Dojo website

[Mugu]

Hi guys,

Just want to get some feedbacks for my dojo's website.

http://kendo-dojo.org/minnehaha/

Nothing's working yet, just got it layout today.

Thanks!

[#2 mouse]

Looks good. You might want to lighten up the "kendo" kanji. It's pretty dark and a little hard to see. The same goes for the color of the links. Something just a bit lighter would make it easier to see.

[h2o]

Really nice!

A few suggestions... The large image (with the kanji) is a little to close to the text. Try setting a little larger margin.

White text on black background is generally not a very good idea for long texts. Consider that when making your final texts. Also try changing the text color from #ffffff to something a little less bright.

[Paburo]

hi mugu

some comments from a fellow webmaster:

-the top area seems too empty, it could use a tittle or a banner, or if kept empty at least lift the main menu a bit more to the top.

-it wouldnt hurt to post an image or a banner of kendo being practiced somewhere (check out the ajkf page for instance). not all people who will stumble to your page will know what kendo is about...

i guess only that for now.... it would be better to comment once the layout is more developed.

[Tono]

I rather like the white text on black background, but I'm an old green screen terminal user, so you know where my design preferences were born.

Whatever you do, you have to work in your kendo kitty graphic somewhere!

[Mugu]

Thanks for the comments!

I noticed something that I messed up the CSS, so the one you guys saw probably wasn't it. But I do agree that I need to lighten up the kanji, though at the same time I kind of want it to be look like a watermark. I'll definately lighten up the links, the colors look so much damn brighter on my work's monitor.

[filter]

Another suggestion, the brown background (which I like) is a 47K gif, while this is not a problem for me as I'm browsing at work, it is always good to design with the home user in mind.
Dialup users are still a large proportion of internet users and not a group you want to discourage.

I also agree about the contrast between the background and the kendo kanji, it's a bit dark to see, but if subtle is your game, then go for it.

Otherwise it looks great!

[Mugu]

Thanks for all the comments, mmm looks like I still messed up with some parts of the CSS. I'll fix all those stuff tonight.

My inspiration for this website = bored at work, lol :D

[ShinKenshi]

Looks good so far. Maybe a slightly larger text might help as well as possibly an introductory greeting at the top rather than straight to news and events.

[ReKru]

If you want to do yourself a long-term favor, look for some interactive, web-administrable scripts for dynamic content like news, calendar and the gallery. (www.hotscripts.com (http://www.hotscripts.com) - perl or php, depending what your server/hoster supports)

When the novelty has worn off, managing a website can become a big hassle very fast, when you have to update pages all the time yourself.
Better install something with a web-frontend and look for authors that keep the site up to date. :)

[h2o]

Better install something with a web-frontend and look for authors that keep the site up to date. :)In my opinion, CMS is not very helpful at all unless you add or update info very often, or if you have a really large group of people that need to change different parts of the site.
Our club uses a CMS, but then we are a club of about 800+ people with six different martial arts.

[ReKru]

In my opinion, CMS is not very helpful at all unless you add or update info very often, or if you have a really large group of people that need to change different parts of the site.
Our club uses a CMS, but then we are a club of about 800+ people with six different martial arts.

Don't need a full CMS. There's plenty of nice, little 'News' scripts that just let you put the usual announcements for new beginner classes/seminars/tournaments etc. on the site. In calendar form, with user registration, with forum-like features, with picture uploads etc. etc.

Many websites I see have their last news from last year or two years ago - doesn't look very alive and a first time visitor might feel a bit lost when he's looking for a newbie course and only finds 2001's dates - because the ambition of the original site-designer got lost on the way and the update material is somewhere on his desk/in his trashbin and not on the site.

If the site is hard to update, it won't get updated much - if it doesn't get updated much, it misses half of it's potential use.

I'm doing non-profit webdesign for a decade now and learned my lesson - always let other people do the 'dirty work' after you've set up the page. :D

[h2o]

Yes, but that is probably not a technical problem, but a human problem. If a club is so "dead" that it doesn't update it's homepage, I doubt that it will do it even if it is a tiny bit easier. I agree that a "newsscript" would simplify things though.

