Corporate site check again !!! - Thanks in advance

[gilesb]

Hi all,

sometime ago i posted a link to my company's corporate site that we had just finished flashing it was entitled "site check - not bad for a corporate site!!". I got quite a good response.

Since then we have gone through a rebrand and name change (we are now called "Blueprint SoftWare Ltd" instead of Stratisoft")

Anyway if you guys could check and give feedback I would be really greatful

(check the portfolio link - quite pleased with this one!!!)

also the scrolling mechanism at the bottom of the the "clients" and "alliances" sections.


http://www.blueprint.net


thanks in advance


gilesb

[mcpeekj]

scrollbars in mobile computing go WAY too fast, especially for it being a rollover.
i hate to say it, but why'd you do this in flash? there isn't much here that couldn't have been done in html with javascript.
very impressive client list and portfolio section

[gilesb]

Thanks for that first response

it was not the rollover scrollers i was talking about it was the scroling feature at the bottom of the clients and alliances sections

yea those scrollers you mentioned are a little quick. not much you can do about that though using the scroll funciton of a dynamic text field - and i wanted them to be on click not rollover, but then i am not the boss - i am only the flash developer

We did do it in HTML too, but you compare what you just saw with this link

http://www.blueprint.net/html/index.htm

My thoughts on flash is that it should be used professionally to add slickness and quality to a site - NOT to be over the top flash for flash sake - that actually gives flash a bad name. You must have heard those that dont know anything about flash saying - "yea anyone can use flash" - quite clearly anyone cannot use flash.


Compare the 2 sites and then tell me it was not a good idea to do it in flash

the javascript controlled site is jerky and until you have it cached it flashes white sections at you etc etc

I think that flash gives such a nicer user experience, what do you think??

i await your reply after you have compared.......
[Edited by gilesb on 05-03-2002 at 11:38 AM]

[thmac]

Nice site, simple and easy to navigate. I especially like little effects here and there like how you have that top bar spin and distort on selections. Fast loading and doesn't seem too memory intensive at all.

Great work!

PS- Are they in need of anymore freelance designers? I don't want to steal you clients though ; )

Cheers.

[mcpeekj]

ok, i looked at the html site. you probably won't like what i have to say (or you might, it would depend on what you're looking to get from this).
the html site is done very well. like i said before, nearly everything done in the flash site was duplicated using dhtml (except the nav rollovers). yes, the flash site was smoother, but that is only to be expected.
i don't have any issues with the flash site at all, i think it is done very subtly, which was your goal. i just like to know what people's reasonings are behind doing a site in flash, when it CAN be done in html. usually when this occurs, it is exactly what you said, only reversed...people using flash b/c it is flash, not because it is adding anything to the piece.
in my opinion, it's duplicated work. i know flash is trying to become more mainstream and not only the tool for portfolios and the like, but at this time, there are more issues with things like bandwith and plugins with flash than html. (by no means am i bashing flash, just speaking about limitations)

[ryanhome]

not too sure about the page title bar as when it transforms and rotates it overlaps the image to the right of it, otherwise seems simple and nice but i agree with the HTML not FLASH statement above

[brandonbarr]

I like the site alot. very well done. And I disagree about the Flash/HTML comments. There ARE subtle details in the Flash version that add character to the site without appearing "for Flash's sake".

Maybe the situation could be resolved with a splash page that told how big the Flash files were and have the choice of either site? The non-flash site loads quicker, and some dial-up customers may prefer that option before the main site loads and gives them the option on the front page.

But I deign to say much more, because you are so much more talented than me.

Best,

[flashpest]

Dig that crazy, morhphing indicator on top. Looks good and has a pro-feel to it. Like the crisp text as well.

[gilesb]

thanks for the replies guys


dont know what you meant about the top bar covering the right hand image??

any way did not mean to antagonise the DHTML protagonists among you!!!!

still think flash is smoother

anyway cheers all

gilesb

[dissector]

Very nice, smooth, clean. Doesn't really matter that its flash as long as you mind people not being able to deep link you, and all the search engine issues.

I don't like the header spinning as its not very clear what its doing and just looks a little messy.

Not sure about the orange on dark blue combination but that appears to be part of your branding so there's not a lot you can do.

I think the shadows on the headings make it more difficult to read. If you decreased the distance the shadow is away from the text it might be clearer.

I liked playing with the portfolio bit but would prefer if it was kept inside the main site window.

Please check my site http://board.flashkit.com/board/show...hreadid=307101 thanks!

Chris

[Keytonic]

Hey giles, I liked your flash site more than the html it's easier to get around then clicking the back button all the time and the flash site is smoother. The scrolling is a bit to fast , but other than that it looks good. Simple, clean, and sharp.

[geepez]

i like it. It's cool. Seriously.
The layout is nice, and i like the button effects.

[ninudesi]

sleek, sweet, to the point....nice Job~!

-Ninu

[flashfrog]

Very nice subtle use of flash - just the right amount of animation i think. Nice color scheme too. Very balanced.
I agree that the portfolio should be in the main site however. And I would try to edit down the copy a bit - people just dont seem to have the patience to read on the web.

as they say in the UK, Cheers

[pheck]

very clean.

i love clean. i too really like the morphing bar at the top. reminds me of the morphing at estudio.com (not saying at all they you are imitating or similiar, just a compliment). i'm not sure either about the orange in there. other than that, can't see anything wrong with it. good work.

[denmark219]

that is a pretty good website. The only thing that i noticed is that the spheres in the portfolio part can be dragged below their shadow, that shouldn't be possible. Just a thought.

[label]

Woah!! Awesome.. I love that Nav bar.. Sweet! Great work man! Cant really complain about anything.. its all well done!
label/idfreak

[gilesb]

Thank you all for your comments

will ammend the portfolio so that the spheres cant be dragged lower than their shadows!!!!!

yea the orange is there because of the company branding, you get used to it!!

i remember the estudio thing too, but i kind of saw the rollover idea from "fido"

thanks again and flashfrog??

i know they say "cheers" in the UK - i live and work in London

gilesb

[portchanian]

The Bomb

your site is clean, dynamic and actually I was surprised by the speed! I mean the way everything is so easy to go through and the interface in compact and easy to navigate.

for the portfolio section....my advice would be to lose the custom window...why, cuz it's been done everywhere, you have'nt taken the time to change the icons (x) and it does not work under netscape 4.7.

although the interface is innovative.. the bounces!

ciao

paul -- reflektions!

[Anna Banana]

Hi! I'm here to review, but so much has been said already! I really like it, and I don't think you have much to change, so I'll be really, really picky and just comment on one little itty bitty thing that I noticed...

Your "Clients" section and "Alliances" section have pretty much the same little system down at the bottom, but the mouseover info is presented differently. Both ways are very nice, but Alliances>Fordway and Adobe etc. mouseover texts come a little too close to the bottom of the box, I think it makes it feel a little cramped, even if it's just a little mouseover. Maybe using the bubbles would work here too, or would you rather show off the different effects you can use?

I hope that made sense, and I hope you don't mind my pickiness.

The portfolio section is sweet, thanks for reviewing mine too!