website question

[Norman Watts <Norman_Watts@zzzzzzz>]

I've enjoyed reading about all the options for making websites, but I
think Clive made an important point when he said to be clear in your
mind what you want the site to do and look like. I don't have or need a
site, but here are some things that I, as a user, like to see.

Keep it simple. Our world is over-busy as it is, I want to focus on the
sculpture, not something that distracts.
Show only your best items but show them really well. Everything should
be so you can enlarge it. Small images are a waste when it comes to
something like sculpture or painting.
I like the site to show the range of the artist. Avoid duplication.
I especially like to see the artist themselves, and also where and how
they work. This is key for me. I like to have the feeling that I know
the artist, and also that I know something about the processes that
lead to the remarkable objects I've been looking at. This personal
aspect is what avoids any sense of mass production or a mail order
catalog.

These are just my personal views. I think it would be helpful to people
building their own site to know what viewers in general like and don't
like.

n

Norman Watts, Ph. D.
National Institutes of Health
50 South Drive, Rm. 1509
Bethesda, MD 20892-8025
Phone: (301) 402-3418
Fax: (301) 480-7629