Comments on: Redesigning a blog is about communicating with the designer http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/21/redesigning-a-blog-is-about-communicating-with-the-designer/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Mon, 08 Sep 2008 05:53:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Andrew http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/21/redesigning-a-blog-is-about-communicating-with-the-designer/#comment-52129 Andrew Tue, 03 Apr 2007 19:41:26 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/21/redesigning-a-blog-is-about-communicating-with-the-designer/#comment-52129 I am a designer and I a cannot tell you how happy I am that you posted this information so clearly. Many people seem to "hire" a designer so that -they- can do the design work and the designer can basically be the software junkie. I wouldn't expect to hire an architect and then try to tell them how I want a building built. Rather, I would want to communicate my need and purpose for the building, my target patrons, etc. This style of communication is exceedingly helpful for designers as opposed to a list of instructions. Thanks for communicating it clearly here! I am a designer and I a cannot tell you how happy I am that you posted this information so clearly. Many people seem to "hire" a designer so that -they- can do the design work and the designer can basically be the software junkie.
I wouldn't expect to hire an architect and then try to tell them how I want a building built. Rather, I would want to communicate my need and purpose for the building, my target patrons, etc. This style of communication is exceedingly helpful for designers as opposed to a list of instructions.
Thanks for communicating it clearly here!

]]> By: Naomi http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/21/redesigning-a-blog-is-about-communicating-with-the-designer/#comment-51555 Naomi Mon, 02 Apr 2007 19:51:24 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/21/redesigning-a-blog-is-about-communicating-with-the-designer/#comment-51555 Your designer must love you! :) Your designer must love you! :)

]]> By: How to Work with A Blog Designer or Us | RockinThemes.com | Free WordPress Themes | Free WordPress Templates http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/21/redesigning-a-blog-is-about-communicating-with-the-designer/#comment-42764 How to Work with A Blog Designer or Us | RockinThemes.com | Free WordPress Themes | Free WordPress Templates Tue, 13 Mar 2007 20:01:16 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/21/redesigning-a-blog-is-about-communicating-with-the-designer/#comment-42764 [...] For some excellent advice about working with web designers, see Penelope Trunk’s post on how to work well with your blog redesigner. [...] [...] For some excellent advice about working with web designers, see Penelope Trunk's post on how to work well with your blog redesigner. [...]

]]> By: Bert Dell http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/21/redesigning-a-blog-is-about-communicating-with-the-designer/#comment-35964 Bert Dell Tue, 27 Feb 2007 08:29:57 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/21/redesigning-a-blog-is-about-communicating-with-the-designer/#comment-35964 The design of your comment section is dumb, in that the comments seem to be separated by a line, so you can tell one comment from the next, but you put the name of the person who wrote the comment BELOW the line, so it seems to go with the next comment. Was this your designer's idea, or is that an example of one you should meddled with? The design of your comment section is dumb, in that the comments seem to be separated by a line, so you can tell one comment from the next, but you put the name of the person who wrote the comment BELOW the line, so it seems to go with the next comment. Was this your designer's idea, or is that an example of one you should meddled with?

]]> By: Thoughts on Design » Communicating with a Designer http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/21/redesigning-a-blog-is-about-communicating-with-the-designer/#comment-33797 Thoughts on Design » Communicating with a Designer Thu, 22 Feb 2007 21:19:29 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/21/redesigning-a-blog-is-about-communicating-with-the-designer/#comment-33797 [...] Redesigning a Blog is about Communicating with the Designer So it makes sense that these tips on how to redeisgn a blog are really about how to communicate with a designer. Because good communication is essential to having a good experience doing a redesign. [...] [...] Redesigning a Blog is about Communicating with the Designer So it makes sense that these tips on how to redeisgn a blog are really about how to communicate with a designer. Because good communication is essential to having a good experience doing a redesign. [...]

