BS: Appreciate your thoughts on non-folk web

Subject: Appreciate your thoughts on non-folk web
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 04 Jul 01 - 08:19 AM

In the past, you've been kind enough to pass comment on a couple of websites I've designed.

Hope you don't mind my asking again.

The site in question is one I'm writing for a good friend who's a doctor (he's a folkie too!)

Lockside Medical

The site isn't quite finished and will have it's own domain when placed 'live'

I'd be grateful for any comments. If you can try to put yourself in the position of this being your own Doctor, and try and find what you'd like to be able to easily find, all the better!

Many thanks, feedback would be much appreciated.

Ed Pellow

Subject: RE: BS: Appreciate your thoughts on non-folk web
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 04 Jul 01 - 08:28 AM

Ed, As I think you know, I am a believer in simplicity in web design.

I find your site very easy to navigate and I think I could find any information I would want quickly and easily.

It gets a big thumbs up from me.

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: Appreciate your thoughts on non-folk web
From: Noreen
Date: 04 Jul 01 - 09:25 AM

Very impressive, Ed. As Jon said, everything is quick and easy to find, and it looks good: the white background, high contrast is ideal for a clean, clinical look, yet enough colour is added so it's not cold or impersonal.

The feel of the site is very open and reassuring, just what I would look for in a GP practice.

I noticed a couple of very minor points (not to do with your design) which you may be already aware of: on the surgery times page above the chart it refers to the out of time service (?) rather than out of hours, and Alcohol Counselling is mis-spelled on the hot link at the foot of the Psychiatric Services page.

Thanks for the look, Ed, this has made me think a lot about website design.

Noreen

Subject: RE: BS: Appreciate your thoughts on non-folk web
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 04 Jul 01 - 02:54 PM

Thanks guys,

I wasn't sure if it needed a few more pictures on different pages?

Noreen,

Thanks for spotting the spelling mistake. I hadn't seen that. The Out of Time is an in joke that I put in for my friend to notice. He hasn't yet...

Ed

Subject: RE: BS: Appreciate your thoughts on non-folk web
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Jul 01 - 03:18 PM

I, too, like the simplicity and clean looking design, Ed. I didn't look at every page, but what I found was an easy to navigate and understandable site. I don't think another picture or two would detract, but I also don't think they are necessary.

I am amazed to read that a doctor will actually call at one's home if one feels the need. I don't know of any doctors in the US who will do such, not since I was a child.

Great job!

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Appreciate your thoughts on non-folk web
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 04 Jul 01 - 03:40 PM

Just two points - given that you've got pctures of the doctors, and they've got names like Rachel and Richard, I think putting (male) and (female) after their names seems a bit redundant. Especially since the pen pictures say "his" or "her" at appropriate points.

The other is I think that it's always a good idea to have a links page on a site, so that people get into the habit of using it as a shortcut, and bookmark it. In the case of a doctor's site it would be useful to have links to some of the sites that give information about health etc, such as nhsdirect, and maybe some of the self-help and support organisations for people with particular conditions; the kind of stuff you might find in leaflets in a doctor's waiting room.

Subject: RE: BS: Appreciate your thoughts on non-folk web
From: 8_Pints
Date: 04 Jul 01 - 03:41 PM

Hi Ed,

I suggest you check out your web page against each of the different browsers (Netscape, Explorer, Turnpike, etc) as it is surprising the differences in the rendered presentation.

For my Rugby Club site I included an image of the key personnel (Coaches, Officials, etc) so that they would be recognisable by new members. You might consider doing something similar for your medical & reception staff (provided they agree of course!)

Keep the images small so they will download quickly, and provide a menu so only required images will be displayed.

The impact is certainly clean and uncluttered, which I like a great deal.

Good luck

Bob vG

Subject: RE: BS: Appreciate your thoughts on non-folk web
From: Grab
Date: 05 Jul 01 - 01:24 PM

"Male" and "female" may seem obvious, but if there's, say, a Mongolian woman who does weightlifting, the name and picture may not be much help! :-)

Graham.