Thinkign about totally revamping

[lindsayanng]

I have been looking at other websites, the oscommerce top 100 and some templates and just feeling down about my site. Before a web developer, i am an artist.. i have been doing graphic design for myself and my husband of a while, and i look at these templates and think "i can definitely do that and make it better" but then i look at my site and think, "That is DEFINITELY not better"

 

So i am, again, thinking about revamping the entire look of the site.... i dont have much to show you all right now, but i have ideas i would like to see what you all think..

 

I want to keep the header and foot full width with a fixed width, centered, main site. I wanted the banner to also become full width. I would LIKE to make it three sections, with a repeating center so that it will fit all screen sizes.. I want to have the FURRY FAMILY SUPPLIES text that is in the banner aligned to the right. Turn the top orange bar into a gradient that looks a little nicer than the solid orange.

 

The BIGGEST project i thought about so far was to put the categories in the actual banner. Basically iw ould make the banner A LOT taller (not too tall so you wouldnt have to scroll down TOO much) but i would like to have six little squares (2 rows of 3) aligned to the left and inside those squares have an image of the category (so a sqaure with a cat, dog, ect.) and have those little images link to the categories.

 

Then i can get rid of the main page categories and put a nice little flash image, or some other type of advertisement in the main content.

 

I would like to replace the bottom orange bar in the foot with an image, maybe some pawprints that "walk" across the bottom, and then add some paw prints elsewhere in the site (not TOO much though)

 

I am also DYING to add a flyout menu for the articles to match the categories one, but that contribution does not allow you to apply it to other menus, so i might have to re-do BOTH of them so they match

 

Then i would also like to add some navigation on the top with SPECIALS, NEW PRODUCTS, ECT.

 

Basically i want to break the boxiness of the oscommerce site by using images in the header and footer.. it will probably still be sort of box-y but not in such a plain, traditional style..

 

SOOOo anyways, that is what i am THINKING.. What do you all think?? I'm especially looking for thoughts on my header categories.. if you cant image it, i will come up with a quick little illustration tomorrow when i have more time..

 

THANKS AGAIN EVERYTHING AND I CANT WAIT TO HEAR WHAT YOU ALL HAVE TO SAY!!

 

here is the the link to my site as it is::

Furry Family

[Guest]

Well don't go overboard with the whole design thing and make your site slow.

[burt]

Do it. Start off with a new install of oscommerce. Do the "broad stroke" changes first, then get the details right after.

 

The Hot 100 is a good resource for inspiration isn't it.

[Guest]

I'm with Burton. You're not open yet, so experiment with looks. Keep each version in a backup section on your system. Upload and play around. We'll let you know when it starts to slow down.

 

I love the idea of the categories as images in the header. The fly out menu is great. You can use it (I believe) for either a vertical or horizontal menus.

 

I can't wait to see your mock ups!

[lindsayanng]

I am going to do some illustrator work tonight to see what i can and can not do.. I dont want to bog down my site either, and i KNOW the flash probably will, but i do want to have a little more images and less boxi-ness. I will be carefull with image sizes and all that.. But i know people use a WHOLE LOT more images than what i have, and their site still loads quickly..

 

I think my main issue is going to be getting the header/banner to work the way i want it.. being in three parts is going to be an issue.

[Guest]

I am going to do some illustrator work tonight to see what i can and can not do.. I dont want to bog down my site either, and i KNOW the flash probably will, but i do want to have a little more images and less boxi-ness. I will be carefull with image sizes and all that.. But i know people use a WHOLE LOT more images than what i have, and their site still loads quickly..

 

I think my main issue is going to be getting the header/banner to work the way i want it.. being in three parts is going to be an issue.

By the way, thanks to Burt, I got rid of my right column and figured out a way to get the manufacturers box to show in the product info page. Let me know if you want that little tidbit. It's working way cool! :rolleyes:

[lindsayanng]

neat-o... I am going to look through your site again to see if there were any tips i wanted to steal from you. I added my FIRST contribution the other day, its a simple one and might not be useful to you becaues i dont THINK too many of your customers re-order a lot of the same things, but i got rid of the account history box by adding it to the MY ACCOUNT navigation..

[Guest]

neat-o... I am going to look through your site again to see if there were any tips i wanted to steal from you. I added my FIRST contribution the other day, its a simple one and might not be useful to you becaues i dont THINK too many of your customers re-order a lot of the same things, but i got rid of the account history box by adding it to the MY ACCOUNT navigation..

Only the OCD ones....*laughing*

[lindsayanng]

oh yea!! haha.. well, i am working on the illustration parts now with my illustrator program. Right now it is acting up.. the stupid eye dropper tool will not pick up the color i want to re-create.. GRRRR

[Gomeza]

Hi lindsayanng

 

If you want to rip up the nearly standard osCommerce layout you are using, I don't mind giving you a hand. I see a lot a nice ideas in your store but also see a lot of areas where a few changes would go a long way in improving the overall site look and user friendliness.