Please review this unfinished site

[moez]

I'm a very inexperienced web designer - it's on-the-job training for me at this point....

I've been asked by a friend to take a look at an incomplete website that was being developed for her by someone else. She was hoping that I can finish it up. My first feeling when I saw it was "wow! pretty cool". I hadn't really seen navigation like this website had.

However, in my limited education, I had learned that I might be better off going with a more straight-forward, boring navigation that is more user friendly. Because, as much as I like the look of the page, I started to think that the design made it difficult to manuever around. I'm afraid that the cool aspect will be short lived and the user un-friendliness might stick....

Anyway, if I could solicit any opinions from experienced designers, I would really appreciate it.

http://www.megagym.net/stage/new/

Thanks!
Moez

[mabbutt]

Hi

Sorry to be negative but that navigation is near to the worst I have ever seen. It looks good until you move the mouse over one. Then you can't see some and are left guessing what was there.

I woud suggest that you are right in going with a simpler design and you will find I think that it works a lot better.

Good luck and I will look forward to seeing what you come up with !!

[moez]

Thanks,
Don't apologize! That was my feeling as well. The owner really likes the look of the expanding pictures though....

I was thinking of trying to think of a way to go with a more straight forward navigation but open a picture in an unused portion of the screen when they hover over a link.

Thanks for your input!
Moez

[justlivyalife]

The navigation would be okay if it wern't for the fact that the pictures are so large, and so much happens when you rollover the links.

I recommend you change the font to something readable, as I prefer not to have to tilt my head at 90 degrees to read a website...

GOod luck and I hope you come back to show us your next stages soon