Let's Put Our Web Skills To Work

Here is a topic I have been stewing for a while:

How about we, as web developers/designers/architects pick one Nigeria site a week and point out ways in which to make it better? Perhaps the coders of such sites could pick up on what we are saying and make such sites better. Better yet, by collaborating, we would end up strengtheningo our own skills.

If you are with me, I would like to start with Virgin Nigeria:

If I coded the site, for one, the price list on the right would not be one big image

Sorry, I posted by mistake. Here is the address: http://www.virginnigeria.com/en/ng/Index.aspx

As I was saying, I wouldn't make the right nav one big image. It would definitely be text with a green background, called via css.

2) I would move the "exclusive" image to the top. On a 1024 screen resolution (naijans at a cybercafe probably use less), it is below the fold. How would a user take advantage of it?

I will leave it at 2 till I hear from others. Let's stop yabbing our sites and get together for once

You all can do it!!!

That's true. They use lots of images. Sorry I don't really know that many Naija sites. Can you suggest another?

What about www.nairaland.com?

Mmhmm. Nairaland should have bigger buttons that are very clear to see -- and perhaps a banner with a Nairaland logo.

Thanks. I'm thinking of replacing the current image buttons with easier-to-see text buttons. What do you think?

Why is a graphical banner important?

So that nairaland doesn't look like "Yet another SMF Forum" -- it should look like Nairaland. Even a Naira sign would be ok.

yes, me too,

Nairaland, should have the "Naira Feel"
Yes, a Naira sign won't be bad, buttons should probably be naira-oriented, ill post more ideas later

He he, I can see Admin self-moderated. so e still get small sense

Here's another (Sorry, I wasn't available on the weekend to respond more): http://www.nigerianarmy.net/

Here, for starters, I would use rollovers so the user can tell what they are clicking on.

The person who built that site deserves serious flogging. I mean it!

There's nothing army about it -- and he doesn't pay attention to the Nigerian colors. There's an excessive use of images -- I must say I'm enraged. What you say is true -- the links should have rollovers. They should also be more prominent. There's an excessive waste of space to the left of the stars.

Some things are also irrelevant -- what has the army got to do with Nigerian newspapers? I'll still come by with more comments but I must say that's a shoddy job.

@t4cash, RUDE BOY, na seun you dey talk to like dat, anyways, feel yr posts on nairaland, nice ones.

Zahymaka, I feel ya

It seems every naija govt'al website must have a section devoted to "Nigerian newspapers". Abi na decree? Even if they must have, I would rather have it under a section users would go to, as opposed to having it on the home page.

I am happy my post has generated this much response. Just imagine if we all came together, moved back to naija and started a consultancy firm?

Constructive criticism, I likes dat

, and that's my 2 cents

well most of nigerian websites are like that, well you guys check out this one www.9jafinest.com

It's a very cool site but there're some things I want to point out:

[list]
[li]There's an excessive use of images -- I could easily achieve a lot of things there using css[/li]
[li]The text is too small[/li]
[li]The banner eats more than half of the screen[/li]
[li]The links to home, contact and search are very tiny and not very discernible. They shoul dbe increased[/li]
[li]The logo should link back to the home page[/li]
[/list]

The Virgin Nigeria site is alright, I mean its well designed. But the Army sight is not a standard website, some of the the links(e.g Nigeria Navy) are not working and the content is not really informative. It depicts the kind of force that we have here.No information on how to join the Army, Is it a secret society, men I'm simply pissed off. I think the Army needs to engage the service of a website devt. firm and revamp the site. They should make it more informative. especially building up a career in the Army. Perhaps they can check out sites of the US & British Forces. The 9jafest site is also ok, quite simple but beautiful site.
Well can you check out www.anglican-Nigeria.org and give some analysis and advice.

doubleooh7,

I tried going to the anglican site, but it didn't return a page. Did you mean: http://www.anglican-nig.org/ ?

If no:
I would love to check it out, so check the correct url and get back to us.

If yes:
1) I personally don't like sites that start off with flash. Yeah, I know, there is a "skip intro". Y have it there if you know pple may skip? Kind of like y have a "help section" of a page that you know isn't self-explanatory?

2) Too much info blasting in my face on the home page. Content seems to be disorganized.

3) I also personally don't like scrolling marquees. To me, they are distracting.

