Trazalca
05-01-2008, 08:52 AM
I cannot stay silent on this any longer. :mad:
If I wanted to study how to design a webpage,
particularly one with many elements attached to it,
then I would go no further than to compare one that succeeds,
versus one that is, well, trying to.
Understandably, design includes, not only a clear display
of content that avoids the risk of clutter, but employment
of a smooth, thematic style that does not irritate the irises
on one's eyeballs, or make one feel more comfortable staring
into the gaping maw of a final exam on Quantum Physics.
It should be distinctive. It should have that uber-cool uniqueness
that makes you want to visit again.
However, it would be all too easy for me to name the one
I'm talking about that sucks; one that currently shows a display
that is, how shall I say, akin to witnessing an epilectic wrestling match
between claustrophobia and schizophrenia,
with fingers clawing each others neckbone,
desperate to rip out and gnaw on the opponent's cerebral cortex
like a twizzler, eager to mash and crack the ribcage,
remove the heart and perform a flamenco dance on it,
all for the sole purpose of gaining a timeslot
from your attention span.
This particular website has, fortunately,
a devoted fanbase that continues to thrive. It has its loyal fans
and its steady reputation. It has character, as well as devoted
bloggers, writers, and developers working hard to put out
hip and relevant content. Bravo there.
But one wonders if someone on staff was short of cash,
and decided to hire the tattooed dude from Memento
as the new web designer, instead of one with an eye for art,
panache, and general common sense.
Visiting this website, you are thrust headlong into a world
of overlapping images, gif files, slideshows unsure whether to stay
within the lines of a frame, and a long column of boxes you'd
have to scroll-scroll-scroll down to visit.
It's width is an enigma, teasing you with the idea that
it might go on forever in either direction.
In short, it's headache inducing. It's a jumbled mess.
It's aweful.
For once, instead of complaining about movie-ad popups
that try to attack and slash your soft-touch screen,
it's about the new designs being applied here.
Now, if the attempt is to mirror the soul of this site's moniker,
then I'd say that they've far outdone themselves.
Confusion is the bed insanity loves to sleep in.
And just trying to stare at this main page is enough to make
me think it is content to do nothing more than fluff the pillows,
and dream nightmares for pure fun.
Now, if I was to go to RottenTomatoes website, sanity returns. Everything is evenly placed, and spaced, accordingly.
There is beauty in discipline. Labels are clear, with nothing overlapping.
The top menu bar is in plain view to all in large letters
that are pleasing to behold, adhering to that treasured bit of wisdom: keep it simple, stupid.
I don't have to scroll forever to reach to favored segments,
or wonder why everything looks so squished together
like a stack of shoeboxes.
At RT, not only does this tell me that the website designer
respects the contents it serves to display, but it shows
that it respects the audience that comes to visit.
But getting back to ugly,
unless its main webpage changes to something far easier on the eyes,
whatever plans the owners had to making this place standout as something special in a sea of movie fansites,
those plans were rightly kicked hard to the groin
with a hard-a$$ steel-toe boot.
It's the gaudiest F-U to surfers and movie fans yet.
Okay fine. I understand that I should wait until the design
is finished. But really. It's like asking me to tolerate getting
an eyesore with each visit to this site.
It's just not welcoming. It's more of a deterrent.
And what's worse is that I'm afraid of what this place
will look like once everything is done (or is it?).
Once finished, will this arthritically twisted cave of batshit
be worth hanging upside down in?
Just like that new title for the X-Files sequel, I want to believe.
I really do. But my faith is waning. The hemorrhaging is bad
from the loss of common sense.
There's blood on the dance floor, and the DJ is too busy
picking his nose to change the music.
And for the record, regardless of whether this thread is
moved or not, I'm posting it in a blog that is unforgiving as it is determined to kill paragraph breaks for easier reading;
yet another ugly side-effect of the designs being placed upon
this wonderfully gregarious website that doesn't even have the good sense to put out an UNDER CONSTRUCTION SIGN
on the corner to let others know the design is
still under transition. Instead of courtesy, the designer
is content to let the visitors to this site to just simply DEAL.
