I'm just a hobbyist, but since you're asking for feedback, here's my humble opinion.
I don't see a select input as the best solution for the "I am.." issue. Let's assume we have the 'new to django' option as the default for when a user first loads djangoproject.com, and a manager then visits the website. He'll see "I am new to django" and think "yes, that's my case", yet the links will mostly be aimed at a developer. Or even, assuming a "manager using django" opens the website, he might see "I am new to django" and just dismiss the box altogether. I just don't think that a select box is the best UI/UX solution, as it's not really clear as a call to action, unless you know which options lie underneath, not to mention it looks a little buried in the sidebar. I would much prefer a 4-block horizontal list with all the options one next to the other. This way no options are hidden behind a mouse click, and there's less of a chance the user will be surprised. In addition to that, I also dislike the proposed organization for the links in the bottom-half of the main section. "Other community resources" sounds like a catch-all that actually masks a bad attempt at categorizing each of those links. I'm not sure Getbarista, Django Best Practices and Django Jobs share the same level of relevance, or even the same audience. They should not, in my opinion, be stacked together in a one-window scrolling pane. Furthermore, requiring additional mouse clicks to reveal other links is, again, a bad UI/UX solution, and this is also true for the other 3 boxes, especially "Latest blog posts". I like whitespace, and I like grid layouts. I just don't like wasting that much whitespace in UX elements which don't stand out to the user or offer any advantages in terms of browsing, usability or accessibility. There's no reason for us not to restrict that much information to 1000 pixels in height. Less relevant information can (and should) go further down in the page. Moreover, it seems the big block of text right in the center is overkill for very little content. I love good typography as much as the next guy, maybe even more, but information about why Django was created falls under 'trivia' IMHO, and should not take 67% of the user's screen real estate. This much space could be better used in calls to action and a more intuitive display of the alternatives to the different kinds of users that might access the website. Finally, I agree with an earlier comment in the thread that we must cater to the main groups of users who access the website. This layout aims at every direction, but doesn't really offer great solutions to the most important issues that the current layout has. TL;DR It looks good, i.e. good typography and colors, but has bad UI/UX, too much mouse clicking required without prominent calls to action. Layout should cater to the 20% who will visit the website 80% of the time. It's okay to scroll! Cheers, AT On Mon, May 7, 2012 at 12:25 PM, Hooshyar Naraghi <hnara...@hanzinet.com>wrote: > Hello all, > > I decorated my design a little, primarily in the blocks sites that use > Django and Django Sponsors. > > https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B9D91R1_2bXLVnM3b2NHLXJ5RXM > https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B9D91R1_2bXLSlE1S2JBYXpYUE0 > https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B9D91R1_2bXLRUJFTlU0SkRLN1E > https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B9D91R1_2bXLSVBPR1ZEUV9nRVE > https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B9D91R1_2bXLOWk1UmJ4U0YtUmM > > Looking forward to reading your feedback. > > Regards, > Hooshyar > > > On Wednesday, May 2, 2012 9:22:08 PM UTC-7, Alec Taylor wrote: >> >> I quite like that last one (on Google Docs) >> >> Only caveat is the way sites that use Django are listed. >> >> It seems quite pedestrian... maybe add big image logos or whatnot... >> advertising that Bitbucket, Instagram and The Washington Post use >> Django is the easiest way to make people consider Django. >> >> On Thu, May 3, 2012 at 2:22 AM, Hooshyar Naraghi <hnara...@hanzinet.com> >> wrote: >> > Hello all, >> > >> > I would like to share yet another design for the Django Project web >> site. >> > First, I jump in with the design, and at the end I'll say a little >> about my >> > background. >> > >> > First, the design. >> > >> > https://docs.google.com/open?**id=0B9D91R1_**2bXLd0dKM21tOUVRRjQ<https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B9D91R1_2bXLd0dKM21tOUVRRjQ> >> > https://docs.google.com/open?**id=0B9D91R1_**2bXLT3ZrTnNUX0syeUU<https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B9D91R1_2bXLT3ZrTnNUX0syeUU> >> > https://docs.google.com/open?**id=0B9D91R1_**2bXLSGlzX0hmRGtxZWc<https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B9D91R1_2bXLSGlzX0hmRGtxZWc> >> > https://docs.google.com/open?**id=0B9D91R1_**2bXLNWp4eXNtM3VsOVk<https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B9D91R1_2bXLNWp4eXNtM3VsOVk> >> > https://docs.google.com/open?