Comments on: A List Apart Redesigns, Makes Me Weep

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

A new content management system that uses Ruby on Rails? I thought they were still using the Alvey-designed Blogsmith software?

*Political murmurs rumble off in the distance*

By: Faruk Ateş

Faruk Ateş — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

The headings are a nice touch, but I really have to get used to them…

It’s nice, though. Good to see a more usable ALA

By: Chris Vincent

Chris Vincent — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

“*Prediction: A center-stacked headline mini-boom begins today.”

That’s one of the first things I thought, too.

By: Christian

Christian — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I have to disagree, Mike; I was [am] underwhelmed. Months of no content updates, and now a redesign of the site? There really ought to be a joke (perhaps there already is) that the only thing web designers seem to be able to do is constantly redesign their own sites. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking the new design – it’s quite nice. But aren’t you kind of getting to the point where you go, “Oh, [big name web designer] just redid their site … again. Ho hum.”

Having said that, I will now return to working on my own website, which I am currently in the process of redesigning. *sigh*

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I’ve gotta say… I’m just happy for some activity on A List Apart. I was just wondering yesterday when they were going to update the site.

I had heard somewhere (possibly from alistapart.com) that they were going to do a redesign, so I’m not overly surprised by it, but I think it looks great!

Hopefully the new redesign sparts more interest in the content of the site and we start seeing new updates soon.

By: Mark Priestap

Mark Priestap — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Though I would echo the sentiments above in hoping that ALA once again posts new content, I think the biggest reason why ALA hasn’t been updated is due to the rediculous schedule of Zeldman – His web superstardom has caught up with him. I wonder how he finds time to sleep…?

By: Chris K

Chris K — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I like the redesign. To have a complete overhaul with everything on it after months of no activity is a bit overwhelming. Right now, its a shock to the system. I predict we’ll continue to rave over it as everyone gets more acclimated to all the new features and layout.

By: Adrian L.

Adrian L. — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I dunno… I’m not really impressed.

Does anyone else thing it looks like ever second “design” blog out there?

I can see the wheels turning there guys. Of course it looks better than my site, but my site’s not about design.

I think I agree with Christian. I’m Underwhelmed.

By: Jason Santa Maria

Jason Santa Maria — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Christian: I totally understand what you mean. I can tell you first hand, the site was originally only suppose to take 1-2 months. Then it snowballed as we got more and more into it. It was a situation where we wanted to wait to publish the new content in the new site.

By: Jared L.

Jared L. — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Favorite design touch: creating a design that has a left-right scroll bar in 800×600 display mode.

Yes, that was being sarcastic.

When over a quarter of Internet users still use this resolution (sad but true), wouldn’t one consider this a bit of an accessibility issue? Granted, I’d assume that their audience has a much lower percentage of people at that resolution.

By: Dave Simon

Dave Simon — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Jared -

Consider the audience, though. It’s not my mom reading ALA. It’s aimed at web designers who either are on, or wish to be on the forefront of Web 2.0.

I would venture to guess that a very small percentage of ALA readers have 800×600 setups. I bet the percentage is higher for 1280 or more.

By: Fred Faulkner

Fred Faulkner — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I like the design, the fact that it was rebuilt on Rails (Web 2.0 shows it head again). I agree that most of the visitors of ALA will have a 1028×768 screen size, so the scrolling on an 800×600 doesn’t bother me, but no print.css?? I’m hoping this is just a slight oversight.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

With the assumption that ALA is a web magazine geared towards the web-designer/web-programmer/project-manager/anyone-else-on-the-web-development-team so they might learn more about XHTML/CSS/Accessability/web-standards-developing-script, I see a clean, open, easily read layout.

Much like a magazine is geared to be, I don’t see ALA as a “design” sight – one that focuses on being the wicked-worn/rounded-corner/pastel/aqua/over-used-flash-looking-eye-candy. So, I’m not “underwhelmed” by the design. Their form matches their function very well with this re-design and I’m looking forward to reading the new issues. Also, ALA is a “contribution” site, so the look, I’m not surprised, matches the individuals who are involved.

Finally, the touch of illustration is a fantastic addition – although I have a tendency to being partial to illustrators. I’m also looking forward to wearing the t-shirt designed by Jason.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I have two screens, one is 1400×1050 and the other 1680×1050 but consistently browse with a window smaller then 1024.

By: Adrian L.

Adrian L. — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Much like a magazine is geared to be, I don’t see ALA as a “design” sight – one that focuses on being the wicked-worn/rounded-corner/pastel/aqua/over-used-flash-looking-eye-candy.

I don’t consider any of that design either Thomas, I consider it styling – much of it overdone and tired.

Yes, it’s a “contribution” site. But it long ago established itself as a bastion of xhtml/css technique goodness, promoting the idea that well built sites don’t need to look like poo.

And the big “innovation” in terms of the site visual? Centered headlines with some admittedly nifty underscoring. The rest looks like every other standards compliant minimalist blog out there.

Looks like there’s some room to dethrone the reigning lords and ladies of webcraft, if this is their finest.

Me? I’m just a painter. Ask anyone. They’ll tell you painters never get anything done.