LATEST ENTRY

DESIGN | Noah Brier

Help Me Help You

May 17, 2005 | RSS | EMAIL | PRINT | 7 COMMENTS

As I've mentioned multiple times now, I'm in the process of redesigning the site. I've been struggling with a few things and the process is going fairly slowly because I really want to get it right. As I was thinking about it this morning I realized something: Why am I hiding everything from you?. Why am I designing it behind this wall? I occasionally show friends and family to get their feedback, but why the hell not everyone who enjoys this site? Yeah, it would be exciting to roll out a redesign all of a sudden to everyone's surprise, but if I let people get involved, won't it be all the better.

With that said, this redesign (NoahBrier.com 3.0 for those counting) is now a communal affair. Just check out the design in progress at http://www.noahbrier.com/test (note to Internet Explorer users: the top bar of the site doesn't work yet, give me some time). If you could give your feedback in the comments on this post I'd appreciate it.

Critique it. Be tough! It's a work in progress, this is the first step. Tell me everything that's wrong (other than links not working . . . that's a given). Here's what I wrote over there:

Excuse the mess. Most of this stuff doesn't work yet. But this is a look and feel. So tell me what you think. Be tough. Hate something? Tell me. Love it? Tell me that too. Color too bright? Font hard to read? Design just stupid? Tell me. Tell me. Tell me.
So go ahead. Have fun and help me redesign my site.

PREVIOUS ENTRY | NEXT ENTRY

LEAVE A COMMENT

First name, first and last, whatever you feel like.

Required, but not displayed (so don't worry about spam).

If you've got one, flaunt it.

You can use some HTML (a's, br's, p's, oh my!) if you'd like, if you don't know what that means, don't worry about it.
REMEMBER ME?

COMMENTS

1Jarrett

I don't know, but im not feeling the redesign. i am having trouble putting my feeling on it. it feels like im reading something technical. it seems less personal.

May 17, 2005

2Noah Brier

Thanks Jarrett, that makes sense. Can you explain why? What about this current design makes it feel more personal? Is it a color thing on the other site? Are the lines too hard? Not enough round corners?

May 17, 2005

3Noah Brier

Just thought of another question. How important is the personal connection for you? I know you, so most likely you'll read my blog no matter what it looks like. But do you read other blogs? What do you like about the blogs of people you don't know? Would that design turn you off if you didn't know me. Would you be reading content like mine if you didn't know me?

Sorry to nail you with so many questions, but you just have the unfortunate luck of being the first person to respond.

May 17, 2005

4Jarrett

first of all, i will read it no matter what it looks like. i do not read other blogs. i have looked at a few you have linked. i guess, your new design looks like the others. i liked how your old one looked different from all the other blogs i have seen. maybe blogs are supposed to look a certain way, i dont know being that i only read yours. obviously the personal connection is important to me. i think the new design would turn me off if i didnt know you. I would probobly only read half of your stuff if i didnt know you. i guess i dont like the color scheme of the new one. the shade of green and orange doesnt really work for me. It is sort of dull. perhaps brighter shades would work better. also, i like how the enteries on your old style were centered and almost framed. i dont know if any of this really makes a difference. maybe i just fear change.

May 17, 2005

5Noah Brier

I don't think blog design should look a certain way. In fact, I think that blog looks different than most others I see. I'm really trying to make it as simple as possible. I want the whole thing to revolve around what I write, not get lost in other stuff.

Colors are easy to change and I could definitely try some other, brighter colors.

What do you like about these entries being centered and framed?

It all makes a difference, I'm trying to come up with the best design possible. Thanks for the feedback.

May 17, 2005

6Peter Caputa

I like the new design. The font for "Noah Brier" looks a little fuzzy, though at the top. Other than that, I like the simplicity. Looks like Kottke's blog a bit.

May 17, 2005

7Noah Brier

Hey Pete, glad you like it. Fuzzy how? I haven't programmed in a backup font yet, so that may be it.

Also, I'd be lying if I said I hadn't been inspired by Kottke. I think his sight is clean and extremely usable. Gotta start somewhere, right?

I am really trying to find my own way, though.

May 17, 2005