**id=0B9D91R1_**2bXLejAzdFJyNlF4MUU<https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B9D91R1_2bXLejAzdFJyNlF4MUU> >> > >> > The only difference in the above screenshots is to show case the >> different >> > "points of entry" (POE, aka "call to action") in the block "I am a >> ...." >> > This is one way to direct different types of visitors. We tried "I am >> a..." >> > functionality last year, when my business redesigned the web site of >> the NGO >> > VIA Programs (http://www.VIAPrograms.org). The web site is visited by >> > different kinds of people. In addition to explicit POE on the web site, >> (you >> > see the three POE at the top, which open a drop-down panel), we also >> > implemented an "I am a..." (you can find it on the Search drop-down >> panel). >> > My client is happy with this implementation, as they really service >> > different interests within their organization. I should add the >> disclaimer I >> > saw this "I am a..." on a web site many moons ago, but I didn't bother >> to >> > record it. So, I am inspired by it (Dana, yes, we steal great ideas, >> and why >> > not) and have used it on web sites that can really leverage it. >> > >> > My design is straightforward, but I would like to point out that the >> main >> > block is going to show a rotating slide presentation, if it doesn't >> look >> > evident on this non-interactive screenshot. Each slide could emphasize >> one >> > aspect of Django. For example, a video clip can be placed on one of the >> > slides, and so on. Second, for this submission, I didn't pay attention >> to >> > the content on the slide. I simply copied text from the current web >> site. >> > >> > As others who kindly submitted their designs, I would love to read your >> > feedback and will be glad to post any revision. >> > >> > About >> > >> > I run and own a small web app development business. We are a pure >> > Django/Python shop (OK, with a frizzle of PHP here and there -- read as >> > setting up MediaWiki, WordPress, and Joomla). Since 2006 I have used >> Django >> > in all of our custom-built web apps. We also take on UI/UX design for >> all of >> > our projects. >> > >> > Although I consider myself and my team indebted to Django forever, >> > nevertheless, I have not contributed anything significant to the Django >> > community. So, when I read about the Redesign project on this group, I >> > thought this could be one opportunity my business should contribute. My >> > commitment in this project will include producing final HTML mockups >> and of >> > course any needed revision. >> > >> > Regards, >> > Hooshyar >> > >> > >> > >> > On Saturday, April 28, 2012 1:05:27 AM UTC-7, Russell Keith-Magee >> wrote: >> >> >> >> Hi Dana, >> >> >> >> I completely agree. I've been trying to get a redesign of >> >> djangoproject.com going for quite some time under the auspices of the >> Django >> >> Foundation. As you can see from the lack of changes, you can see that >> I >> >> haven't been particularly successful :-( >> >> >> >> The fundamental problem is that we have plenty of coding talent at our >> >> disposal, but not as much design talent. That's not to say that there >> aren't >> >> many talented designers in our community -- there are -- it's just >> that >> >> they're all very busy. We've approached several people in the Django >> design >> >> community asking them to help out, and some have even made done some >> initial >> >> work. However, redesign of a high-profile site like djangoproject.comis a >> >> big job, and nobody has been able to spare the time to bring the job >> to >> >> completion. >> >> >> >> So - at this point I'm open to any offers. I want to avoid design by >> >> committee -- ideally, I would like to pass this off to a single person >> (or a >> >> small group) and give them complete control over design process. I'm >> not >> >> completely sure how to organise who gets this role -- suggestions are >> >> welcome. >> >> >> >> If you (or anyone else) is interested, drop me a line and I can give >> you >> >> the design brief we've been working with. >> >> >> >> Yours, >> >> Russ Magee %-) >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On Saturday, 28 April 2012 at 3:22 PM, Dana Woodman wrote: >> >> >> >> > So now that Django is being moved to Git/Github (which is awesome!), >> >> > maybe it would be a good time to think about a revamped home page >> for the >> >> > project ala djangoproject.com (http://djangoproject.com)? >> >> > >> >> > Obviously this is no small undertaking and would be potentially >> >> > contentions as to what would be the proper path, but I feel (and I >> don't >> >> > think I'm alone) that djangoproject.com (http://djangoproject.com) >> could use >> >> > a bit of a facelift. >> >> > >> >> > I have some idea of my own as to how this could be accomplished and >> I'm >> >> > sure there are a ton of others out there with great ideas as well. >> Maybe we >> >> > could open up some discussion on this idea? >> >> > >> >> > Forgive me if this has been proposed before as I'm new to the group! >> >> > >> >> > Cheers, >> >> > Dana >> >> > >> >> > -- >> >> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >> >> > Groups "Django developers" group. >> >> > To view this discussion on the web visit >> >> > https://groups.google.com/d/**msg/django-developers/-/**g8ngEnVG_EsJ<https://groups.google.com/d/msg/django-developers/-/g8ngEnVG_EsJ>. >> >> >> > To post to this group, send email to django-developers@** >> googlegroups.com <django-developers@googlegroups.com> >> >> > (mailto:django-developers@**googlegroups.com<django-developers@googlegroups.com>). >> >> >> > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> >> > django-developers+unsubscribe@**googlegroups.com<django-developers%2bunsubscr...