RFC: Home page design

[John Arbash Meinel]

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Emma Jane Hogbin wrote:
> Good afternoon,
> 
> The wireframes have come back from the designer and are ready for your
> feedback. For lack of inspiration I will refer to them as Design 1 and
> Design 2. The first is essentially the same as the initial wireframes.
> The second is a modification of the initial wireframes and includes
> one new element in the banner.
> 
> Design 1: http://www.flickr.com/photos/emmajane/3877149393/
> Design 2: http://www.flickr.com/photos/emmajane/3877149251/
> 
> I have a favourite. It's probably not the one you think it is. ;)
> 
> -- Design 1 --
> This design carries all of the same features from the initial
> wireframe. There is one major difference: the links from the four
> panels have been reduced to a single action button.
> 
> -- Design 2 --
> This design incorporates a javascript carousel in the header which
> will allow the visitor to cycle through some of the main interfaces
> available for Bazaar. The global footer has been altered to put each
> of the panes into the "main content" area. Please note: this design
> uses 'dummy' text.
> 
> -- Requested Feedback --
> We have until the end of day Wednesday to ask the graphic designer for
> additional changes. After that I can make minor changes in CSS/HTML
> land. If you have time in the next 24 hours it would be fantastic to
> get feedback on
> (from top to bottom):
> 

I'm going to go against the grain and suggest that I like design 2
slightly more. I think it has more "visual punch" to grab someone's
attention, which is ~ what you want from a home page.

That said:

1) I wouldn't want the design 2 header + banner on every page. While
having the design 1 banner on every page would be reasonable. (Slightly
excessive, but possible.)

> 1. Utility navigation (the very top strip): do you prefer Design 1 or Design 2?

I like having search available.
It would be good to have some amount of branding on the pages that
aren't the home page, but I don't know if Utility navigation is the only
way to do that. (For example, in design 2 you could change Home for the
Bazaar logo [+ Home?].)


> 2. Banner carousel: necessary or not needed?

Not required, but looks pretty shiny to me.

> 3. Entry points: 4 panes (Design 1) or 3 panes (Design 2)?

I prefer 1 line at 4 panes to 2 lines at 3 panes (6 links). 6 links
looks like 'too many buttons' to me...

I really like the prominent "Download 2.0 now" from Design 2. Quite a
bit more than where it gets put in design 1.


> 4. Additional praise?

They both look better than what we have now. So whatever we do will be a
step forward. :)

There is no space for banner ads.

> 5. Additional concerns?
> 

There is no space for banner ads. How will we make money? :)

Overall, I think it is looking good. Thanks for all the work you've put
into it.

John
=:->

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