Thread: On site design issues

On site design issues

From
Alexey Borzov
Date:
Greetings.

While this is true that the major rewrite of the site's PHP code is
underway, this does not mean that redesign should wait until this
rewrite is finished.

In current 'portal' (next-generation postgresql.org) the HTML is
separated from PHP code, so if someone comes up with a brand-new design,
it can be applied in a matter of very little time.

Once again: if you are waiting for the rewrite to finish before starting
redesign, don't wait.


Re: On site design issues

From
"Gavin M. Roy"
Date:
I'd be happy to offer a new design for the site, are there any points
beyond the obvious (colors, content) that people would have me consider
before submitting a design draft?

Gavin

Alexey Borzov wrote:

> Greetings.
>
> While this is true that the major rewrite of the site's PHP code is
> underway, this does not mean that redesign should wait until this
> rewrite is finished.
>
> In current 'portal' (next-generation postgresql.org) the HTML is
> separated from PHP code, so if someone comes up with a brand-new
> design, it can be applied in a matter of very little time.
>
> Once again: if you are waiting for the rewrite to finish before
> starting redesign, don't wait.
>
>
> ---------------------------(end of broadcast)---------------------------
> TIP 1: subscribe and unsubscribe commands go to majordomo@postgresql.org



Re: On site design issues

From
Robert Treat
Date:
We plan to move some of the content from techdocs into the site, and
potentially fold all of the information from advocacy into the site,
same with developers... so just keep that in mind when your doing
redesign... I've done this type of thing before and have thoughts on how
to go forward, hopefully I can be more active on this time willing...

Robert Treat

On Mon, 2004-04-19 at 13:31, Gavin M. Roy wrote:
> I'd be happy to offer a new design for the site, are there any points
> beyond the obvious (colors, content) that people would have me consider
> before submitting a design draft?
>
> Gavin
>
> Alexey Borzov wrote:
>
> > Greetings.
> >
> > While this is true that the major rewrite of the site's PHP code is
> > underway, this does not mean that redesign should wait until this
> > rewrite is finished.
> >
> > In current 'portal' (next-generation postgresql.org) the HTML is
> > separated from PHP code, so if someone comes up with a brand-new
> > design, it can be applied in a matter of very little time.
> >
> > Once again: if you are waiting for the rewrite to finish before
> > starting redesign, don't wait.
> >
> >
> > ---------------------------(end of broadcast)---------------------------
> > TIP 1: subscribe and unsubscribe commands go to majordomo@postgresql.org
>
>
>
> ---------------------------(end of broadcast)---------------------------
> TIP 5: Have you checked our extensive FAQ?
>
>                http://www.postgresql.org/docs/faqs/FAQ.html

--
Build A Brighter Lamp :: Linux Apache {middleware} PostgreSQL


Re: On site design issues

From
Josh Berkus
Date:
Robert,

> We plan to move some of the content from techdocs into the site, and
> potentially fold all of the information from advocacy into the site,
> same with developers... so just keep that in mind when your doing
> redesign... I've done this type of thing before and have thoughts on how
> to go forward, hopefully I can be more active on this time willing...

I think ideally that all of the non-obsolete techdocs content should get
folded into the "User's Lounge" as one cohesive area.

--
-Josh Berkus
 Aglio Database Solutions
 San Francisco


Re: On site design issues

From
Alexey Borzov
Date:
Hi!

Gavin M. Roy wrote:
> I'd be happy to offer a new design for the site, are there any points
> beyond the obvious (colors, content) that people would have me consider
> before submitting a design draft?

Can you give some links to the sites you made designs for?


Re: On site design issues

From
"Dave Page"
Date:

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Gavin M. Roy [mailto:gmr@ehpg.net]
> Sent: 19 April 2004 18:31
> To: Alexey Borzov
> Cc: pgsql-www@postgresql.org
> Subject: Re: [pgsql-www] On site design issues
>
> I'd be happy to offer a new design for the site, are there
> any points beyond the obvious (colors, content) that people
> would have me consider before submitting a design draft?

Hi Gavin,

Accessibility springs to mind. In particular, don't use fixed font sizes
so ppl cannot make them larger in their browser if they want - that
should be considered in the design as well; with the current one, the
ring menu under the logo doesn't display well with enlarged fonts.

It might be nice if there is an option to switch to pure plain text (no
colours or formatting other than H1-6, bold/italic etc.) though I
appreciate that will require some changes to the underlying code as
well.

We also need a navigation system that is scalable. Part of our longterm
task is to consider the 'satellite' sites like advocacy, developer and
techdocs and make them all part of the same project (if you see what I
mean). Whether that means simply standardising the designs, or actually
merging them into the main site is TBD, but I think we should assume
that they will be merged and make any new design suitable scalable.

Regards, Dave.

Re: On site design issues

From
"Gavin M. Roy"
Date:
A little background, I've been doing sites for over 10 years, had a
fairly large web development company, have done sites for companies like
MGM, Amgen, and California Pizza Kitchen, and numerous sports
celebrities.  This list of sites is fairly current (Sites done in the
last two years).  Note that I no longer do sites professionally (that is
as my job).  These are all community sites, or sites done as a favor for
friends.

PgSQL Related:

http://test.pgfound.org
http://pgsql.gavinroy.com
http://pgfoundry.org/ - Revampted color scheme, designed the logo (which
still doesnt look right, i need to do another draft of it), made the
glossy elephant.


Others:

http://www.gamesurge.net
http://www.oceanminded.com
http://www.pathetic.org
http://www.ehpg.net
http://www.justsportsusa.com
http://www.justsportsusa.com/apparel/
http://www.swgfanatic.com
http://www.figurethisradio.com/

You'll have to pardon some of the designs they were directed by the site
owners...

And a few more "glassy" logo designs:

http://www.framewerk.org/Graphics/framewerk.gif
http://www.gamesurge.net/Graphics/Banners/logoGlassyWhite.png


Gavin


Alexey Borzov wrote:

> Hi!
>
> Gavin M. Roy wrote:
>
>> I'd be happy to offer a new design for the site, are there any points
>> beyond the obvious (colors, content) that people would have me
>> consider before submitting a design draft?
>
>
> Can you give some links to the sites you made designs for?
>
>
> ---------------------------(end of broadcast)---------------------------
> TIP 8: explain analyze is your friend



Re: On site design issues

From
Alexey Borzov
Date:
Hi!

Gavin M. Roy wrote:
> A little background, I've been doing sites for over 10 years, had a
> fairly large web development company, have done sites for companies like
> MGM, Amgen, and California Pizza Kitchen, and numerous sports
> celebrities.  This list of sites is fairly current (Sites done in the
> last two years).  Note that I no longer do sites professionally (that is
> as my job).  These are all community sites, or sites done as a favor for
> friends.

Wow! Impressive!

I won't give you any advice on how to do design, as obviously you know a lot
more about this than me. :]

I only have some obvious usability suggestions:
1) Make search box available on every page
2) Make website mirror selection available on every page
3) Make in-site navigation distinct from links to other sites, make navigation
more prominent