Webmastering is pain, lucky I don't have any sites under my responsibility nowadays ;)

[ReKru]

It's an organisational problem.
You can either make yourself the bottleneck and be responsible for everything technical and content that happens on your website, or you can plan something that allows different club members to take care of the content side without extensive HTML knowledge and without giving them ftp access to your server.

Webmastering can be fun, if you spread the responsibility and don't end up with CDs full of material that you 'need' to put on the web 'somehow' and asap.

[h2o]

It's an organisational problem.
You can either make yourself the bottleneck and be responsible for everything technical and content that happens on your website, or you can plan something that allows different club members to take care of the content side without extensive HTML knowledge and without giving them ftp access to your server.

Webmastering can be fun, if you spread the responsibility and don't end up with CDs full of material that you 'need' to put on the web 'somehow' and asap.

Yeah, OK, you win. I admit that a CMS is really good unless there is only one person who is supposed to update news, and it happens very seldom.

I am a big fan of CMS myself, since it is superior when it comes to keeping a site consistent and it makes updating the visual appearance a breeze. At least compared to if you have to go through perhaps more than 50 pages ;)

I think our club homepage is a quite good example of good use of a CMS: http://www.linkopings-budoklubb.org. Those who actually put things on the page (i.e. the instructors, which I am not) states that it is also very easy to use. Just to make it absolutely clear: I am not the creator of the site, or has in anyway helped making it. That is the work of another clubmember whos skills are far greater than mine :)

[Mugu]

Yeah eventually I'm turning this whole thing into PHP. I'm using the exisiting admin scripts I've already built through other sites. Combine them together, voila! I got a custom CMS :) I used to like Mambo a lot, but I think for this site's purpose maybe it's a bit overkill using any of those CMS anywayz. And the layout turns out to look like a company more than a dojo.

Just remember guys, I made the layout out of boredom yesterday. I'm not totally happy with the layout yet. And CSS is a bitch already, lol I'm not too fond of CSS, but PHP will be the fun part :)

[Mugu]

Webmastering is pain

especially when you have bitchy client that want to change the entire layout instead of just the text :confused2

[ReKru]

I used to like Mambo a lot, but I think for this site's purpose maybe it's a bit overkill using any of those CMS anywayz. And the layout turns out to look like a company more than a dojo.


That's the problem with almost all CMS I've found - total feature overkill. So I spend most of my time cutting them down to size and removing lots of useless features to get them to a state where the target audience is capable of using them.

If I had more time, I'd really like to take one of those feature-rich CMS and tailor it to the needs of a small organisation (like a dojo or other club), make it easy to install and easy for the administration.

I think a dojo website can look like a good company website - professional with a decent layout (like many technically 'gifted' guys, layout is not really my domain and most of my pages are black on C0C0C0 *yuck*) , but many non-professional webmasters don't have the time to learn php or the administration of mamba sized CMS.

Well, if you need help with script stuff, send me a pm - I used to be quite good with php and perl, but slowly starting to forget most of that stuff :( , so I could need some task where I can train my skills again :)

[EBP2K2]

That's the problem with almost all CMS I've found - total feature overkill. So I spend most of my time cutting them down to size and removing lots of useless features to get them to a state where the target audience is capable of using them.

If I had more time, I'd really like to take one of those feature-rich CMS and tailor it to the needs of a small organisation (like a dojo or other club), make it easy to install and easy for the administration.

I think a dojo website can look like a good company website - professional with a decent layout (like many technically 'gifted' guys, layout is not really my domain and most of my pages are black on C0C0C0 *yuck*) , but many non-professional webmasters don't have the time to learn php or the administration of mamba sized CMS.

