Divine Designs

Divine Designs

****- (Rated by 3 people, viewed by 110 people)

My graphical website which has been up and running for quite a while now. Version 4.0 has also been up for a while but before I launch Version 4.5 I need to know what else needs correcting. Whilst I've tried to optimise browser compatibility as much as I can, there is still one major error in Internet Explorer, so the site is best viewed in Google Chrome/Firefox/etc.

Added by natty in Graphics

Divine Designs has 3 Reviews

Below are the reviews left by other members on Divine Designs. Jump to review form?

  1. [img: avatar]
    pianopanda gave it ***** on 30th May 2010 and said:

    I love the layout! I love how it's so professional looking, and I love the design. It's easy to look around and it's just nice to look at.
    The color scheme is different, but it's a good different. It's not all annoyingly cheerful as you would usually see with rainbows. It works for it.
    The javascript navigation is really awesome, and I can tell that you put a lot of work into this layout.

    Your visitor content is really good and there's enough to keep visitors staying and looking around, and coming back for more.

    You are extremely talented at webdesigning.

    I love where you placed everything, especially the affiliates. It's an easy place to see them and they're not crowding the content.

    Overall, i think your site is amazing! I give it five stars!

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  2. [img: avatar]
    Vera gave it ***-- on 25th Apr 2010 and said:

    Hi there, this is the part where I make a witty intro... but my reviewing skills are quite a bit rusty so, I'll have to forgo that. I could however tell you that I liked that your last review was long, which made me interested? Anyway, enough useless babbling...
    Apologies for the lack of proofreading. I'm very lazy.

    === First Impression ===
    Not particularly fond of the site name, it makes me think of one of those cheesy anime graphics sites. Not necessarily true, just... one of the reasons I would have normally passed over reviewing your site.

    Looking at your design, I'm reminded of the layout of Autumn Sunset's (the one Reesha is using for her gallery). Probably because it was one of the last sites I reviewed. It's probably just the color scheme though. Obviously once I put the two designs "side by side" they don't actually strike me as similar at all.

    Oh you have a fish-eye javascript menu? Haven't actually seen one of these "in action". That is to say, I read many tutorials on how to make one, but never really seen a site use these. The first time I notice it, I kept playing with it for about 10 minutes (i.e hovering left and right over the buttons).

    === Presentation ===
    Rainbows... I know, I'm so eloquent. *cough* Normally, I'm not really fond of the so-called "rainbow layouts", because of the amount of colors and the nature of the color combinations. Thankfully, yours doesn't really follow that pattern, so my apprehension is somewhat alleviated. That said, I still find the color choice a rather odd. Whenever I saw a rainbow, the weather was sunny and bright, with only few clouds around. Your design, however is dark. If anything it makes me think of night-time. To the best of my knowledge, there are no rainbows at night... but don't quote me on that (I didn't actually look it up).

    Your navigation is cute, and compelling... only not in a way that a site navigation should be. I keep wanting to "play" with it. However I don't really feel like clicking on any link. Interactive sites are all the rage these days, with 238047 tutorials on how to achieve some "funky monkey" effect on every second design magazine, it's no wonder. However, just being able to successfully implement an effect doesn't necessarily make a site more appealing. Case in point: your navigation.
    This fish-eye style navigation was taken from Mac OS docking icons. The way this effect is implemented in those OS, is indeed very useful, having some quick useful link available at all times. This, however is not the case for your design. For longer pages, when I scroll down the navigation disappears. Unlike when using a Mac OS, the docked icons are still in the same place, not matter how much you scroll down/up/sideways.
    Secondly, there are way too many buttons in the main navigation. The regular visitor has an extremely short attention span, so you should make sure to give him/her as few things to choose from, as possible. Your link categories could easily be organized differently, and contracted.
    My suggestion would be:
    Home
    Site Info, Network
    Linkage, Affiliates
    Designs, Graphics, Resources
    Tutorials
    and Contacts -> moved in place of the Affiliates.

    With that, basically, you will have a grand total of 5 links below the header, as opposed to 10, which is twice as much.