]]> By: Working Girl http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/21/redesigning-a-blog-is-about-communicating-with-the-designer/#comment-33376 Working Girl Thu, 22 Feb 2007 02:05:28 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/21/redesigning-a-blog-is-about-communicating-with-the-designer/#comment-33376 I think the reason Heather's photos work is that as well as being colorful and fun, they coordinate with the blog design, reinforce her voice, AND convey content. Imagine her blog without the photos. You would be sorry to see them go. Stock photos are usually just photos for the sake of photos. Would you miss them if they weren't there? I'm thinking no. Thanks for this timely talk about blog design. I just designed my own--hired a web developer to do the code (was I the client-from-hell? I hope not) and it was a great learning experience. Fortunately, my website person has the patience of a saint. Your new look is fabulous. Much more engaging and readable. And snazzy! I think the reason Heather's photos work is that as well as being colorful and fun, they coordinate with the blog design, reinforce her voice, AND convey content. Imagine her blog without the photos. You would be sorry to see them go.

Stock photos are usually just photos for the sake of photos. Would you miss them if they weren't there? I'm thinking no.

Thanks for this timely talk about blog design. I just designed my own–hired a web developer to do the code (was I the client-from-hell? I hope not) and it was a great learning experience. Fortunately, my website person has the patience of a saint.

Your new look is fabulous. Much more engaging and readable. And snazzy!

]]> By: Recruiting Animal http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/21/redesigning-a-blog-is-about-communicating-with-the-designer/#comment-33262 Recruiting Animal Wed, 21 Feb 2007 19:32:28 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/21/redesigning-a-blog-is-about-communicating-with-the-designer/#comment-33262 You make it sound so awful I'd want to perfect my knowledge of HTML and do my own. Or shoot myself. One or the other. Heather's photo of her green chandelier is hypnotic (in a good way). I was very impressed. You make it sound so awful I'd want to perfect my knowledge of HTML and do my own. Or shoot myself. One or the other. Heather's photo of her green chandelier is hypnotic (in a good way). I was very impressed.

]]> By: Caitlin http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/21/redesigning-a-blog-is-about-communicating-with-the-designer/#comment-33189 Caitlin Wed, 21 Feb 2007 17:50:26 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/21/redesigning-a-blog-is-about-communicating-with-the-designer/#comment-33189 This was an interesting post because I am currently trying to build a professional website and need to think about design. However, for blogs, I think it's also important to remember that a large percentage of your audience is likely to read the blog via RSS feeder. In which case, design is almost (but not quite) irrelevant. Unless I come through to the site to leave a comment, I see the same format I've always seen in Bloglines and I don't see any pictures. I came to see your new blog design because you posted it but otherwise I wouldn't have known. Clearly a good design helps make a favourable first impression and it is important for readers that are yet to take the leap to subscribing. I'm not knocking it. But on the other hand, if you are aiming to build a large, loyal audience via RSS, rather than catering for lots of changing, passing traffic, then I would consider a good design a nice-to-have rather than a must-have. <strong>* * * * * *</strong> <I>What good points you make, Caitlin. All stuff I hadn't really thought of. But then, you get me to thinking that I still use the actual blogs as reference. To check the archives, for example. Or the blogroll. Or, if I'm feeling obsessive, to check other peoples' traffic statistics... -Penelope</I> This was an interesting post because I am currently trying to build a professional website and need to think about design.

However, for blogs, I think it's also important to remember that a large percentage of your audience is likely to read the blog via RSS feeder. In which case, design is almost (but not quite) irrelevant. Unless I come through to the site to leave a comment, I see the same format I've always seen in Bloglines and I don't see any pictures. I came to see your new blog design because you posted it but otherwise I wouldn't have known.

Clearly a good design helps make a favourable first impression and it is important for readers that are yet to take the leap to subscribing. I'm not knocking it. But on the other hand, if you are aiming to build a large, loyal audience via RSS, rather than catering for lots of changing, passing traffic, then I would consider a good design a nice-to-have rather than a must-have.

* * * * * *

What good points you make, Caitlin. All stuff I hadn't really thought of. But then, you get me to thinking that I still use the actual blogs as reference. To check the archives, for example. Or the blogroll. Or, if I'm feeling obsessive, to check other peoples' traffic statistics…

-Penelope

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