Design Critique: Read/WriteWeb
Read/WriteWeb is a great site, content-wise, I read it from time to time - I especially like Marshall Kirkpatrick’s writing style. Actually, all sites in the RWW Network, being Last100 and AltSearchEngine, as well as the podcast Read/WriteTalk, all reek of quality. That’s nice.
What’s not as nice is the design the flagship site, Read/WriteWeb sports. It’s a fairly new one, and a real downgrade if you ask me. I’ll tell you why.
First of all, the header is uninspired. I really dislike the logo, but the worst part is that it feels so simple that it borders to amateurish, instead of simple in a good way. The subscribe options to the right, and the color usage (red being their brand color) is OK, but the menu and search box is dull. It’s just a poor header, which surprises me.
The main content area is user friendly, with a top story to the left, and popular posts to the right, and ads to the far right. Three featured posts go below the first main post area, all very accessible, and that’s fine. It’s no eye-opening design, but it’s clean and simple in a way that works.
I like the recent comments positioning to the right of the ad. I also like the post listing that follows. Good use of images as well, although they don’t really work as well in single posts.
The sidebar is OK. Ads mingled with things that might interest readers, but it should have something more to make it more appealing. Now you can actually skip it without losing any serious functionality, a bad thing as regular Wisdump readers well know.
The content part of single posts is good, but trackback management is poor at best, and the comments are downright ugly.
Such a strong brand, and profitable site (I gather?), as Read/WriteWeb should really do better than this. Surely they can afford to hire a designer to spice this verison up a bit, that should do the trick. Redo the header (and kill that logo please), spice up the comments, move some stuff around to vitalize the sidebar, then you’re there.
What do you think about the Read/WriteWeb design?
Kind of gutsy to slam the design of an established site like this one…particularly when you are planning to release one of the most boring/uninspired designs I have seen in a long time.
By Stephen on January 25, 2008 5:44 am
I quite like it really, But I love clean, functional sites.
I do agree about the flashbacks, and the comments could look a bit nicer. but it is all really easy on the eye, great to use, and quick to load.
By Todd on January 25, 2008 7:36 am
I must say I agree with Thord on this one. RWW looked a lot better in its previous version, this one feels only half complete. Fast to load though, you got to give it that.
By Sandra on January 25, 2008 8:12 am
LOL @ Stephen
Not that I agree with you or anything… and what you say have nothing to do with the fact that the post is kinda spot on… Work at RWW do you? :P
By Fantan on January 25, 2008 8:32 am
I’m with Stephen. I’m not saying I’m in love with the RWW design, it has it’s issues, but slamming other site designs (with no ‘constructive’ critism) and changing wisdump to a ho hum design yourself will lose me as a reader.
By Rhett on January 25, 2008 11:20 am
No. I don’t work for RWW. I have been following wisdump since it’s 9rules/scrivs days. My point is really that if you are going to publicly criticize someones work you should make sure yours is spot on.
In the case of the latest (v3) sample of the wisdump design concepts…where is the grid? Look at the sidebar and look at how many seperate vertical margins exist. Look at how many horizantal margins exist…why is the top of the sidebar above the main headline for the first content item?
The point is not just that the redesign is shit. The point is that it takes big balls to criticize someones work when your own work is so lackluster and un-inspired. The thing is RWW probably does not care what wisdump looks like…no one has since scrivs sold it.
By Stephen on January 26, 2008 4:55 am
Then why are you here? To bitch and whine? That sounds like time wasted to me.
I understand you don’t work for RWW. It’s pretty obvious. Just like the “joke” was. Get a life.
By Fantan on January 28, 2008 6:34 am
(Sorry for the two comments. Did something weird when writing and it submitted.)
I doesn’t matter if the redesign of Wisdump is good or bad because the criticism to RWW is valid. The design is lacking in so many ways it’s scary. Not once did I see Thord writing that he was better than RWW, he wrote about his point of view regarding the design. And there are constructive pointers in there as well, although I do agree that I would want to know how he thinks they could improve.
I won’t discuss the new Wisdump design with you because I only see downsized mockups. I think it looks clean and nice, fitting for this site, but I won’t talk about it until it’s done. Your comments on it in your criticism to this post is just plain silly. Talk about the content of the post instead. For instance, do you disagree with Thord on what he says on RWW? Then tell us why, and what you think! That’s a valid comment.
By Fantan on January 28, 2008 6:40 am
Actually, I do disagree with Thord for one simple reason. RWW is getting more popular and growing, while Wisdump is moving in the opposite direction. Look at the Eatonweb metrics box on the left side of this page if you would like a little supporting information.
If I am going to read design criticism, should I read it from the guy who is performing well or the guy whose performance is in decline?
Maybe my criticism was too harsh…I simply think Wisdump needs to find a little more direction and I don’t think you can start giving out design criticism unless you can demonstrate that you walk the walk in addition to talking the talk.
By Stephen on January 28, 2008 9:20 am
That’s just stupid! The one with the biggest number of readers is right?! I’m sure you see how well that argument stands!
Personally I think Thord is doing a great job with Wisdump. If he’s gaining readers or dropping them since that other guy had it after Scrivs I don’t know and I don’t really care since I enjoy most of his posts.
BTW, I wonder how accurate Eeatonweb is? Does anybody know? I’m guessing it’s there just because it’s a SplashPress site, right?
By Fantan on January 28, 2008 11:04 am
[...] on a side note regarding the post in question, there was one piece of criticism that struck true. The post should have had more constructive [...]
By On Being Critical on January 30, 2008 4:31 am
RRW does not have a poor design. Sure, the header is quite red and an eye sore (at least to me)…but over all I don’t mind the structure and layout of the site one bit.
It feels organized, good use of whitespace, the design is clean.
I agree the comments and trackbacks need to be cleaned up or have some kind of spice added to them…but I agree with others…it is difficult to accept a site critique for an established site such as RWW when this site itself fails to impress, nor the redesign.
By Bryan on February 1, 2008 8:22 am
in my opinion RWW looks much better than any design composition for your redesgin.
you can still learn from RWW!
By larissa on February 11, 2008 6:16 am