, that's my 2 cents

4real:

well most of nigerian websites are like that, well you guys check out this one www.9jafinest.com

The 9jafinest site is just pure template! With the quality of the real photos you can tell that the designs don't know jack about graphics.

well you can't be more wrong, the only picture with a problem is the ade bakare picture and i guess it was taken from his site and had to be strached so that it can fit into the page, what do you want to say about the ladies pictures that fit into the background, abeg to me it's still a nice job and i don't think it's a template, did you check the model page, i downloaded the site and it's no template to me. the company that did it did a good job

well you can't be more wrong, the only picture with a problem is the ade bakare picture and i guess it was taken from his site and had to be stretched so that it can fit into the page, what do you want to say about the ladies pictures that fit into the background, abeg to me it's still a nice job and i don't think it's a template, did you check the model page, i downloaded the site and it's no template to me. the company that did it did a good job

From the look of things, it appears y'all are waiting for me to drop another website. Weeeell, here it is: http://www.apicoltd.com/

I won't even stoop as low as to even comment on this site. It's that horrible, and to think that some south african company did this site.

I'm glad to read reviews though

It looks a little good - but it's built almost entirely on javascript and flash. I'm not ready for that.

That is a business site. . . not that of a hobby amateur web designer [which is what I think it is].

4real:

well you can't be more wrong, the only picture with a problem is the ade bakare picture and i guess it was taken from his site and had to be stretched so that it can fit into the page, what do you want to say about the ladies pictures that fit into the background, abeg to me it's still a nice job and i don't think it's a template, did you check the model page, i downloaded the site and it's no template to me. the company that did it did a good job

Why you say kris dey wrong? Abi dem never tell you who i be?
Ok make i show our people wetin i found out.
Take a look at the company that made that site, their web address is www.xceptions.biz you can find thier name at the bottom of the 9jafinest site.
Take a look at their site and then take a look at http://www.great-web-hotel.com/ and then at http://www.ercgrants.com/
Dem look the same or not? Well i think that ends the whole thing. Hey bros me i no get problem if you use template, but just don't say it's not template.
And with the image i've attached we can tell that 4real owns it or is their best pal. How do i know that? Well look at his name on the left hand side where it says "Mozart and 4real hit the studio". Hey 4real, abi na 4fake be your name, anybody that has a clue about graphic design can tell that design of the main page is 100 times better than the bad photo tweeking done on those sites. The template has clean, smooth graphics, while una own dey all pixelated and out of proportion.
CASE CLOSED!

well the guy is my friend and yes even if his site (company) is a template you have still failed to mention that the very site we are talking about is a template, one thing you don't get is this, there is a difference btw when one takes a picture for a site and when one has to make do with what he has for a site. the pictures been pixelated don't mean a shit. what is the out come of the site is the question. Mr kris. wait till he finishes my own site and then tell me what you think

Bros abeg that case is closed jare. Some one using template for his own site, no go come use template for all him other sites? Take a look at his whole portfolio, it's all template stuffs, and the only things he adds are always badly done. Look at how he cuts people from photo any how, making it look like the people are disabled!

Abeg bros make we no talk about this no more. Lets agree that you made a mistake.

But i wish dem good luck with the 9jamusic site, it's a good idea.

Oookay,

Now, let us review the most hideous, in my opinion, of websites I have seen to-date. Open FireFox and go to this website: http://www.akwaibomstategov.com/

Let the mud-slinging begin

My gosh -- do you call that a site? It's the most stupid site I've ever seen

1. It makes me scroll right
2. The flash navigation could have been done with css -- I'm not lying that it isn't very pretty [In fact I got some ideas from it] but why should it be done in flash?
3. Why are there too many flash animations on the page? Without flash that site wiould be very horrible
4. Before you can read anything meaningful you have to scroll both right and down. Very bad mismanagement of space
5. Color imbalance

There's lots more but let me allow other people to highlight them

What about www.covenantuniversity.com? Assuming the Vc wants to know how to improve the site, what would you tell her?

Oga Seun (I am still mad at you removing my links from my posts, but you are the boss ),

With you hailing from Ota (at least according to your profile) and the school being in Ota, I suspect a connection. Do you even sleep sef?

Jokes aside, I would point out the following:

1) Made the footer section consistent across the site.

2) The pages "jump around" when you click on them. Click to each page to see what I am saying

3) If there is no content for a particular section, then perhaps it shouldn't be part of the navigation

4) Speaking of navigation, considering its simplicity, I would recommend rollovers so the user knows where they are, and of course eliminating the graphics altogether, in favor of CSS.

That's what I have. Anyone else?

I'm treading softly here. What do you think about http://www.usastudyinfo.com ? my2cents gave me some ideas which I implemented but I'd like to hear more.