Posted on February 25, 2007 in Site-News, with 2 comments.

Well it’s only been a couple of days since I posted a thread on one of my forums about my new layout, but already it seems not everybody likes it.

It’ kinda sucks, cause I really like the new one myself, and I’m getting sick of this design. It makes me think of Jon Hicks explaining the new logo, where he recieved a lot of negative responses, but trudged ahead anyway.

It’s weird, because in a way I feel a little like he did back then. This design was one of those that just happened. I didn’t feel like it was something that truly represented me, or gave me the flexibiliy I wanted. I actually had something close to this layout in the beginning, didn’t like where it was going, and was going to trash the whole thing, when it sort of just fell together nicely. I figured what I had was good, and worked the website around the design.

Here’s Jon from Oct. ’06:

I wasn’t quite prepared for the generally negative response to the new identity. Looks like it was a bit of a shock to most people! Comments ranged from positive to lukewarm to negative but constructive to downright condescending and rude. I think the worst were the suggestions that my colourblindness explained the logo colours, as if somehow it was a mistake (or an April Fool’s joke). That hurt! There were also those who proclaimed it ‘wasn’t me’. What the hell do you know is ‘me’? I think people have got this image of an ale-loving tree-hugging hobbit, and that such a design can only mean I’ve had too much old tovey.

As for me, the responses haven’t been negative per say, they generally don’t like where the new design is headed, but tend to be constuctive anyhow. A guy named Sean Miller had this to say about my idea to redesign:

I am not saying this is template based, just that it looks too much like those that are. Perhaps you need to be more creative in the way you design – remember, Google was “radical” when it first came online and did things differently in that it was minimal whereas others were very complex in design. Google is now accepted as one of the “benchmarks”... remember, YOU could be the benchmark in a year’s time… be creative… “live your ideas”

I’m not sure how to take this. I guess it’s cool that he’s comparing this current website design to Google’s minimalist home page from the 90’s, but I’m not entirely sure it’s a good analogy. I appreciate that he likes the site now, and thinks its radical (which I don’t think is true, I think this site is more of a tribute to old school websites, and old retro colors from the 70’s), but I really thnk I need something a bit more profesional, and clean.

I think the real reason I’m fed up with this design, is because on a certain level, it’s a bit indulgent. I think this site is about 90% about the design/layout, and 10% actual content and usefulness. I realize that I don’t need to completely redesign in order to concentrate more on content than fluff, but as a web designer, I think it’s often more theraputic than useful. I guess, for me, this design has run its course.

I don’t know though. I tend to internalize criticisms rather well, and just enough people telling me to do something is usually all it takes. We’ll see.

Comments

Leave your comment

Name
Remember

E-mail
Textile Help

Website

Message