white space and redesign
I’ve been thinking redesign for quite some time. It’s not that I’m unhappy with my current design. It is because I’m unhappy with my current design. Well, at least with the limitations it presents and how it influences how and what I write. So, I’m thinking it’s high time to take action.
Approach
Approaching a blog redesign can be a complicated process, so I started with two lists: one, a list of the problems the current design presents and two, a list of the design and branding considerations I wanted to preserve. The result, is a somewhat general requirements document and a somewhat more focused strategic plan. Yes, even for my own blog, I commit to some strategic planning.
I won’t publish these lists in their entirety, but the basic problems I would like to address in the new design, are centered around drawing more focus to the content of the articles, in other words, implementing a better use of white space, reducing superfluous clutter and providing greater expanse for the types of content on the site. The complicated part of redesigning a blog, is what to do with the archives. Do you port them over to the new design? Or, do you let them stay in their original environment and risk incongruity with the new design?
This question relates to the concerns in both of my lists, but at the same time, could be restricting in my design process, if taken as a primary concern. So, for the time being, I think I’ll put it aside. Instead, I want to focus on architecture, UI and branding.
To assist in this process, I thought it would be helpful to look at a few of the blogs that I read regularly, that have undergone recent redesigns.
Recent Redesigns
jasonsantamaria.com
I recently had the opportunity to sit down and talk to Jason Santa Maria about his new blog redesign, at An Event Apart San Francisco. The particular problem he was aiming to address in his redesign, had to do with the challenge of story telling by design.
Jason said he was interested in solving the problem of disassociation between design and content, that is often found on the web. Primarily, the design you find on the web can be starkly contrasted to that found in print, wherein print design tends to be much more contextual, in that it supports content it relates to. The biggest factor responsible for the divide between print and Web, is arguably that of technology and convenience. That is, until recently.
It may not be appropriate in all situations, but Jason has embarked on an experiment of sorts, with his blog. His goal was to bring a contextual relevance to his design, specific to the article or post. By taking advantage of the flexibility of Expression Engines’ tag structure and some smart coding, Jason is able to easily customize his design to suit each particular post. He writes more about this, on his blog.
While I’m fascinated by the idea, I think this could also be restrictive or even commanding over what and how I write, since I am both author and designer, and primarily because I have a hard enough time making time to write, as it is. However, I do think there is a lot to be gained by Jason’s experiment and always look forward to his next post.
Departing from Jason’s emphasis on telling stories through design, I have found that there is a strong trend in minimalism among recent blog redesigns. I mention redesigned blogs, as apposed to new blogs specifically, as an issue of authority. Decisions made in a redesign are usually made to address certain problems that the previous design presented. For this reason, I find recent trends in redesigns to be informative on a level new designs are not.
www.emilychang.com
Among the blogs setting this trend in declutterfied redesigns, is Emily Chang’s well known blog. Factors that led her to return to a cleaner presentation, were centered around content and her relationship to the site.
…changes in the works have to do with the content, focus, and my relationship with the site. It’s been feeling a bit stale for me so I’d like to shake it up and start lifeblogging.
For me, this was an interesting insight, as it sums up quite nicely how I’ve been feeling about my own site and what I suspect to be the underlying motivation for other designers and organizations who embark on redesigns. A redesign is a unique opportunity to reassess the direction you have taken and evaluate which aspects are working and which are not. A redesign, like a soft revolution, is a valuable step in the evolution of a site and integral to maintaining a healthy web presence.
In addition to our objectives to refocus information architecture, broaden the scope of content and strengthen the personal relationship between the author/publisher and the blog, we find that the purveyance of brand recognition becomes a strong component in a redesign.
clagnut.com
Richard Rutter’s recent redesign of Clagnut is a shining example of persistent brand evolution, through redesign. What makes Richard’s redesign of Clagnut interesting, is that he was able to both give his site a complete redesign, from layout to color palette, and yet still retain, if not strengthen the overall branding. In a sense, this is the true test of good branding. When it’s done correctly, it gives you a feeling that this is how it’s always been, how it needs to be.
This kind of brand retention is weighing in pretty heavily on me as I consider redesigning Repeat Penguin. While I certainly want to allow myself the freedom to rethink the site as a whole, the intuitive carryover in brand is a big factor. I think all three of these sites have handled this very well and they have all given me a lot to think about when working my own redesign.
I’m looking forward to making the time.
