Re:initial structure ideas

[Kyle Olsen <jedimstr gifttree com>]

> 	Here are some of my suggestions.

	Here are some of my responses.

> 	* I guess nearly everybody on list will agree with me if I say
> ABSOLUTELY NO FRAMES PLEASE.

	Agreed. Frames really are unnecessary for most projects.

> 	* Atleast the first page has to be so designed that the visitor
> would'nt have to scroll down for any information. For example, in the
> current www.gnome.org site, the top logo occupies nearly 40 - 50% of the
> available screen space, which is not really advisable.

	Disagreed. This is a marketing fallacy that is only relevant in regards
to newspaper headlines. Yes, content presentation should be clear and
understandable, but it doesn't all have to be crammed into one small space.
Look at linuxtoday.com, linuxprogramming.com, linux.com, yahoo.com, almost
any well-trafficked site, and you will see that the designers of these 
obviously successful sites managed to ignore this premise.

> 	* Also, a decision has to be reached about the "depth" of the
> web-site. What is the maximum number of links a visitor would have to
> follow to reach the information he desires. This would have a direct
> impact on our web-site structure, links etc. Pages at lower levels (if
> the home page is assumed to be at the highest level of the tree), contain
> specific information and can be a lot bigger.

	The answer is: as many as are necessary. You can't limit the depth
of an information architecture and have it remain scaleable.

> 	* I'm not sure if we really need a "navigation system". I guess a
> link to the home page on every page is sufficient.
>
> 	* I love the concept of having a constant top logo with links to
> all the major categorical pages. That's the way I designed my univ's home
> page. Please look at www.iitm.ac.in .I really think it's a neat idea.

	Didn't you just say you don't think we need a navigation system?
This sounds like one to me. We should always strive to be clear and consistent
with the presentation of our ideas at all levels.


-- 
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the rest bourbon.  The drink packs a wallop, and I pack a revolver.  I'm
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