    Out of curiosity, I click on the affiliates "basket", fully expecting to be led to a page dedicated merely to your affiliates. I can say that I was pleasantly surprised that this was not the case. Nevertheless, my opinion about moving the contact link here, with the same effect, still stands. It's really nice that you want to show some appreciation to other sites, but they really shouldn't take up such an important place. Heck, they seem more important than the main navigation: when I scroll the page down/up, the link remains in the exact same place. Why not use something similar for your main navigation instead. After all your main goal is to make your visitors stay here as long as possible, not to direct them to your affiliates' sites.

    Oh an another thing about your main navigation: you might want to rethink the hover color of the link text. I have a hard time reading "Graphics" and "Resources" when I however over the buttons, near their reflected image.

    Your main text, is a bit hard to read. I would suggest you darken the background of the gray boxes. I'd prefer a bit more contrast between the white text and the mid gray background. Other than that, I greatly appreciate, your good use of font-size and padding. It's not something I often see in (amateur) design sites. So good job.

    I mostly like your footer, with the rainbow and all. Quite an ingenious idea to place the links on the clouds. Do change their hover color though, white text on white background is not exactly the best combination. And speaking of hovering over links: don't change the cursor to crosshair. This is such an outdated and "unhealthy" trend. In general, you should keep the browser's default behavior. Website surfers are used to a certain functionality of the browser, in certain cases. Like for example, the little hand being an indicator of a link. Pepole unused to old anime graphics sites from 2003-2004, could easily be confused by the crosshair cursor, and not think of it as being a link.

    One final look, at your header, I'd suggest moving the site title, more towards the middle of the image, somewhere between the two clouds. I presume that you'll change this design at one, but not necessarily your site name as well, so why not put more emphasis on it? Plus, you want people to remember coming to your site, so what better way than putting its name is a more prominent place?

    All in all, despite the large number of criticism, I don't dislike your layout. It's actually quite refreshing to see such a graphics oriented site, that tries to conform to current trends, and is not still stuck in 2004-like style. You do, however need to put more thought into the hows and whys of the design/functionality you choose to employ. I suggest, checking out http://smashingmagazine.com's articles. There are a lot of lists presenting various sites, which use such elements successfully, both visually as well as functionally. In order: quality over quantity.

    === Content ===
    One of the first thing I notice that you're finally not obsessed with the welcome message. It is in its place on the main page. Yay! I've lost count over how many times I've seen this present on all pages. Now the actual content of the welcome could use some adjustments.

    Let's take for example the first two phrases:

    Welcome to Divine Designs v. 4.0 - Taste the Rainbow! The main banner is copyrighted to Divine Designs.

    What I understand from this is: "Hi, my name is Divine Designs. Don't steal my crown!" If you'd introduce yourself as such to a person, don't be surprised if said person would be offended. After all, why would you even start accusing someone of wishing to steal something. Aside that, your header image is not of the best quality, you can especially notice this on the right (larger) rainbow. The red dust/sparkle looks rather pixellated.

    Moving on:

    We also offer pre-made graphics for your own personal use, just ensure that you've read up on our Terms & Conditions before you actually use them.

    Once again you mention stealing, albeit in a more covert way, by "reminding" people to read your Terms of Use. I agree that a lot of people take design without credit, but FFS do you have to wave a metaphorical stick in my (the visitor's) face right from the start? Ironic really, how professional designers don't threaten with lawyers every second line your their portfolio. Ever stopped to think why?

    And the last part of your introduction:

    Remember, if you find any bugs in the site, or wish to contact me privately, you can do so using the form found here.

    I think visitors will see the envelope link in the main navigation, so this is rather superfluous.

    That being said, I'd rephrase your introduction to something like:

    Divine Designs wishes to cater all design enthusiasts, whether pros or beginners. Updates occur every Wednesday, so be sure to bookmark us, so you can stay updated!

    FYI, "favorite" is an adjective, not a verb. If you were referring to Internet Explorer's term of "favorite sites", you could say "add us to your favorite sites".

    ----Info----
    IMO, the first category page is rather superfluous. Yeah, sure the banner for the 4 sections are nice and all (although the text is a somewhat hard to read), I think your could have put the sublinks from the about sections here as well. In place of the banners, you could have used headings styled "nicer" using CSS. Sure this is a design oriented site, but that doesn't mean that everything has to be "dressed up".

