liquid-mojo
First Impression: 1/5 � *blink* Whoa. Can you say cluttered, much?
- Like Woah! OK yeah I may have tried to squeeze in more than a few elements in that limited space... I'll consider removing a few elements in my next redesign just to see if a simpler layout looks more appealing.
Layout Color Scheme: 7/10 � Black background with white, grey, and blue. I like black, so that�s great but I think you
have too many colours. Maybe if you just stuck with black, white, and grey.
- I used to have a blue "matrix code" background in some of the
previous incarnations of my layout. I have removed that background since
then for the sake of simplicity but the blue links have remained. Actually
according to usability studies, it is usually best to stick to the default
blue underlined text for hyperlinks as it it the most recognizable for the
casual user. I will keep your suggestions in mind however and consider
removing blue from my color palette, just to se how it would look in a
layout.��
Text Colors: 5/5 � White. It shows up fine on a black background.
- It's actually "off-white" as suggested in a previous review
by Miss Pyrotic a.k.a. unjane- of Quite Nasty Reviews. I'm actually
considering font larger by 1 pt (9pt as opposed to 8pt) and maybe going with
a darker shade of white for regular text. Thanks for not penalizing me
here...
�Link Colors: 1/5 � Blue. This blue is really annoying me and I don�t know why. Maybe it is because there is no blue in
your layout except for the banner at top, which I don�t like. Stick with colors
that go together.
- The banner IS part of the layout,� so the color blue is a
justifiable color of the palette. But seeing as you feel as if that color is STILL
is out of place I guess that justifies the low score in your mind. I guess I
have to live with that for now. As I said I'll play with tweaked versions of
this layout that do not include blue in the color palette.
Link Effects: 2/5 � The blue links turn to white with a blue shadow surrounding it. I like the effect, just not with
your layout.
- If you LIKE the effect, logic would dictate a higher score regardless of how it fits with the layout. A 2/5 would mean you hated it, at least in my mind and I already had points taken off in my layout, I'm thinking you are beating a dead horse twice, then again that's just my opinion...
Navigation: 3/10 � I can find my w! ay around the site great, don�t get me wrong there. However, some of your links
are lined up while others are in the drop down menu. Put all or none in the drop down menu. Do you really need two prev/next
buttons? I suggest you kill the ones under the portfolio image link. Speaking of the portfolio link, it�s rather annoying. The
picture is neat, but not as a link. Also, as I mentioned before, the banner with your site�s name on it doesn�t go with the
rest of the layout, and it really doesn�t look good as a link though I must admit the light scroll over effect is pretty cool.
- OK now this is just plain insulting, you could have at least bothered
to use a spell checker or maybe see a doctor about that nervous twitch in
your pinky finger that causes you to hit the exclamation point. I mean
really if you lost your passion for reviewing to the point of careleesssness why not just quit instead of just going through the motions. This doesn't seem like a very rewarding experience for you. Well, OK so maybe you had a bad day, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt on this one.�
- Personally, I don't see how difficult it is to navigate my site.
I designed it so that a chimpanzee can easily navigate to any page in my
diary. Ask Bobo, my chimpanzee tester.
�
�
- He had absolutely not trouble navigating my site. He gives the navigation
a solid thumbs up and he can also easily count past 3 and he thinks you are
really jacked for giving me only a 3/10 here. I told him that you are entitled to your opinion, but somehow that has done little to ease his anger. Bobo is angry, Bobo is very angry, Bobo is making obscene finger gestures. Stop that Bobo! That's not very nice!!!�
- But really, seriously I was just playing with the drop-down menu idea as suggested by Melody in another one of my reviews. I used to have them all as regular links. I even left them as a comment in my source code� In case I choose to change them back. I'll consider making it all text. Thanks for your suggestion and for that really low score. *major eyeroll*
Errors: 5/5 � None that I see.
- To flip the script a little, I think you gave me too high of a score
here. If you would have dug deeply enough like other, better reviewers have
you would have caught some errors. Of course these errors are due to a
diaryland glitch and they are no fault of the designer. But I guess your
lack of thoroughness is my gain, so thanks.
Appeal: 1/5 � I don�t find this layout appealing at all. It almost
seems you are trying to do every technique there is in all one layout, or at least with the links. It also is rather cluttered
and boxy.
- Well you opinion is your opinion I guess. I can't really knock you too
much for that though the thought has crossed my mind. I admit I do try to incorporate unusual elements in my design. What I don't want is the average "cookie cutter" layout. I don't want it to be basic. Fuck simplicity, I'm not a simple person and I think my layout is a reflection of that. Really if the layout in your own diary is your idea of a "perfect layout" then I can see how mine would be completely unappealing to you. Thank you for your honesty, you have been rewarded with honesty of my own...
Originality: 8/10 � I must admit I�ve never seen a layout like this before.
- A unique layout was definitely one of my design goals, I'm glad that
point was acknowledged...
Bonus: 1/5 � T! he only thing I can find bonus worthy is the light effect on the banner, though I�d still trash the
banner.
- Sure trash the banner, might as be thorough in the trashing of my
layout. I actually might consider getting rid of it if someone other than
you suggests it. Otherwise your lone opinion is quite meaningless to me. Well OK I think Adam of diaryviews suggested that so I'll think about it some more. I'm glad you liked the effect though. I found it cool as well.
- Oh and and watch that
stray pinky finger, focus and resist the urge to hit that exclamation point
mid-word. It's seriously impairing my ability to appreciate this otherwise
fine review. ;) Don't think you can retroactively go back and fix these
silly typos either. I have a screenshot of those heinous acts of
carelessness and I'm not afraid to use it. ;)
Overall: 34/65 � Try to minimize the clutter and change the links looks.
- At least you offer some constructive advice, I'll give you that
much. A little heavy-handed with the point deductions, but hey you didn't
like my layout and you had trouble using my chimp tested and approved
navigation system. I can see how that could have frustrated you into giving
me such a low score. Thank you for taking those 1-3 minutes to review the
layout of my diary and for giving me so much ammunition for this lovely
rebuttal entry.��I'll consider applying for a re-review in about a
month, for entertainment purposes of course and perhaps a different point of view from one of the other reviewers on staff like Michelle whose layout is the epitome of coolness. I'll accept a layout bashing from
her any day. ;)
Jassie