Well, if you need help with script stuff, send me a pm - I used to be quite good with php and perl, but slowly starting to forget most of that stuff :( , so I could need some task where I can train my skills again :)

I remember I was working with coldfusion, and since there arent too many CMSs out there for that specific language/platform, I had to write one from scratch... it's not too difficult, as long as you keep the features basic...

speaking of kendo websites, I'm yet to see one that has the content plus aesthetics rolled under a single domain.
it's like 1995 all over again with some of them...

[rainmaker]

I love your photo section.. Very nice and clean.... ^ ^;;

[Kaoru]

Hi guys,

Just want to get some feedbacks for my dojo's website.

http://kendo-dojo.org/minnehaha/

Nothing's working yet, just got it layout today.

Thanks!
Hi Mugu-san,

I just looked at it. BTW, beginners can't wear the uniform until Cochran-sensei says they can, so you should put that in where it says, Q: Do I need to get my uniform?. Beginners don't get to choose when they may wear the uniform. The reason is because sensei watches their footwork to see if it is good enough to be allowed to wear hakama. :)

Oh, and there are some other things too, such as grammar... Should I PM you or put it here? I ought to have my copmputer back in the next week or two, and I can help you out with the site then, if you want, ok? I've got some really nice links for the link section providing my links aren't all gone when I get the computer back. If they are gone, I'll just hunt them down again. :)

Oh yeah, and I can't see any pages but the taikai info page and the questions page. :ermm: Not sure why... Must be me?

Kaoru

[Mugu]

Hi Mugu-san,

I just looked at it. BTW, beginners can't wear the uniform until Cochran-sensei says they can, so you should put that in where it says, Q: Do I need to get my uniform?. Beginners don't get to choose when they may wear the uniform. The reason is because sensei watches their footwork to see if it is good enough to be allowed to wear hakama. :)

Oh, and there are some other things too, such as grammar... Should I PM you or put it here? I ought to have my copmputer back in the next week or two, and I can help you out with the site then, if you want, ok? I've got some really nice links for the link section providing my links aren't all gone when I get the computer back. If they are gone, I'll just hunt them down again. :)

Oh yeah, and I can't see any pages but the taikai info page and the questions page. :ermm: Not sure why... Must be me?

Kaoru

This just a markup, and I'm not happy with it. I'm still working on it. Building a dojo site that looks good actually takes more effort than my portfolio... I need some pictures anyways, I'm gonna go to the dojo tomorrow night and take some pictures besides I left my asthma "puffs" there. I should have just put Lorem Ipsum on the content instead... so you can forget about the content for now, I'm just putting them there to see how it will looks like that's all. You'll have to write all the content anyways Karou, hahahah

[Mugu]

Hi again guys, I'm working on more layouts. I got another one that I'm okay with. This one is extremely simple and very clean. I think I'm going to shoot more cleaniness and simplicity since the site is meant for informational. At first my target audience is actually our dojo mates to get latest news of what's going on, dojo close on what day and what not. Visitors were actually my secondary audience. After reading all of your inputs again, I guess visitors are more important. But let me know what you think.

Here's the layout (http://kendo-dojo.org/mis/layout1.jpg), I'll post more soon (I actually got work to do at work, I got slowed down hehehehe)

and please note that the pictures and stuff are not finalized, so don't be picky about weird edges and stuff :p I have to take more pictures this saturday.

Thanks in advance!

[Mugu]

I also have to add that the colors look darker on other computers but my work computer... so please bare with it. Super light grey background was what I intended and it looked like it on my work computer, but it did'nt....

[h2o]

Woo, that was beautiful! Great work! Can't really think of anything to change about the layout :)

[crabbi]

Wow Mugu-San...!

That new page layout is really stylish... excellent!...

[Mugu]

Thank you! :)

[ReKru]

I also have to add that the colors look darker on other computers but my work computer... so please bare with it. Super light grey background was what I intended and it looked like it on my work computer, but it did'nt....

Shoot me, but I actually liked the structured background from the first layout.
Structured backgrounds are not really modern, but maybe you could try it in a lighter version on the new one? Looks good in conjunction with the Kendo theme.