How rude. :mad:
If I wanted to study how to design a webpage,
particularly one with many elements attached to it,
then I would go no further than to compare one that succeeds,
versus one that is, well, trying to.
Understandably, design includes, not only a clear display
of content that avoids the risk of clutter, but employment
of a smooth, thematic style that does not irritate the irises
on one's eyeballs, or make one feel more comfortable staring
into the gaping maw of a final exam on Quantum Physics.
It should be distinctive. It should have that uber-cool uniqueness
that makes you want to visit again.
However, it would be all too easy for me to name the one
I'm talking about that sucks; one that currently shows a display
that is, how shall I say, akin to witnessing an epilectic wrestling match
between claustrophobia and schizophrenia,
with fingers clawing each others neckbone,
desperate to rip out and gnaw on the opponent's cerebral cortex
like a twizzler, eager to mash and crack the ribcage,
remove the heart and perform a flamenco dance on it,
all for the sole purpose of gaining a timeslot
from your attention span.
This particular website has, fortunately,
a devoted fanbase that continues to thrive. It has its loyal fans
and its steady reputation. It has character, as well as devoted
bloggers, writers, and developers working hard to put out
hip and relevant content. Bravo there.
But one wonders if someone on staff was short of cash,
and decided to hire the tattooed dude from Memento
as the new web designer, instead of one with an eye for art,
panache, and general common sense.
Visiting this website, you are thrust headlong into a world
of overlapping images, gif files, slideshows unsure whether to stay
within the lines of a frame, and a long column of boxes you'd
have to scroll-scroll-scroll down to visit.
It's width is an enigma, teasing you with the idea that
it might go on forever in either direction.
In short, it's headache inducing. It's a jumbled mess.
It's aweful.
For once, instead of complaining about movie-ad popups
that try to attack and slash your soft-touch screen,
it's about the new designs being applied here.
Now, if the attempt is to mirror the soul of this site's moniker,
then I'd say that they've far outdone themselves.
Confusion is the bed insanity loves to sleep in.
And just trying to stare at this main page is enough to make
me think it is content to do nothing more than fluff the pillows,
and dream nightmares for pure fun.
Now, if I was to go to RottenTomatoes website, sanity returns. Everything is evenly placed, and spaced, accordingly.
There is beauty in discipline. Labels are clear, with nothing overlapping.
The top menu bar is in plain view to all in large letters
that are pleasing to behold, adhering to that treasured bit of wisdom: keep it simple, stupid.
I don't have to scroll forever to reach to favored segments,
or wonder why everything looks so squished together
like a stack of shoeboxes.
At RT, not only does this tell me that the website designer
respects the contents it serves to display, but it shows
that it respects the audience that comes to visit.
But getting back to ugly,
unless its main webpage changes to something far easier on the eyes,
whatever plans the owners had to making this place standout as something special in a sea of movie fansites,
those plans were rightly kicked hard to the groin
with a hard-a$$ steel-toe boot.
It's the gaudiest F-U to surfers and movie fans yet.
Okay fine. I understand that I should wait until the design
is finished. But really. It's like asking me to tolerate getting
an eyesore with each visit to this site.
It's just not welcoming. It's more of a deterrent.
And what's worse is that I'm afraid of what this place
will look like once everything is done (or is it?).
Once finished, will this arthritically twisted cave of batshit
be worth hanging upside down in?
Just like that new title for the X-Files sequel, I want to believe.
I really do. But my faith is waning. The hemorrhaging is bad
from the loss of common sense.
There's blood on the dance floor, and the DJ is too busy
picking his nose to change the music.
And for the record, regardless of whether this thread is
moved or not, I'm posting it in a blog that is unforgiving as it is determined to kill paragraph breaks for easier reading;
yet another ugly side-effect of the designs being placed upon
this wonderfully gregarious website that doesn't even have the good sense to put out an UNDER CONSTRUCTION SIGN
on the corner to let others know the design is
still under transition. Instead of courtesy, the designer
is content to let the visitors to this site to just simply DEAL.
How rude. :mad: