With the conversion to Movable Type as my weblogging software, I just had to do a full redesign.
Although I do like my new design, I do question whether it was wise to do the entire layout in CSS. "What about that 1% who uses Netscape 3.x?" I ask myself. "Now they'll have to look at an ugly site."
Of course because I'm always trying to please everyone, I'll be setting up some sort of design-friendly solution for those without the latest browsers.
So, now I guess I should give some sort of tour for those visiting the new dollarshort.org. I basically moved everything off of my old index into different sections.
Archives contain the entries grouped by week. Additionally, you can now browse entries based on their categories. The search function will return shortly.
Projects contain the entries that are just a little more interesting than the regular postings. This is the place for my cartoons, video and audio files.
Elsewhere is my list of bookmarks.
About contains information about me and the site as well as the diversions list that was previously on the index page.
Contact is pretty self-evident.
Previously posted comments will be restored sometime later this week. In the meantime, let me know what you think.
Great design. And the integration of MT is kinda, erm, "elegant". Can't say the prospect of porting everything from GM thrills me, though... :(
Posted by: Kidd | October 02, 2001 at 03:13 AM
It is actually quite effortless. We've automated most of the process so isn't as daunting of a task. I converted from Blogger and the only real time drain was categorizing my old entries. But that's optional.
Posted by: Mena | October 02, 2001 at 03:24 AM
Looks lovely, congratulations Is Moveable Type ready for public launch yet? I'm planning to try it....Ah, just checked - first release will be Oct 8th. Well, then, I'll just have to wait!
Posted by: Kristen | October 02, 2001 at 04:57 AM
Mena -- Every looks absolutely excellent. Once again dollarshort is a perfect example of elegant simplicity in design...
Posted by: Ryan | October 02, 2001 at 06:31 AM
Mena, the design is simple, elegant, and functional. Great work... I'm looking forward to switching over to Movable Type.
Posted by: Sunil | October 02, 2001 at 06:47 AM
Fantastic, fantastic, fantastic. I give it two thumbs up. Maybe three. Yes, three.
Posted by: Paul | October 02, 2001 at 07:19 AM
Um. Hate to be the dissenting voice here (if only mildly), especially considering that this is my first comment here at dollarshort.org. But here goes... I love the subdued palette, the flow of the text, the unobtrusive design that pulls my eye to the content, and the consistency of the design across the site (too often, "site redesigns" are just "home page redesigns"... leaving the user befuddled).
So where's the dissenting voice. Well... it's a small thing really... but considering the medium, it will be of some importance to a great many.
The fleur-de-lys. Yup... it's completely unintuitive. Cute, yes. But I would never guess that that glyph was the permalink. Never. It's a great visual delineator; it certainly screams "end of post". But it would never occur to me to click on it.
So there you go. Love the site, but can we have an intuitive permalink? Date & time stamps seem to be the nascent standard.
- your ever adoring lurker.
Posted by: vis10n | October 02, 2001 at 08:08 AM
God, I was itching to see the new redesign. And man, I love it. I'm not a big fan of elastic sites, that tsretch and stuff so maybe that's just me but I like the fact that this one doesn not move. It's nice and elegant and easy on the eyes and has a nice theme. In other words, it rocks.
Posted by: Naz | October 02, 2001 at 08:20 AM
lovely
Posted by: kristin | October 02, 2001 at 09:06 AM
Bravo! This is just... excellent.
And, bonus, it may have added fuel to the [long-overdue] redesign inferno beneath my own lazy butt...
Posted by: Jennie | October 02, 2001 at 09:07 AM
I can't stop looking at this site today. Somebody help me.
Posted by: Mel | October 02, 2001 at 09:36 AM
Thanks all for the comments, they really made my morning.
Vis1ion, for a lurker, you certainly had constructive criticism. I changed the permalink from the fleur de lis to the date. If you've got to explain it, it probably isn't working. Thanks.
Posted by: Mena | October 02, 2001 at 10:50 AM
wow! wowwie! sites like this make me want to crawl back into a hole & cry ;-) honestly, it is just so simple, and i value simplicity - no, i *love* it. if i wasn't such a numbers person, maybe i'd have an ounce of the skill i see all over the web. i just can't even begin to get my head around the skills i need to make improvemenst, so instead, i just sit by & appreciate all those who do have skills......
congrats on MT, too!
Posted by: miss ellen | October 02, 2001 at 11:25 AM
I'm very interested in Moveable Type and how that works for you. Sounds like a great project. Some of us were just talking about improvements in our publishing experience.
http://www.gnumatt.org/archives/2001_09_01_index.xml#5925432.
Posted by: Erica | October 02, 2001 at 11:37 AM
yay mena! i just love those illustrations. you're my kind of girl.
Posted by: denise | October 02, 2001 at 12:24 PM
Mena... consider me a "conscientious lurker". That, and anal-retentive.
At any rate, happy to see that my comment made such a difference.
Now the only thing I'll miss about the old design is that absolutely incredible photo of the mary-janes. That was just such an intriguing shot! Who'd have thought that shoes could be so illustrative?
: )
- a very happy lurker.
Posted by: vis10n | October 02, 2001 at 04:08 PM
PS... That wasn't a complaint, or even a suggestion, just me being a little wistful ...and complementary.
Posted by: vis10n | October 02, 2001 at 04:11 PM
Ooooohhh... pretty. It's lovely, Mena.
Posted by: JessaJune | October 02, 2001 at 05:09 PM
Stylish job, Mena. I thought the last one was impressive, but you have surpassed yourself.
Posted by: shannon | October 02, 2001 at 06:23 PM
Hi Mena, this is beautiful. I can't take my eyes off it.
I look forward to the launch of MT.
Posted by: brenmae | October 02, 2001 at 08:12 PM
it also displays beautifully on Opera, FYI. usually Opera makes text display very oddly, but it's all good on your site.
great job.
Posted by: andrea | October 02, 2001 at 09:05 PM
Mon dieu, c'est magnifique.
Posted by: JISH | October 03, 2001 at 10:37 PM
Practically everyone before me has said what I wanted to say. Quite lovely madame. =)
Posted by: Erma | October 04, 2001 at 03:54 PM
Although I did not see the old site, I am in AHH of this fabulous look. It is a breath of fresh air in a sea of sameness. An so I thank you for it, due to the fact it has inspired me to readdress my prospective on design.
Posted by: Selena | October 05, 2001 at 10:53 AM
the site looks great, but the thing that impressed me most is the fact that you've ACTUALLY LISTENED TO FEEDBACK! I teach web development, and one thing that I have a really hard time hammering into peoples' heads is that they have to listen to their readers....
Posted by: eldan | October 06, 2001 at 02:41 AM