Revamped Domain Name Wire site design released.
About a month ago, when Domain Name Wire turned four, I decided it was time to make some changes. One of those was the site design, which was designed for a different era. I started working with Bradley of Site Graduate to refresh the layout.
Today I’m excited to launch this new design. Please take a look around, and if you discover any bugs and navigation problems please let me know. Here are some of the changes:
1. Wider format – the old design worked in browsers with 800px wide resolutions. But less than 2% of site visitors use browsers with this low resolution, so the new design is wider. That means less scrolling when you read.
2. Prominent RSS and Twitter links – wait, you mean you’re not one of the thousands of people who subscribe to the Domain Name Wire RSS feed? And you’re not following me on Twitter? Get with the program!
3. Category navigation – categories have moved from the column to a horizontal menu bar.
Again, please let me know if you discover any issues with the new design.
Francois says
I like the colors, nice 🙂
Robbie says
Looking Good!
jp says
I hate to be this guy, but here goes:
I really like the concept and the style, although I liked the old color scheme better. I prefer the stronger colors, it was more striking.
And secondly, my screen is 1024×768 and I’ve got a bottom scrollbar. No useful information is cut-off on the right however the bottom scroller removes some useful vertical space.
Jamie Zoch says
Looks great but is a little wide for me. Nothing like being in the 2%. 🙂 Gives me a scroll bar on the bottom of my screen but I adjusted my Res and I am out of the 2% now 🙂
Andrew Allemann says
Jamie – was your resolution 1024? It looks like the theme might be just over 1024 wide.
Mark says
Looks a lot cleaner!
Curious says
Is this built with Joomla or something similar?
Patrick McDermott says
Since you asked for Feedback:
I am of the same thought as JP regarding prefering the stronger colors that were
used before particularly in the “Domain Name Wire” logo at the top.
The white letters in gray outline makes it look kind of empty.
I am glad you kept the unique multi-colored circle.
When I see that I know it’s your blog.
wannadevelop.com says
It should of been tested for 1024×768 🙂
Mark says
Whew baby!!!! Much better. Cleaner.
However, one biggie I would change. Increase the font size. Seems a little small. Would be easier to read if it were a tad bit larger.
Other than that, Supremo, Outstanding, Nice going.
Bravo!
Mark
DS says
Looks decent, would lose the stars on the category bars though.
wannadevelop.com says
The design as a whole should be much better optimized from here on. There is too much unused (empty) space, on the left side, as well as right side.. Also the main “hotspots”
Increasing font size won’t hurt too.
Andrew Allemann says
Thanks everyone. Mike, the unused space will be filled in over time.
Alan says
Nice clean look. One minor suggestion, center the word subscriptions above the RSS & twitter logos. Also, I was poking around and read the advertiser section. If I recall correctly you were quoted in the Wall St Journal and Washington Post. Might as well add it! Always enjoy your posts, keep up the great work.
Colin Pape says
Nice work Andrew!
The new site looks great (at least from this end)… Much easier to navigate and nicer on the eyes…
Looking forward to the continued evolution of DNW… You’re definitely on the right track!
All the best,
Colin
Gabe says
Looks up to date and fresh. However, I agree with some of the other comments, and would suggest making the following three changes:
1. Give more contrast to your logo and possibly shrink logo to 85% of its current size.
2. Increase body copy text from 11px to 12px.
3. Change sidebar section title bg’s to a darker blue.
Overall it looks good. I think the above few tweaks will make it look even better. IMO
-Gabe
Marg says
I did find the old design a little stronger. Like other of your respondents, I would like the font size bigger. Although this seems like the same size as before which I always had to increase for reading anyway. The post headers seem quite a washed out blue, I feel that colour should be stronger. I really don’t like the very washed out grey on white header, that certainly should be stronger too. Please consider some of these points, I’m often reading at night, small fonts and pale colours make this trickier. Thanks for listening!
mayed says
last night, when came through your website i was stunned by the new design 🙂 i like it so much … it is much lively than the old one … however ,,, the bottom scroll point that is mentioned by couple of people .. doesn’t show any tangible problems for me even when my screen resolution is 1024×768.
greet theme buddy 🙂 my reading experience become a pleasure because of the nice colors
Andrew Allemann says
Thanks for all of the feedback. Here’s what we’re doing:
1. Making sure it fits within 1024 px wide
2. I’ll make the headlines darker
3. Not sure on the text size. I’ll try one size larger. In the mean time you can increase the font size yourself (on Windows, hit control and then move your mouse wheel up).
Chris Campbell says
I have got to say I really like the new design and colors but it still maintains the familiar Domain Name Wire feel. Good work.
Perchboy says
Nice looking. I agree with the comment that the font might be enlarged, just a tad.
Good work-
Perchboy
Andrew Allemann says
Guys, I just did the following:
1. Increased main article font size to 12pt
2. Darkened headline
3. Turned dateline to grey
4. Darkened text
Any feedback?
Mark says
Much better Andrew.
Readable. Comfortable. Enjoyable. Drinkable.
Mark
Ted Olson says
Nice work Andrew
Tan Tran says
In IE 6.0 the layout does not look well.
Tan
Perchboy says
Much better. Love the font size, now.
Perchboy