Masthead Menu

  • About this site
  • Contact Me
  • Archives
  • Mastheads
  • Shop
  • FAQ
  • community
  • view
  • view
  • view
dooce® - dooce.com

FIRST!!!!

I know, I know, you don't like purple. Or black. And that font over there is too small to read. And don't even get you started on squares, they're almost as bad as having to walk around with a rock in your shoe. These are all valid complaints and are being taken very seriously. Or at least, somewhat seriously, because there was this one email that was very passionate in its hatred of this change, and she was all DIE! DIE! DIE! and then there at the bottom was her signature followed by a quote from Jesus.

I'm going to let Jon talk about all the technical issues surrounding this redesign and why we decided to go with a different content management system, because all I did was draw up a design in Photoshop and say MAKE IT LOOK LIKE THIS. He has been knee-deep in code for almost two months now, and the only way we were able to launch the new design this soon and not, say, after we had both died of old age is because he had help from two expert developers, Ben Durbin and Bill Bostick. The amount and quality of work that they did was indispensable, cannot recommend them enough, and mostly I just want to thank them for all the support they gave Jon because without them he would have gone completely bald.

Yesterday as we neared the final stretch I decided to take Leta out to run some errands so Jon could project manage those last few tasks without being distracted by the sound of her body tossing itself on the floor. He briefly got up from this desk to kiss me goodbye when I noticed two giant sweat stains underneath his arms, and I was all, are you running on a treadmill while coding my website? Isn't that complicated? And he's all, yes I'm running on a treadmill, WITH MY BRAIN.

So what did I hope to accomplish with this redesign? First and foremost, I wanted to be able to post bigger photographs. That was a huge problem with the previous design, and for years I could only post photos that were 450 pixels wide. Which is why I always posted vertical photos, just to get as much out of those 450 pixels as possible. Now the width is almost double that, which gives me so much more freedom with the camera.

Two, I wanted to start a Daily Style section, some place to store my thoughts and photographs on the design of things in everyday life. When brainstorming ways to incorporate that into the site it made sense to make it a feature like the Daily Photo and Daily Chuck, mainly because I wanted it to include a photograph I'd taken of the object myself to emphasize the fact that these are things I use, these are things in my home.

Three, the Daily Links section has moved from the sidebar into the main content column. This is to give those links more emphasis, and sometime this week the background color of those entries will change color a tiny bit to differentiate them from the other posts. Also coming this week: a "previous" and "next" button at the bottom of all the posts for easier navigation and a redirected RSS feed (so you won't have to re-subscribe to it).

Finally, I'm hoping to be able to open comments more frequently with this redesign. In recent months when I opened comments my server would crash under the 17 million scripts that ran to publish a single comment, and often people would think that their comment hadn't published only to have it publish ten times in a row. That had everything to do with how the pages were built, and we think we've solved this problem.

Soon we'll find out because I'm going to open up comments on this post to get your feedback, and I just totally winced writing that. Please be gentle for I am a delicate flower. Also, before you leave a comment you are required to watch this video. Twice. (video is not completely safe for work, but worth getting yelled at for it)

Also also, while comments are open, is there any question you'd like to see answered in the FAQ? Other than SHOW US YR TITZZ!!!!!!!!!! Because that question is getting old.

11.19.2007 Daily 1053 comments

Tweet

Previous Post Next Post
  • Martha said:

    I just saw a "0" in the comments section and had to take a crack at being first. I hope a bunch of people didn't post comments while I was frantically typing. I love the design!

    11.19.07 - 07:58 PM / 1
  • Tyle said:

    Lovin the new design, Heather!

    11.19.07 - 07:59 PM / 2
  • FishyLibrarian said:

    The fact that there are zero comments as I type this means that there will be 22 by the time I click 'preview comment', unless I'm brief. I like change. And this change is particularly good. Well done.

    11.19.07 - 07:59 PM / 3
  • EvilScienceChick said:

    Well, I for one like the new design. And woohooo! Comments! I'm going to enjoy these while they last ;)

    Good job, guys! You deserve a vacation. And some cake. Mmmm...cake!

    11.19.07 - 08:00 PM / 4
  • Margaret said:

    I, for one, welcome our new purple and black overlords.

    But seriously, Heather, the former congressman (not to mention you and your husband) has done a great job with the redesign.

    Yay big photos!

    11.19.07 - 08:00 PM / 5
  • voodoolady said:

    I LOVE the purple and black. I'm no expert on web design but it's all very pleasing to the eye and runs smoothly. Thumbs up.

    11.19.07 - 08:00 PM / 6
  • Bec said:

    New site is fab. Love the purple. And the black. And the squares. Love this whole damn blog! Good job : )

    11.19.07 - 08:01 PM / 7
  • Barbetti said:

    I won't cram Jesus down your throat for using purple. It looks awesome.

    Love this video!

