It only takes passion and dedication. Thanks again!
![[img: avatar]](/avatars/Jem.gif)
Jem gave it
on 23rd Mar 2010 and said:I have a baby asleep across one arm at the moment, so my review probably won't be as long as it normally would. Not sure if that's a good thing or not! :P
I opened your site in Firefox first and, as a NoScript user, thought you had a big grey gap at the top. Here in Chrome I can see that in actual fact this is where you have a strip of Google ads. Not keen on adverts on non-commercial/small sites personally, particularly where they appear above the content (the "meat" of the site). The other advert in the sidebar is currently asking me if I want to meet black singles. Not sure of the relevance... o.O
Do you really need the adverts? Do they make you any money? I would question how worthwhile they are if the answer to either of those is 'no'...
The layout is quite plain. Not in a bad/boring way, just in a non-flashy way. In terms of first impressions, it makes me think that the focus of this site is going to be more written than verbal. If that's correct, it's achieving its purpose.
Still with the layout - the spacing between the top of the content (title of your most recent entry) and the top of the white box is different to the spacing between the left of the entry and white box. I would tweak these to match for consistency sake (remember the CRAP design principles - Contrast Repetition Alignment Proximity; http://carsonified.com/blog/design/how-crap-is-your-site-design/ )
I think there needs to be more spacing, or a visual divider between one entry and another, because at the minute they all tend to run in to one another. Cute comic in the top entry though :)
Your links are hard to see in entries because the colour is barely different to normal text. Change the colour or distinguish them in another way - underline, background, something like that.
In the PC vs Mac entry you seem to have double height gaps between paragraphs and it looks a bit daft. FWIW I am pro-PC and can't stand Macs ;)
More adverts at the bottom of the layout.. ugh :X
Your about page is pants. Where's the juicy gossip? Rough age, where you're from, what you're doing with life maybe? Oh, and I've just noticed a typo in your sidebar... guessing "comes in hand" should be "comes in handy".
I've just found another downside to the top strip of adverts - I nearly clicked one just thinking it was some sort of subnavigation.
Domain page could have more info too. E.g. did you draw the comic figure in the layout, reason behind the name, who you're hosted with, etc. Of course, these aren't compulsory bits but fills in gaps for the user (or perhaps I'm just a nosy bugger?) Would also be nice to have a credit link to the habari project in there somewhere, particularly as it desperately needs the support of its users to raise awareness.
There should be a gap between the end of the list of poems and the Short Stories subtitle. I don't have the time/inclination to review your writings today; perhaps another time. Sorry - got to make the most of this sleeping baby time!
Pleaseeee make thumbnails for your free wallpapers instead of simply referencing the giant image and resizing it with height/width attributes. Not all of us have the luxury of super-fast cable broadband. I have ADSL personally, and a bandwidth limit that I don't want to go over!
You need to make some attempt to style comments/the X Responses to [..] stuff on individual entry pages - they're looking fairly messy at the minute.
Coding-wise... wow, lots of things to cover. You need an alt attribute in your header, particularly as this is effectively your site logo, and with images disabled there's no clear indication of the page title/header. You're missing the closing tag for the h1 around the logo.
Again, alt attribute needed on the RSS link.
Get rid of the div=meta inside the h5 for dates.. give the meta class to the h5 instead.
The PETA comment needs an alt attribute too. (This is getting repetitive - let's just say that all images need an alt attribute; if an image is purely decorative you can leave the attribute blank but otherwise it should have some appropriate text in.)
You have unescaped ampersands in various places - e.g. the link to the definition of "negro". Swap any & for &
You have a random </footer> in there for no reason?
The JavaScript at the very bottom of the code should be before the </body>
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Your site is generally well presented and easy to read. However, the supplementary info pages are too brief, the coding missing a few important attributes and the design lacking a few finishing touches. The adverts really kill the overall experience for me and would piss me off if I were to return regularly. I'm a snob though, what can I say..
UPDATED 23 Mar 10:
Couple of minor corrections to my review - by "written not verbal" I actually meant written not *graphical*; "PETA comment" should have been PETA *comic*. Blame baby brain!Incidentally, by updating my review now I've just found some irritating bugs with this site which need fixing, hmm. Thanks, I think :P
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Misski's Response:
Omg... THE Jem just reviewed my website? *dead*
I'll carefully read your review later but I did removed the ads.
(3 stars from Jem??! YES!!)
UPDATED 23 Mar 10:
I fixed a lot of the things you've mentioned. Thanks!
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