Don't worry bout specific colors. When you light the grey up, it will look white on other computers, so you'll never get a perfect result.
It's more important to get the color combination right - and that looks quite ok.

Just ... was having the "Home" and dotted line and "Minnehaha Kendo Club" in 2 different colors intentional?
Somehow irks me, since the 2 colors are quite close but don't look the same. Maybe try to give the "Minnehaha Kendo Club" a completely different color to make it stand out more or have both in the same color. Many people (or maybe just me) feel a bit uncomfortable when they get presented with 2 slightly different 'concepts' because our brain always tries to find out which one is the correct one (if I remember the lecruting from one of our artists correctly).

[LNGUYEN]

You should put a "HOT GIRL IN BOGU" at front page for more attraction. Ha Ha, just kidding, but think about it.

[ReKru]

You should put a "HOT GIRL IN BOGU" at front page for more attraction. Ha Ha, just kidding, but think about it.

Kendo has enough boys, no need to attract more with "hot girlz in bogu". She should put a "hot stud in bogu" there instead :D :smoker:

[Mugu]

Shoot me, but I actually liked the structured background from the first layout.
Structured backgrounds are not really modern, but maybe you could try it in a lighter version on the new one? Looks good in conjunction with the Kendo theme.

That's the thing, I was debating whether to stick with dark red and goldish colors because when I think of something Asian, those are the colors for some reasons. Though, like I said since this is an informational website mostly. Dark colors will really be a biotch to read especially when you're just trying to look for information.


Just ... was having the "Home" and dotted line and "Minnehaha Kendo Club" in 2 different colors intentional?

Yes, they are intentional. Since orange and blue are complimentary colors, the colors stand out a lot more so I used that as the "logo" so to speak. The blue is subtle but it's good enough to stand on its own to get attention.


Somehow irks me, since the 2 colors are quite close but don't look the same. Maybe try to give the "Minnehaha Kendo Club" a completely different color to make it stand out more or have both in the same color. Many people (or maybe just me) feel a bit uncomfortable when they get presented with 2 slightly different 'concepts' because our brain always tries to find out which one is the correct one (if I remember the lecruting from one of our artists correctly).

I was using the same colors on both, too but the whole thing seems so dull with almost the same colors. I've been also sparked up by some David Carson stuff lately, he uses really weird colors and typography. I was gonna go even weirder, but that would weird out the whole thing. Thanks for a very detail feedbacks. I really appreciated it.

I dunno guys, which one would you prefer?

[Mugu]

You should put a "HOT GIRL IN BOGU" at front page for more attraction. Ha Ha, just kidding, but think about it.

ROFL, I'll put "HOT STUD IN BOGU" banner and when they click on it, it's sensei, lol Unless you guys get Hai_Hai to take some sexy pics for me, lol

[Mugu]

Well looks like I can forget about all of these layouts. Someone else took over and i didn't even know about it. Oh well

Thanks for all the inputs anyways

[Mugu]

The project ended up in my hands again. I'm actually happy about this layout, but my sempai seems to like the old one better, hahah

http://kendo-dojo.org/Minnehaha/index.php

[ShinKenshi]

The project ended up in my hands again. I'm actually happy about this layout, but my sempai seems to like the old one better, hahah

http://kendo-dojo.org/Minnehaha/index.php Umm, is it just me, or is the main text of the page in some foreign language that I don't understand?


Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Nunc vel dui. Ut libero urna, molestie eu, lobortis a, varius in, erat. Integer neque leo, malesuada eu, malesuada luctus, tincidunt eu, quam. Donec pharetra dictum tortor. Proin adipiscing. Praesent pharetra, erat nonummy viverra sollicitudin, leo diam viverra felis, non auctor sapien mi sit amet ligula. Pellentesque eu eros. Nam ultricies pretium ante. Nunc sem velit, vestibulum in, ullamcorper in, aliquam vel, mauris. Nam id arcu. Sed dapibus justo ac sapien.