    To design, doesn't exactly mean "to invent". According to Webster Online, it means:

    1 : to create, fashion, execute, or construct according to plan : devise, contrive
    2 a : to conceive and plan out in the mind b : to have as a purpose : intend c : to devise for a specific function or end
    3 archaic : to indicate with a distinctive mark, sign, or name
    4 a : to make a drawing, pattern, or sketch of b : to draw the plans for

    Sure, arguably to invent and to create can be the same thing. But inventing involves more originality, than designing.

    The way you choose to to use dictionary-like definitions, is rather cute. I'd suggest, you replace the right-aligned heading with left-aligned ones. People reading English, are accustomed to read from left to right. Given the width of your layout, the headings can easily be overlooked. I almost did. Seeing as they are headings, you wouldn't want them skipped, I presume.

    I had to smile a little at the "tone of voice" used in the history page. I guess it's supposed to be funny, well parts of it. Anyway, like I said, lease use left-aligned headings. Also, instead of simply putting the year, how about adding a brief description/title alongside?
    Eg. "2005 One upon a time..." or well, whatever way you think the beginning could be illustrated.

    From the past layouts, I quite like the second. Especially the boxes on the left for the various content categories. That said, I'm glad you chose to use a smaller navigation :)

    From the credits I see that you're still using Cutenews. Please don't! It has a lot of security holes, plus it hasn't been updated for quite a few years now. There are many other alternatives which are updated more often, and more secure.

    In your T&C page, your first rule is contradicted by all the following ones. After all, how can you say that people can use what you offer "any way they want" and then go on and list the ways they can't use them? I believe, what you're looking for here, instead of "freeware" is "creative commons" license. But don't quite me on it, since I didn't research the various licenses.
    As for point 9: I think "grow up" would be an insult. So I'm going to contend with "rephrase it, so it doesn't sound so childish".

    ----Designs----
    Dividers are objects which break something up into various pieces. If you're looking for a term using div tags, to create layouts, then use "CSS layouts". If there are no layouts using i-frames, which is the work still a link? Heck, why is it still there?

    Layout 004 is nice; aside the fact that it used tables for coding, seeing as these should only be used for tabular data.
    Layout 003 has black text, as such barely anything on it can be read. Fix this.
    Layout 002 has a nice ID, although that's thanks to the girl in it more than what you did. The background is much too distracting... plus you should have centered the design, seeing as with larger resolutions, there is quite a large unused space on the right.
    Layout 001 is my favorite, although the main content needs more padding on the left and right sides.

    Since you offer these design to others, I checked out the coding of the two latest ones:
    004 - doesn't have a doctype tag, which in your case would need to be one for HTML 4.0
    You use some deprecated tags, such as u and center. Your navigation should be inside an unordered HTML list, instead of being separated by a bunch of line breaks (br).
    The CSS is for the most part tidy, but not at all efficient. You should group the declarations pertaining to the same attribute family.
    For example:

    background-image: url(images/h1.jpg);
    background-repeat: no-repeat;

    could be written as

    background: url(images/h1.jpg) no-repeat;

    The background scrolls by default (re: background-attachment: scroll), although when the background is a solid color, fixed or scrolling background attachment don't make a difference.

    For hexadecimal colors use shortened code whenever possible: eg instead of #FFFFFF use #FFF, similarly instead of #FF00CC use #F0C
    u, i and b tags are deprecated. Instead of i and b use em, respectively strong. As for u, use CSS (text-decoration: underline).

    003 - you call this a design type tables/dividers. Not sure why you'd need both, but ah well.
    Once again missing the doctype tag, this time for HTML 5. Now that I notice, why are you using iso-8859-1? You could very well use utf-8. I don't see any special characters needing the former. On top of the really badly used tables (is the header image SLICED??), I also see inline styling. Why use an external stylesheet if you still have inline styling. Not entirely sure why you'd need a div here... since you could very well style the article tag to fit your needs.
    Your CSS is the same as before. With the added mention that there is no such thing as font-weight: strong (there is font-weight: bold, however).
    Also, be careful with all the HTML 5 and CSS 3.0 IE 7 and 8 don't support most of it.

    All in all, your designs are nothing special. And your coding is incredibly outdated and thus needlessly complicated. Tables are not intended for layout design, but for tabular data (eg: http://w3schools.com/css/css_reference.asp - notice the tables used for css properties?).