    11.19.07 - 08:02 PM / 8
  • Jennifer said:

    I like it. Very clean and fresh.

    11.19.07 - 08:02 PM / 9
  • Clara said:

    Long time reader but first time commenting. This design makes the site look more spacious than before. Good job, all of you.

    11.19.07 - 08:02 PM / 10
  • Bonnie said:

    LOVE the new design and love your journal.

    <3

    11.19.07 - 08:03 PM / 11
  • Amanda said:

    I LOVE the purple! Site looks pretty......

    11.19.07 - 08:03 PM / 12
  • bethp said:

    I think that the new site looks pretty good. way to go, Jon. Now Jon, please show us those tits! the sweat stains make them so appealing.

    11.19.07 - 08:03 PM / 13
  • Miss Hass said:

    Love it.

    11.19.07 - 08:04 PM / 14
  • Smellody said:

    The new site is so sweet, I can't even say. I love the big pictures, especially on my iMac screen at home. I think it looks great - great job and keep it up. Also, the video rocked. Here's to the the Armstrong's for more great work!!

    11.19.07 - 08:04 PM / 15
  • Allison said:

    Very nice! Good work!

    11.19.07 - 08:04 PM / 16
  • Katie said:

    I love the new design and the fact that due to either a glitch or a cool setting, we're all commenter #1. It's a self-esteem boost in a really deranged way.

    11.19.07 - 08:05 PM / 17
  • Jules said:

    Heather,
    I'm so excited your back up & running!

    I think maybe you should get Chuck to do an advice column. Unless he's a diva since he is the calendar boy 3 years running....
    Jules
    House of Jules

    11.19.07 - 08:06 PM / 18
  • Hippitee said:

    Did you do that on purpose...make each of us FIRST in commenting? Clever! But, I would expect nothing less.

    Oh yeah, congrats on the redesign. Love the new bio-photo too!

    11.19.07 - 08:06 PM / 19
  • Colleen said:

    I think your Web site is just fine. As long as the quality of your writing is not affected by all the purple and black I think you are in good shape.Does that help?

    11.19.07 - 08:06 PM / 20
  • CindyLou said:

    I'm so excited to see the new site design -- and your "daily style" photo will soon become a new favorite.

    11.19.07 - 08:07 PM / 21
  • Melanie at Beanpaste said:

    I think it looks beautiful. No buts. Love the larger photos, particularly the style section. Well done. Thanks for years of entertainment.

    11.19.07 - 08:09 PM / 22
  • Anonymous said:

    There is no way I'm really the first commenter...but I wanted to write something just in case :)

    You're my idol.

    11.19.07 - 08:10 PM / 23
  • Jessica said:

    Wow, first comment on your site is pretty rare. Just wanted to say that I love the new layout, the style section is fantastic and overall, I would say that you and Jon have taken dooce to a whole new level.

    11.19.07 - 08:10 PM / 24
  • Michelle said:

    I like, and going to look forward to the daily style section. Also, I am glad to find out I am not the only person out there who buys herselves inexpensive wedding rings all the time. :)

    11.19.07 - 08:10 PM / 25
  • Katie said:

    I just wanted to say that I've been a fan of your site for a long time and have never been lucky enough to get to comment on something so here goes:

    Your site looks great, you are a great writer, your family is beautiful and you take awesome pictures.

    Keep up the good work!!

    11.19.07 - 08:11 PM / 26
  • shel said:

    Love it! Beautiful and easier to get around. and I love the addition of the style pictures!

    11.19.07 - 08:11 PM / 27
  • M said:

    I like everything except the white text against the white background in your masthead. I find it kind of illegible, tho that could be my crappy monitor.

    Great job- looking forward to seeing the big pictures-

    11.19.07 - 08:11 PM / 28
  • lauren said:

    Love it!!!!!

    Well worth the sweat stains and baldness.

    11.19.07 - 08:11 PM / 29
  • Mrs. CPA said:

    In the time it took me to read this there are 22 comments. By the time I publish this there will be 45.

    I like the redesign. Thanks to Jon for all his hard work and to you for your vision for all of us voyeurs out here peeking in.

    11.19.07 - 08:12 PM / 30
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • …
  • ›
  • »

You must have a dooce® Community account to leave a comment.

If you've already registered, login.

If this is your first time posting here, snag a free account.



Footer Books by Heather B. Armstrong
It Sucked and Then I Cried by Heather B. Armstrong

It Sucked and Then I Cried

Amazon

Barnes and Noble icon

Other Vendors

Things I Learned About my Dad in Therapy by Heather B. Armstrong

Things I Learned About My Dad in Therapy

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Elsewhere

  • flickr
  • Twitter
  • Recently

    • April 2012
    • March 2012
    • February 2012
    • January 2012
    • December 2011

    © 2001 - 2012 Armstrong Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Powered by Drupal. Hosted by Liquidweb. Footer Feedicon RSS Feed Footer FM badge FM Living Advertise on dooce®