Mugu, I thought you said you were in charge of this thing now?

[Mugu]

Umm, is it just me, or is the main text of the page in some foreign language that I don't understand?

Mugu, I thought you said you were in charge of this thing now?

the Lorem Ipsum is a standardized design filler text, you can do a search on Lorem Ipsum and you know I'm not lying :p I knew this would come up, lol

[LNGUYEN]

Mugu,

I am so disappointed, where is the picture of "hot girl in bogu" on the front page? :silly:

[Mugu]

Mugu,

I am so disappointed, where is the picture of "hot girl in bogu" on the front page? :silly:

LOL, it'll be up :D It's not done yet, it's still undergoing testing on my server :D

[Fonsz]

Mugu,

I am so disappointed, where is the picture of "hot girl in bogu" on the front page? :silly:
Where are the pictures? Do we have to hand in a petition signed by all the male KW forumites or something? Please hurry up and post them ASAP:laugh: :cheeky:

[Mugu]

Where are the pictures? Do we have to hand in a petition signed by all the male KW forumites or something? Please hurry up and post them ASAP:laugh: :cheeky:

I think so, I don't want to get sue for copyright stuff after all :D

Back on topic, any feedbacks for the website? Things I should change?

[ShinKenshi]

The text could be a little bigger and the width of the whole thing could also be a little bigger. Its current size gives me the sense that it's a little cramped. Granted there isn't much in there now but right now it's a little hard on my eyes to read.

[Mugu]

The text could be a little bigger and the width of the whole thing could also be a little bigger. Its current size gives me the sense that it's a little cramped. Granted there isn't much in there now but right now it's a little hard on my eyes to read.
Made those changes :) anything else? the lorem ipsum has to stay for now, I haven't got any content from my sempai yet. I'll see how he likes the idea of Hot Chicks in Bogu on the front page, lol

[Fonsz]

Hello there,
It looks very nice, hell it looks even better than our web site. I think you have covered it all. The lay out is nice and easy too navigate. The lack of pictures of girls in bogu is a problem that should be fixed very rapidly. Usually there's a story about the history of the dojo or something or is that covered in the Ipso facto text.
Other than that it looks very nice.

[ReKru]

Could still need more size. Font size up 1 or even 2 and the whole page should not be limited to 650 widht.
I'm sitting here in front of a dual 20" screen setup (at work, not filthy rich enough to have that stuff at home) and it looks tiiiny :(

Try 80% scaleable or at least a 800-900 pixel width?

First picture ( http://kendo-dojo.org/Minnehaha/images/keiko.jpg ) looks supersweet (as in 'totally ninja sweet' .. despite the lack of hot chicks in bogu), but could be at least 2x - 3x as large so you can see some details.

[ShinKenshi]

Yeah, could still be bigger. Just expand the overall size of what we see.

[Mugu]

the keiko.jpg is temporary only :P But yeah, I'll make it bigger. Though, not sure about the scalable part for the width though. I'm not a master of CSS yet, just good enough to make things look the way I want. The 80% scalable can mess up a lot of things since IE/Firefox/Netscape interprets width and height differently. I tried it out, it reallly messed it up especially my header is a static at that width. I don't think I can increase more width for the header because my "spacing" for it looks really odd. I guess 650px is safe for people who uses 800x600 resolutions, I don't know about going for 700 though...

I have increased the font to 13px. Big fonts scare me away from a webpage for some reasons, it kinda hurts my eyes when I read big fonts. It's like reading capitalized letters in bold almost. So, my fonts never went over 12px. The biggest h1 font you can find on my sites will be 15px. I guess as a tiny person I am, I like things tiny :p This is my first time gets the regular fonts to 13px... I'm making progress to defeat my trauma.

[ReKru]

... people who uses 800x600 resolutions ...

800x600 resolutions is SOOOO last millenium. Only people using that are probably those that can't find the switch to turn their resolution up to something every 50$ monitor can handle nowadays (.. ok, on a second thought that might be billions :/ )