New FIRST Site Live

[Billfred]

I like the home page navigation--everything seems to be a pageload or two closer, which is a Good Thing. I notice they've started adding trademark symbols around mentions of Gracious Professionalism. This makes me twitch a little bit, but I also understand the rationale (legal protection, etc., etc.) and will leave it alone.

Descriptive URLs (such as those TBA and CD-Media use) would've been a nice addition, though FIRST has in the past shortened URLs that will be accessed often. Combined with the possibility of technical barriers, they get a pass.

The one thing that really irks me is the version of the FIRST logo on the non-competition-specific pages, which bears a passing resemblance to the third example I excerpt from the FIRST logo standards (PDF link):



If the logo standards have changed, then it's time to update the document. (My hard drive has what appears to be an identical copy of the current version with a date stamp of January 2007.) Otherwise, standards are standards.

Overall, I give it a B+. The home page is a lot more eye-catching, the navigation is improved, and the color coding helps divide the sections up a bit. The logo question is holding me back from completely loving it (though if there's some method to the madness there, I'll gladly eat my words). Nice work, FIRST!