@googlegroups.com> >> >> > (mailto:django-developers+**unsubscr...@googlegroups.com<django-developers%2bunsubscr...@googlegroups.com>). >> >> >> > For more options, visit this group at >> >> > http://groups.google.com/**group/django-developers?hl=en<http://groups.google.com/group/django-developers?hl=en>. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > -- >> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >> Groups >> > "Django developers" group. >> > To view this discussion on the web visit >> > https://groups.google.com/d/**msg/django-developers/-/**8CyaqpMlkP4J<https://groups.google.com/d/msg/django-developers/-/8CyaqpMlkP4J>. >> >> > >> > To post to this group, send email to django-developers@** >> googlegroups.com <django-developers@googlegroups.com>. >> > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> > django-developers+unsubscribe@**googlegroups.com<django-developers%2bunsubscr...@googlegroups.com>. >> >> > For more options, visit this group at >> > http://groups.google.com/**group/django-developers?hl=en<http://groups.google.com/group/django-developers?hl=en>. >> >> > > On Wednesday, May 2, 2012 9:22:08 PM UTC-7, Alec Taylor wrote: >> >> I quite like that last one (on Google Docs) >> >> Only caveat is the way sites that use Django are listed. >> >> It seems quite pedestrian... maybe add big image logos or whatnot... >> advertising that Bitbucket, Instagram and The Washington Post use >> Django is the easiest way to make people consider Django. >> >> On Thu, May 3, 2012 at 2:22 AM, Hooshyar Naraghi <hnara...@hanzinet.com> >> wrote: >> > Hello all, >> > >> > I would like to share yet another design for the Django Project web >> site. >> > First, I jump in with the design, and at the end I'll say a little >> about my >> > background. >> > >> > First, the design. >> > >> > https://docs.google.com/open?**id=0B9D91R1_**2bXLd0dKM21tOUVRRjQ<https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B9D91R1_2bXLd0dKM21tOUVRRjQ> >> > https://docs.google.com/open?**id=0B9D91R1_**2bXLT3ZrTnNUX0syeUU<https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B9D91R1_2bXLT3ZrTnNUX0syeUU> >> > https://docs.google.com/open?**id=0B9D91R1_**2bXLSGlzX0hmRGtxZWc<https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B9D91R1_2bXLSGlzX0hmRGtxZWc> >> > https://docs.google.com/open?**id=0B9D91R1_**2bXLNWp4eXNtM3VsOVk<https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B9D91R1_2bXLNWp4eXNtM3VsOVk> >> > https://docs.google.com/open?**id=0B9D91R1_**2bXLejAzdFJyNlF4MUU<https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B9D91R1_2bXLejAzdFJyNlF4MUU> >> > >> > The only difference in the above screenshots is to show case the >> different >> > "points of entry" (POE, aka "call to action") in the block "I am a >> ...." >> > This is one way to direct different types of visitors. We tried "I am >> a..." >> > functionality last year, when my business redesigned the web site of >> the NGO >> > VIA Programs (http://www.VIAPrograms.org). The web site is visited by >> > different kinds of people. In addition to explicit POE on the web site, >> (you >> > see the three POE at the top, which open a drop-down panel), we also >> > implemented an "I am a..." (you can find it on the Search drop-down >> panel). >> > My client is happy with this implementation, as they really service >> > different interests within their organization. I should add the >> disclaimer I >> > saw this "I am a..." on a web site many moons ago, but I didn't bother >> to >> > record it. So, I am inspired by it (Dana, yes, we steal great ideas, >> and why >> > not) and have used it on web sites that can really leverage it. >> > >> > My design is straightforward, but I would like to point out that the >> main >> > block is going to show a rotating slide presentation, if it doesn't >> look >> > evident on this non-interactive screenshot. Each slide could emphasize >> one >> > aspect of Django. For example, a video clip can be placed on one of the >> > slides, and so on. Second, for this submission, I didn't pay attention >> to >> > the content on the slide. I simply copied text from the current web >> site. >> > >> > As others who kindly submitted their designs, I would love to read your >> > feedback and will be glad to post any revision. >> > >> > About >> > >> > I run and own a small web app development business. We are a pure >> > Django/Python shop (OK, with a frizzle of PHP here and there -- read as >> > setting up MediaWiki, WordPress, and Joomla). Since 2006 I have used >> Django >> > in all of our custom-built web apps. We also take on UI/UX design for >> all of >> > our projects. >> > >> > Although I consider myself and my team indebted to Django