    ----Graphics----
    Avatars, Banners and Icons are rather run of the mill, mostly illegally using anime/game pictures. No just linking back to the creators is not enough.
    Your wallpapers are for the most part nice, but a lot of these also illegally use images (for example Kung Fu Panda, Bleach, Dr Who...). You say the stock images are all your property, I'll believe you, since I don't have time (or the patience) to actually double check.

    ----Resources----
    These are for the most part rather good and original. Ditch the icon bases though, since you don't have permission to use those images.

    ----Tutorials----
    I thought that the white heading was the link, at first. I don't see a reason for the white headings, seeing as the links themselves explain pretty well what the article linked is about.

    You have an article on content management systems, featuring Cutenews and Wordpress? Really? Are you aware, that Cutenews is a blogging script more than a content management system? Also, Wordpress is rather new amongst content managent systems, up until rather recently it was still considered a blogging script rather than a content management system. Also, when there are HUNDREDS of CMS out there, shouldn't you include some of the more well known scripts as well: like Joomla and Drupal? Don't write articles unless you know what you're talking about.
    Your list of advantages and disadvantages is rather... perplexing to say the least.


    Loss of Connection: If you lose Internet connection after you hit "submit", and you haven?t saved your update text, then it's lost.
    [code]

    Are you trying to suggest that FTP works without connection to the internet?!

    [quote]
    - Security: It's another way for hackers to mess up your website, Cutenews in particular is rumoured to be easily hacked - though I've never had a problem with this.
    [/quote]

    Are you for real? It's is [i]rumored[/i]? Do a simple google search on "Cutenews vulnerability" and decide then if these are merely rumors... And you're still recommending this to others?!

    Giving a Fair Critique
    I'm not entirely sure, which part of this talks about "fair critique"? You're telling people to keep looking at the object of the critique while reviewing it, and possibly talking about more than one aspect (and you go on to give as example your own way of doing it). I'm sure most people do look at what they're reviewing, and not just blindly type up something. In any case, what is an "unfair" critique, if we're at that? You don't mention that either.

    I noticed, that your links back to the articles of interest are incredibly small (as far as font-size goes). Why is that? Aren't used supposed to (normally) be interested in clicking them?

    Your HTML tutorials, are... well at least I don't see any "HTML basics". But they're still rather overused. Ah well, your explanations are generally decent. A note on displaying code, in your CSS basics article. Don't actually type out the numbers and dashed the way you do. That is incredibly annoying when people want to copy and paste the code. I believe you were going for something like : http://emacsblog.org/2007/02/22/maximize-on-startup-part-2/ As you can notice there, when people copy the text, the numbers are not copied along with the text. Some other scripts offer used the possibility to copy the code as text (sans the numbers).

    Htaccess forwarding
    .htaccess files are not included by default when someone purchases web space. However they can easily be created offline, and then uploaded. For example in Notepad++ I can name a file any way I want. In other words, there is no need for people to ask their host about an htacess file.
    Also, this article doesn't exactly explain what the code does, just how to paste a certain code for doing xyz somewhere. Do read up on mod_rewrite, so you can better explain what the code does.

    Your Photoshop tutorials are good, although quite inconvenient to read as you load an image for the entire tutorial. I suppose this is because you posted them on deviant art before?

    Network - if there is nothing here then why do you link to this page?

    === [b] Coding [/b] ===
    You use a doctype tag for... frameset? Any particular reason? You don't use frames on your site. Aside from the previews of the layouts, but those are different pages (which ironically enough don't even have a doctype tag). You should use a doctype for HTML 4 strict (or transitional if you insist on keeping the target="_blank" attributes).

    External javascript files should have .js extension. Also this way of defining is deprecated, use the same definition you use to include jquery files for the fish-eye navigation.
    center tags are deprecated
    Don't use tables to design a layout. Use CSS and divs, Tutorialtastic has a nice article on how to do the switch: http://www.tutorialtastic.co.uk/tutorial/create_a_tableless_layout

    You have a lot of style attributes in there, even though you use an external stylesheet. Why not make use of classes and ids everywhere, as opposed to just for some "main" tags?

    Your CSS looks as if it was patched together from various different snippets. I'm not sure if this means, that you don't really understand what your code does, or that for (some odd reason) you decided to your 3 different styles of writing your code in the same CSS file. From a sweeping glance it looks fine. Same issues as before, group similar coding together.

