Comments for A New Design

A New Design

2006-08-29T07:00:00Z

I launched a new design for my blog about two weeks ago, but I'd been waiting until I had a chance to shake out a few of the more egregious bugs to mention the new layout and to describe some of the thinking behind it.

First, the page should look at least something like the screenshot you see above. The markup's mostly valid, the CSS is mostly not hacked, but more importantly, it looks kind of like how i think my site should look.

And yep, the big picture of me at the top is a little bit pompous. I'm hoping the tongue-in-cheek nature of that comes across, but if not, it'll just be our little joke. Coming from a family history that includes some actual pundits, I feel like I'm slightly more entitled to have some fun with the idea. Unfortunately, I think there's about a billion political or tech bloggers using the term to describe themselves, so I'll content myself with just naming my blog after myself. That's worked pretty well for the past 7+ years. (Did I mention last month marked my seven year anniversary for this blog?)

One additional item I plan to add to the page is a list of upcoming events. I am doing a lot of public speaking over the next few months, and I'd love to get a chance to meet up with readers of my site. So if you have suggestions about how to present this information, or how you'd like to meet up, let me know.

There's still some little bugs in the display, and I could probably refine the design a little bit more, but finally, here's my new blog design. One of the things I'm most proud of is that the names of the people who comment on this site are featured prominently with the posts, both on the homepage and on the individual post pages. I really, genuinely love the high quality comments I get, so it's likely that any final refinements to the design will be focused on highlighting good comments to have a more prominent place on the site.

Comment from Jay Goldman on 2006-08-29

2006-08-29T09:41:27Z

Anil -

I like the new design a lot - great choice of colours! I would suggest, for presentation of chronological information like speaking gigs, the best display is dependant on the frequency of the events. If you'll be speaking more than, say, ten times a month, I'd likely go with a calendar format. Less than that and I would probably do a page like this:

Next Event: Blah Blah Blah! August 29th, 2006

An Event Apart, NYC, Some big Hall

Join us for an epic session with a whole bunch of people who talk a lot! We'll cover some really interesting topics.

More Info

Other events in August 2006:

Some event It's Location

Another event It's Location Buy Tickets

Events in September 2006: etc.

etc.

A (not particularly original but somewhat entertaining thought): you should change the screenshot of the new design in this post to be a screenshot of the site with this post in it, so that when you look at this post on the site, you get the site containing a screenshot of a post containing a screenshot of the site, etc., etc., ad nauseum. Funny (sorta)!

Comment from Carla on 2006-08-29

2006-08-29T10:16:26Z

I really like the new design. I especially like how you have the people who have commented showing within the entry.

Comment from Jon Henshaw on 2006-08-29

2006-08-29T11:05:31Z

Are you asking a question? Singing? Preaching?

Anyways, nice redesign and ad integration.

Comment from Pat Phelan on 2006-08-29

2006-08-29T11:30:40Z

I really like it Anil

Comment from Jason Kolb on 2006-08-29

2006-08-29T13:44:54Z

SWEET! Good job, I think that may be the best blog design I've seen so far.

Comment from Rogers Cadenhead on 2006-08-29

2006-08-29T13:45:30Z

Dig the new layout (can we still use the word dig with one g?).

The picture looks like you're asking somebody an elaborate question (intellectually curious) not giving a speech (pompous). Either that, or when you give speeches you have an unnatural fear of knocking the mike off its stand.

Who's the guy in the background reduced to a Gaussian smudge -- Kottke?

Comment from pwb on 2006-08-29

2006-08-29T14:27:03Z

New design is ok. I think there's more pomposity than just the picture (massive masthead, both jsutified). I find it harder to read for some reason. Part of it is because the dates are at the bottom of posts so it doesn't feel fresh.

Comment from Geof F. Morris on 2006-08-29

2006-08-29T14:49:42Z

The new look is wonderful. Most importantly, you're still rocking the purple.

What about just listing the events you're doing on Upcoming and using one of their badges?

Also, I'm curious to know what drives the Amazon stuff at the bottom: things you're listening to? Content on the page? Randomly-selected items from a hand-selected wish? Out-of-work Travelocity gnomes? The souls of Greymatter support technicians reborn?

Comment from Anil Dash on 2006-08-29

2006-08-29T14:58:10Z

"Are you asking a question? Singing? Preaching?"

I'm doing the robot! You don't recognize it?

"Part of it is because the dates are at the bottom of posts so it doesn't feel fresh."
Hmm, this is interesting... I kinda miss the dates, too, but I put them at the bottom because they don't usually add tha tmuch information.

The Amazon stuff is Omakase links, which I'm just testing out. I think they do change based on what I add to my wishlist, which is kind of a scary thought. :)

Comment from Michael Martine on 2006-08-29

2006-08-29T15:05:01Z

There's something about the blue on the right I don't like. Hey, how about more purple? I'm serious. Anyways, overall the new design is very legible and friendly, which is good. But "Blortal 2.0" will always be my favorite tagline ever.

