September 4th, 2008 5:50 pm:
I launched a new design for my work site, dannylipford.com. Even though there were plenty of compromises (rotating flash panel on homepage,) it’s the happiest I’ve ever been with my professional work. Particularly, I like the sparse design (especially on these pages,) related posts feature on each article (used Yet Another Related Post plugin), and the most popular posts (used Popularity Contest plugin) on the homepage and on each category page. Let me know your thoughts, and feel free to be brutally honest.
September 4th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Why was flash used for the homepage rotating panel?
September 4th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Personally, I hate these types of rotating panels, because I think they distract the user from whatever it is they’re looking for. I always find that people with a client perspective look at a mock-up and think, “Nothing’s going on, we need something moving.” But they’re blocked by the fact that they’re just looking at the site and not using it like most users would.
With that said, it was up to me how to implement it, and I thought Flash was the best approach. It was something that I would have to change a lot, and it was supposed to look nice. I had previously used javascript/xml to make a slideshow app, and I just wasn’t too happy with that approach. The slideshow doesn’t work in Chrome, btw.
September 4th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Well, the site looks great. I don’t mind the rotating panel too much. Those things are pretty useful for people who just happen upon a place and can immediately see “what’s going down around here”. But it’s also so large and immediate that, if someone were to visit the site often, I would think that it would seem like a bit of a nuisance. I think one possibility would be it switching spots with the the “on air last week” sidebar item. Maybe. Whatever. NICE WORK!
September 4th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Yea, it is a little big, but it and most of the homepage was the result of several rounds with the bossman. As in, this is what I want, and that’s how it’s going to be.
You learn to live with it I guess.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Looking good, Nick, and much better than the old one.
September 5th, 2008 at 7:09 am
Thanks, Blake.
September 24th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Looks nice and clean. The only thing that really jumps out at me as being bad is the placement of the rotating ad banner at the very top of the page. I know the site has advertising sponsors, but the way that the ad is just “there” really seems out of place. It’s like the entire site was just pushed down so an ad could be placed there…?