    [b]Score: 3/5[/b]

    You are definitely on the good path as far as intentions go. I can clearly see that you deliberately avoid some known mistakes in the trend of graphics sites. Nevertheless, you also still make use of some annoying ones: namely quantity over quality. And you use images from various anime, games and movies which you are not allowed to make derivative work of.

    My suggestion: ditch the designs, avatars, banner and icons. From the wallpapers keep only those which use images you are allowed to. And read up on the subjects you want to write tutorials on (not talking about the Photoshop ones). Also, if you want to give people designs, DITCH tables, please! They are not supposed to be used for layout design, plus you give people with limited (or no) knowledge of HTML and CSS an incredibly cluttered code.

    I wasn't really sure what score to give you. On the one hand you do a lot of things right and try really hard. But then you unexpectedly "surprise" me with something unpleasant. Still on the whole, you're on the right track. Just work more on giving people things that YOU do, instead of making use of pictures you're not allowed to.

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    natty's Response:

    Well, thank you ever so much for the thoroughly detailed review! I'm looking to release V4.5 in the near future, so I'll definitely take into account all that you've said until then!

    To be honest, I'm lazy, and a lot of the pages are "left-over" from the previous design (for example, the extra navigation on the About Me page). I do intend to rectify this though. Haha.

    Whilst table layouts may be outdated and what-not, they're still rather fun/easy to make. I'm not an expert in div-designs, but I'm a fast learner, and will definitely take a look into the link you've given me.

    Also, you mentioned scrapping everything that wasn't created by me, but I'm already doing that ;) Just not on Divine Designs. I have a portfolio site in the making which will only feature my own designs - nothing anime or TV related.

  3. [img: avatar]
    reeshas gave it ***** on 13th Apr 2010 and said:

    pages
    the rainbow idea at first didn't really make me go wow, but its not about the WOW. i think what you did with your new site design is amazing in its own way, the flash and codes you used to design the layout is great. taste the rainbow, now that always makes me laugh. the design is pretty simple and doesn't attract too much attention, what does attract attention is the amount of material you have on the site itself, your adding things, trying new stuff out, being experimental, now thats what fun about webdesigning. as i go though the pages, i see how organized you have table and image, the clear quality of each graphic and image are to die for. well not really... the amount of info you provide on each page is very helpful because if we like something, we can read about it and maybe google that thing like for example, your banners, or your designs, where the main source is listed so we can go find more things if we want related to that one thing you have on your site. i know most people have that, but you gave a little more info on your graphics whereas others don't. your tutorials and articles are very useful and in such great detail! the network icon i think is new, i didn't see that before, so your working on another online masterpiece are you?! well can't wait.

    impression
    its a calm peaceful design, nothing exploding, no anime faces, i dont see any nature but the design itself is so peaceful that you aren't stirred by anything. its just a very nice setting to have your site content in. i enjoyed going though the pages. (actually i was trying to steal one of your icons again...check my icon right now, i LOVE THIS ICON!!!) oh and your affils on the bottom right hand corner, its a neat trick to keep them there, and the highlighting when i hover over just adds to the fun on your site.

    overall
    i think overall the site is beautiful and made with so much love & care, i know your last design was that solar planet one which i think i was never able to finish, i'm sorry about that, this one uses flash and thats a very new and neat trick because most graphic and design sites are still on html, css, php, sql, but you took that extra step to push it into a new generation of coding. the navigation up top is alone quite impressive. the transition from one icon link to the next is so smooth and prefect! your favicon reminds me of Tide the cleaning detergent. i dunno why its got the same colors plus the 'dd' and the swirl. oh whatever, overall the design stands out way more than any other japanese pop layout or anime style layout, so people remember to come back and see what's new!

    errors
    i couldn't spot anything out of place or anything but i did find that your Brushes page, Patterns page, and your Actions page was pushed to the right a little more than maybe you intended on doing so, i don't think it would hurt if you were to center or even align them to the left a little bit more. that's all. ^_^

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    natty's Response:

    Thanks for the comment but... my site doesn't use flash ;) Both the affiliates navigation and main navigation are made with JScript. A clear way to tell if something is made with Flash or not is to right-click it ;)

    UPDATED 14 Apr 10:
    Also, I'd critique your own site - but it doesn't seem to be loading?

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