forever, >> > nevertheless, I have not contributed anything significant to the Django >> > community. So, when I read about the Redesign project on this group, I >> > thought this could be one opportunity my business should contribute. My >> > commitment in this project will include producing final HTML mockups >> and of >> > course any needed revision. >> > >> > Regards, >> > Hooshyar >> > >> > >> > >> > On Saturday, April 28, 2012 1:05:27 AM UTC-7, Russell Keith-Magee >> wrote: >> >> >> >> Hi Dana, >> >> >> >> I completely agree. I've been trying to get a redesign of >> >> djangoproject.com going for quite some time under the auspices of the >> Django >> >> Foundation. As you can see from the lack of changes, you can see that >> I >> >> haven't been particularly successful :-( >> >> >> >> The fundamental problem is that we have plenty of coding talent at our >> >> disposal, but not as much design talent. That's not to say that there >> aren't >> >> many talented designers in our community -- there are -- it's just >> that >> >> they're all very busy. We've approached several people in the Django >> design >> >> community asking them to help out, and some have even made done some >> initial >> >> work. However, redesign of a high-profile site like djangoproject.comis a >> >> big job, and nobody has been able to spare the time to bring the job >> to >> >> completion. >> >> >> >> So - at this point I'm open to any offers. I want to avoid design by >> >> committee -- ideally, I would like to pass this off to a single person >> (or a >> >> small group) and give them complete control over design process. I'm >> not >> >> completely sure how to organise who gets this role -- suggestions are >> >> welcome. >> >> >> >> If you (or anyone else) is interested, drop me a line and I can give >> you >> >> the design brief we've been working with. >> >> >> >> Yours, >> >> Russ Magee %-) >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On Saturday, 28 April 2012 at 3:22 PM, Dana Woodman wrote: >> >> >> >> > So now that Django is being moved to Git/Github (which is awesome!), >> >> > maybe it would be a good time to think about a revamped home page >> for the >> >> > project ala djangoproject.com (http://djangoproject.com)? >> >> > >> >> > Obviously this is no small undertaking and would be potentially >> >> > contentions as to what would be the proper path, but I feel (and I >> don't >> >> > think I'm alone) that djangoproject.com (http://djangoproject.com) >> could use >> >> > a bit of a facelift. >> >> > >> >> > I have some idea of my own as to how this could be accomplished and >> I'm >> >> > sure there are a ton of others out there with great ideas as well. >> Maybe we >> >> > could open up some discussion on this idea? >> >> > >> >> > Forgive me if this has been proposed before as I'm new to the group! >> >> > >> >> > Cheers, >> >> > Dana >> >> > >> >> > -- >> >> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >> >> > Groups "Django developers" group. >> >> > To view this discussion on the web visit >> >> > https://groups.google.com/d/**msg/django-developers/-/**g8ngEnVG_EsJ<https://groups.google.com/d/msg/django-developers/-/g8ngEnVG_EsJ>. >> >> >> > To post to this group, send email to django-developers@** >> googlegroups.com <django-developers@googlegroups.com> >> >> > (mailto:django-developers@**googlegroups.com<django-developers@googlegroups.com>). >> >> >> > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> >> > django-developers+unsubscribe@**googlegroups.com<django-developers%2bunsubscr...@googlegroups.com> >> >> > (mailto:django-developers+**unsubscr...@googlegroups.com<django-developers%2bunsubscr...@googlegroups.com>). >> >> >> > For more options, visit this group at >> >> > http://groups.google.com/**group/django-developers?hl=en<http://groups.google.com/group/django-developers?hl=en>. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > -- >> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >> Groups >> > "Django developers" group. >> > To view this discussion on the web visit >> > https://groups.google.com/d/**msg/django-developers/-/**8CyaqpMlkP4J<https://groups.google.com/d/msg/django-developers/-/8CyaqpMlkP4J>. >> >> > >> > To post to this group, send email to django-developers@** >> googlegroups.com <django-developers@googlegroups.com>. >> > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> > django-developers+unsubscribe@**googlegroups.com<django-developers%2bunsubscr...@googlegroups.com>. >> >> > For more options, visit this group at >> > http://groups.google.com/**group/django-developers?hl=en<http://groups.google.com/group/django-developers?hl=en>. >> >> > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Django developers" group. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msg/django-developers/-/iIgBZyxRSxgJ. > > To post to this group, send email to django-developers@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > django-developers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/django-developers?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Django developers" group. 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