Site updates - a cleaner look!!!

[*89x2*]

Folks, the COG site has more changes as of tonight - thanks Luigi for meshing it and making it look cleaner :cool


We've got more coming in the near future - Stay tuned...

 

[SurfnSun]

The updated site does look great!

 

[Brangeta]

That's starting to look a lot nicer. It'd be nice to have something other than a white background though. You'll have to excuse me having a big mouth, but design is my business, just not always web design.

But... I would recommend moving the slideshow to the left, and putting the text to the right of it. Or, if you like it the way it is, the navigation would look more appropriate stacked vertically on the left side of the page. It looks kind of silly in my browser as is.

Hopefully you don't take that negatively Luigi, but it's my honest critique (the only way a critique should be done)! It's a good start, but needs some adjusting! It looks a lot like Google right now. http://www.google.com/

 

[TurboLuigi]

Dude,

That happens when you have small a resolution .

The buttons will scroll around because your window cannot open any wider. With your resolution set to 1280x1024, you will have one button that will scroll around.

To make the site look like it was designed, you have two options: 1) increase your video resolution settings 2) zoom out to 75% (the % box on the lower right bar of your IE window)

Aside from the above you can also reduce your window size to scroll more navigation buttons around to the second line, that way it will look more symmetrical to you. Or upgrade your PC to better graphics card and/or display.

We now have new functions on the site which we did not have before: Join (registration), Contact (e-mail us), and Link to Callaway Cars. All are essential and need to be on all pages.

BTW - The goal is for it to be cleaner and crisper. Hence the white space. Look at apple.com, its white. This is an interim look, things must be broken down to their elements before they can be reassembled otherwise the task it too large and we have a lot of content that we do not want to abandon.

Please send me examples of your websites and maybe there are design elements we can stive for

-Luigi
:cool

 

[Brangeta]

No disrespect, but you have to remember your target market (all of us) probably use 1280x1024 or 1024x768 screen resolutions. You should do a poll if this forum has that functionality (I think it does?).

I'm assuming you either have a widescreen monitor, or you use 1600x1200 on a regular monitor, but neither of which are the norm yet unless you're in a creative design boutique or an ad agency. (Or just happen to use your HD TV as your monitor.) The older members here who don't keep extremely current on computer technology probably use 1024x768 on 17 inch monitors, which is still what most web content is designed to work with. Or that's the standard we were all using in 2006 when I worked for an ad agency dealing solely in interactive advertising/web sites/evites/etc.

I have a 20 inch monitor and use 1280x1024 at home. I'd be very surprised if even 10% of the people who pay attention to the COG have higher res displays than that... The design principle we'd employ was that it was better to be too small, than to make people scroll to the left and right. Fortunately the COG doesn't do that because of the way you designed it to flow to the next line.

I don't do much web anymore/ever, because I don't like having to deal with making things functional. I have some examples in my portfolio, but none that apply to anything like you're going for.

You'll notice if you check out apple.com, that it was designed for 1024x768, because much of Apple's target market is on laptops using that display resolution. 1280x1024 is too small for most people to read on a 15 inch MacBook monitor.

 

[TurboLuigi]

No disrespect, but you have to remember your target market (all of us) probably use 1280x1024 or 1024x768 screen resolutions. You should do a poll if this forum has that functionality (I think it does?).

I'm assuming you either have a widescreen monitor, or you use 1600x1200 on a regular monitor, but neither of which are the norm yet unless you're in a creative design boutique or an ad agency. (Or just happen to use your HD TV as your monitor.) The older members here who don't keep extremely current on computer technology probably use 1024x768 on 17 inch monitors, which is still what most web content is designed to work with. Or that's the standard we were all using in 2006 when I worked for an ad agency dealing solely in interactive advertising/web sites/evites/etc.

I have a 20 inch monitor and use 1280x1024 at home. I'd be very surprised if even 10% of the people who pay attention to the COG have higher res displays than that... The design principle we'd employ was that it was better to be too small, than to make people scroll to the left and right. Fortunately the COG doesn't do that because of the way you designed it to flow to the next line.

I don't do much web anymore/ever, because I don't like having to deal with making things functional. I have some examples in my portfolio, but none that apply to anything like you're going for.

You'll notice if you check out apple.com, that it was designed for 1024x768, because much of Apple's target market is on laptops using that display resolution. 1280x1024 is too small for most people to read on a 15 inch MacBook monitor.

Brandon,

What I am trying to tell you is that the website is in the process getting redesigned. I am well aware of these issues. However, I have chosen to make changes incrementally so that I do not have to maintain an old site and a new site in parallel.

It is not my goal to have so many buttons but at the moment that is what it works out to be.

I have a list of priorities that I am dealing with and frankly a button or two wrapping are merely nuisance and not a priority at this time.

Thanks for being understanding.

-Luigi
:cool

 

[SurfnSun]

On 1024x768 the buttons are perfectly balanced and look great with 9 on top and 4 centered in the middle on the second row.

Luigi, as I said earlier I think it looks great. No functionality issues for me.

 

[redb2k's]

Luigi, I think you are doing a great job---for no money. I don't have time to read or post comments, I just can't imagine trying to run this operation. Thanks for all of your and Chris's hard work to keep this forum working so we can learn more about these great Callaways.

 

[*89x2*]

Luigi, I think you are doing a great job---for no money. I don't have time to read or post comments, I just can't imagine trying to run this operation. Thanks for all of your and Chris's hard work to keep this forum working so we can learn more about these great Callaways.

Arnold, Thank you!


Since 2002, we have brought you the Callaway Owners Group and everything we could possibly offer - FOR FREE!!!!!!!

It is the dedication of the owners involved behind the scenes that have helped. When we need something, often we have more help than expected. If we do need money for something, folks step forward to answer the unsolicited call. Thank you.

For me, a labor of love. Luigi has taken this in the past few months, from where we were, right into the future. Cleaning up the "look," was something of a priority for 2008... For 2009, who knows what will happen next

- Chris

 

[jonstr]

Luigi, I think you are doing a great job---for no money. I don't have time to read or post comments, I just can't imagine trying to run this operation. Thanks for all of your and Chris's hard work to keep this forum working so we can learn more about these great Callaways.

I agree, I think the new layout looks great. Luigi - thanks for all your hard work for the group!!

 

[Brangeta]

Brandon,

What I am trying to tell you is that the website is in the process getting redesigned. I am well aware of these issues. However, I have chosen to make changes incrementally so that I do not have to maintain an old site and a new site in parallel.

It is not my goal to have so many buttons but at the moment that is what it works out to be.

I have a list of priorities that I am dealing with and frankly a button or two wrapping are merely nuisance and not a priority at this time.

Thanks for being understanding.

-Luigi
:cool

Ahhhh, well I can't wait to see what the site ultimately looks like.

Don't take my suggestions/critique(s) harshly. As I'm sure you know, I have an opinion about everything, and when it comes to giving it, I don't keep it to myself. I want my friends' design work to be the best it can be!

 

[EVIL TWIN]

Folks, the COG site has more changes as of tonight - thanks Luigi for meshing it and making it look cleaner :cool


We've got more coming in the near future - Stay tuned...

WHAT A HUGE DIFFERENCE !! Thanks for all the effort you have put in.
It looks great, I plan on crusing thru the whole sit to check out all the changes.

Thanks again,
Bruce