Here’s the re-design you asked for, any better?
When I asked what you thought of my blog, I had no idea you’d provide such great suggestions.
I’d really appreciate your thoughts on this new look for my humble logo design blog.
It was obvious that the design wasn’t in any way similar to my logo design portfolio, so I used a cloud header to make my brand more consistent. I also wasn’t happy that I was using a pretty standard looking template, not far away from the generic Vertigo WordPress theme. One thing about the original theme is how heavy the header and footer appear. I’ve brightened it up and also changed the footer from dark grey to white, helping legibility.
There are some aspects of my blog that I still want to improve. Ilker, author of The Thinking Blog, makes a good point about how my comments section is more difficult to use than it should be. He says that he has to read an individual post, then scroll back to the top to read the comments from top to bottom, then scroll back up if he wants to leave a comment of his own. Not very user friendly, don’t you agree?
Some further tweaks are on the horizon, but for now do you think it’s a step in the right direction?
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23 appreciated comments to “Here’s the re-design you asked for, any better?”
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I just realized.. when you compare your blog design to mine on two tabs side by side, and flick between then it feels like heaven and hell! =) Guess which one is hell? LOL
Very nice David, has lightened the place up considerably.
The footer may benefit from a light background colour, to complement the header, as my first thought was it hadn’t loaded, but that could well be my own stupidity…
Well, you are the bad one ilker. ;)
It’s interesting that you should mention the footer, Chris. I think I can improve it by adding some landscape, similar to how I have on my portfolio. Maybe some green hills or one of my travel photos.
I also wonder if there’s too much blue and that I could choose a harmonious or complimentary colour. Just a few thoughts running through my mind.
I love the changes David – a much nicer “vibe”. I agree with Chris that a background for the footer would be a nice addition. I think your idea for a green landscape is a great one- sky at the top, earth at the bottom! My one thought is that I’m confused by the white shape at the top left. It seems unnecessary to me.
I really like the new look, very clean and tidy. And I like the footer as is.
Having the user comments in the right column is a bit odd – yours is the only blog I know like it. It’s quite a sensible use of space, but from a usability point of view does involve quite a lot of scrolling.
Hi David, it looks very fresh, your logo design looks great here. I’m a bit triggered by your title “Here’s the re-design you asked for, any better?” I hope you’re happy with it yourself :-)
Chris’ comment about the footer I like, a fresh landscape would look great.
I myself try to eliminate visual lines as much as possible. If I look at your footer, the colum of comments is narrower, but might better be the same width?!
Ha! You think I’m bad?
You asked for it.. Now feel the pressure of 500+ readers telling you how the new re-design is much better than the boring old one! >:)
Randa, the curves are features I thought would add a little interest to the header, and to also bring it together with the header on my online portfolio. To be honest I felt it wouldn’t have a similar effect if the clouds were simply in a straight horizontal band. I wonder if others have the same impression as you do?
Aaron, I guess that in one small way it might help to have comments at the side, being that this blog is the only one you know with that feature. Again though, it’s not good from a usability standpoint.
Tanja, you have a very keen eye! The width of the comment box is something that had crossed my mind. Regarding my article headline, I thought that by asking a question I might encourage more reader participation. I am happier with the design, but with my own work I’m never truly satisfied. It’s the curse of the designer. ;)
ilker, you’re a star! Definitely not someone you’d associate with the underworld. Thanks for your kind, helpful comments.
I like the curves, definitely the curved bar on the right makes perfect sense to me. I just was thinking the one on the left was a little odd to my eye- I couldn’t figure out why it was there. I do see how it jives with your portfolio page, and it makes a little made a little more sense to me after I saw that page. I wonder what everyone else thinks as well- it’s probably just me! :)
Hi David
I really liked the old design! I like this one too, no doubt it will grow on me.
I think it looks a lot better. Seems to add to the page instead of taking away like the old one did. Makes the pages a lot more cheerful:)
Very nicely done! Love the bright blue tones. I’d like to see what you’d come up with for a landscape for the footer? I do like how clean it is now, but it’d be nice to see as well.
I love it! The design is amazing, but the only thing I feel is lacking is something in the footer. I am not sure what, but something…
Thanks again for your thoughts! I’ll see what I can come up with for a footer image.
I’ve linked to you all in my latest post as a small token of my appreciation.
Very beautiful header :D make this blog look softer and lighter. I love it!!!
Been away for a while, and when I came back I almost didn’t recognise your site. Lovely header, lightens up the site considerably, I also love the way your logo looks against the blue background (I’m a sucker for the color blue :) )
I can see what the other commentors (I hope that is a word) mean by the footer lacking something, though it’s not much of a problem.
Jennessa, Tolumi, thank you both for your comments.
I’m going to see what I can do about a footer addition when I have some time on my hands. Maybe it’ll help, maybe it won’t. I’ll not know until I try.
Ciao for now.
I’m weighing in a little late, but I like the new banner better. Somehow it fits you. Doesn’t hurt, too that you’re keeping with your homepage design. Nice work.
Not late at all, Dawud.
Change is an on-going occurrence so thanks for taking the time to comment. I felt it was important to bring my blog more in line with my homepage.
[...] where it’s due: huge amounts of inspiration came from David Airey’s Creative Design blog layout, and Chanpory Rith’s [...]
Love the simplistic design that allows the intensity of the images to become the focal point. The direction is actually much like the focus im placing on my blog Naked Business. Its still under development but I love to use large amounts of white space.
nice facelift ^^
simple and nice. love that feelin here :) i’m feeding yours :D
Coulds are a popular design element at the moment, as with gradients. They open the site up and gives the impression of more white space for navigation.
A very positive move.