Comment from Aditya Naik on 2006-08-29

2006-08-29T16:37:19Z

Neat! though i would have preferred the goatse pic at the top :)

ps: the comments preview isn't ported yet..

Comment from Aditya Naik on 2006-08-29

2006-08-29T16:39:10Z

Neat! though i would have preferred the goatse pic at the top :)

ps: the comments preview isn't ported yet..

Comment from Cale on 2006-08-29

2006-08-29T19:26:43Z

This blog is about "Anil Dash" brand building - with that said I have the following feedback.

your tag line "Look how serious I am" doesn't come off as professional
your "about" link is burried and I think an about page that's in-line with the look and feel of dashes.com would be better than linking out to anildash.com
Google Adsense ads are too prominent and detract from what's really important - your "about" link and contact info. I imagine one paid speaking engagement is more valuable to you than a years worth of AdSense revenue but I might be wrong about that
I agree with one of the other commenters - the post date should be closer to the post title and more prominent
The photo has my vote
Move the syndication link closer to your "about" link
The overall design and color palette is crisp and fresh - it has my vote
Consider using Plazes http://beta.plazes.com/ to let your readers know where you are and what's next
I think the Amazon.com ads in your footer are a mistake - detracts from the clean design

My two cents. Feel free to comment on my blog design http://www.palmit.com - it has problems of its own and I've also dedicated too much space to ads that don't really generate any revenue. On the other hand you probably have traffic levels that are easier to monetize.

Comment from Don Park on 2006-08-29

2006-08-29T21:27:43Z

Anil, I think the design might be a bit too width sensitive.

Combined effect of auto-hiding right-side panel and hidden horizontal scrollbar left me clueless about the existence of the right-side panel until I saw it in the screenshot.

As to solutions, I would suggest making the content area narrower to reduce chance of auto-hiding the right-side panel. It's the quickest fix and also increases readability (this is why my browser windows are narrow despite having a huge screen).

Comment from Steve Brown on 2006-08-29

2006-08-29T21:45:20Z

I dont think the design stands out in any way other than it's simplicity - which is always a breath of fresh air to any extensive user of the web.

I will say though that the way that you have integrated your google ads is exceptional. They integrate perfectly. I wonder if you'll make any extra "ad-bucks" from it. Well done.

Comment from blogtommy on 2006-08-29

2006-08-30T00:48:50Z

I think as some have indicated that this design behooves you even with the possible take that it's a bit self-serving. I'm not convinced on the latter but I suppose you can see why some may be. In any event, I like it, for what that's worth and look forward to another 7 years!

Tommy

Comment from aadil on 2006-08-30

2006-08-30T11:07:19Z

The new blog design has a rather dashing look (sorry, couldn't resist it). ;D

Moreover, happy belated blog anniversary too! I've been reading this blog on and off since 2004 and I am glad to have it back in my bookmark list once again.

And too bad you won't be giving public speeches anywhere near Mauritius soon, Anil - I would have liked to meet you for some chit chat.

Comment from Josh Hughes on 2006-08-30

2006-08-30T13:41:00Z

Looks nice to me. I'm not a big fan of justified body text on the web, since there really isn't a clean way of dealing with gaps in the text. The screenshot in this post shows that rather well.

My only other suggestion would be to adjust the kerning so the D is closer to the A.

Cheers,
Josh

Comment from Jackson on 2006-08-30

2006-08-30T16:31:30Z

The right sidebar (and picture) don't display at all in NetNewsWire when I click through to your blog from your feed.

Thought you might want to know that.

Comment from Jeff on 2006-08-31

2006-08-31T12:11:39Z

And yep, the big picture of me at the top is a little bit pompous.

Anil, that depends. We could assume you are giving an important talk. But I would like to think you are really singing a rendition of "New York, New York." ;-)

Congrats on the seven years and the redesign.

Comment from Someone who loves dogs on 2006-09-01

2006-09-01T14:39:04Z

Nice design, boy do you love the color purple!

About the comments feature, I love the idea, but wonder how aesthetic it would be when you receive a gazillion comments to a certain post. Maybe I misunderstood ... were you planning to display only those comments you consider high quality? Or were you going to display all commenters' names? The second option becomes an issue when you have many many many comments :).

Comment from Amit Deshpande on 2006-09-06

2006-09-06T11:49:55Z

Slick design. A refreshing change, I should say! :)

Comment from Debs on 2006-09-07

2006-09-07T23:55:41Z

I likey I likey. Weird. I have not actually visited your blog in months (relax, just reading thie feeds). I headed over becauseI badly need to design my blog once and for all - so I have been poking around some of my favs - and surprise a brand new design at dashes. NIcely done. Of course, I guess I was also in a purple mood today..;)