8 Jan
2014
8 Jan
'14
10:28 p.m.
On Tue, 07 Jan 2014 12:11:58 -0600
"Darrell Anderson" <darrella(a)hushmail.com> wrote:
Mmh. Looking at the website, my instinct is that what it needs is a little
bit of framing for the main content area. Move the secondary menu
(currently in the blue bar at the top) to a sidebar, create a wider and
more colourful/graphical topping banner, and possibly add a bottom
bar and a second sidebar on the side opposite the menu (maybe even
move the download links there?). Maybe a bit more whitespace at the
sides.
I'm thinking something kind of like lxde.org or gentoo.org or even debian.org
(but not like kde.org or xfce.org, which have gone to the space-wasting
wide-top-banner style--we need to differentiate ourselves as much as possible
from KDE anyway).
I'm not the world's greatest designer, but I can give a shot at some
mockups this weekend if no one else steps up.
E. Liddell
Nevertheless I
also think that before releasing R14 we *do* need
to make an effort to update website/wiki/documentation in general.
Otherwise all the good work gone into R14 will be mostly wasted by
poor first user impression.
My sentiments too. The current web site is functional --- no
arguments from me. Yet a typical web user expects a little pizzazz
from a web site.
I agree with the well tested adage that we have only chance to make
a first impression. R14 is a big release. Let's update the web
site. Let's release R14 the right way.
We don't have to get fancy. Just look around at other computer web
sites. We don't have to engage in a major overhaul. Find a
template we like and reorganize the links. Add come color to the
web site.
Long ago we had a discussion about updating the web site. I was
asked to post recommendations. I don't remember whether the
recommendations are in the dev mail list archives or an etherpad,
but that would be a starting place.
The grand challenge of these types of discussions: who will step
forward and start working on mockups? I don't have that kind of
experience.