1

We’re still chugging away on the desktop redesign. We already completed the redesign for phones and tablets months ago. The response we’ve gotten from readers has been very good. We are still working on the more complex desktop version so we can catch up to where mobile is. Here’s some semi-live mockups of the article page. If you scroll around the green navigation bar on the top of the article with your mouse and you will find things like your talk page, the special pages, your preferences and most everything else you will be looking for: Version 1: http://www.zenxd.com/wikiHow/redesign/v3/logged_in.html Version 2: http://www.zenxd.com/wikiHow/redesign/v3/logged_in_textfirst.html Which one do you like better? Thoughts?

2

Number one for sure.

3

Version 1: Everything is too big. I had to use command-minus three times to make it semi-comfortable to read. The images were still too big, and the article text was a little big, but the text on the sides was too small. The color scheme and layout makes it look way too similar to either: someone’s blog, or eHow. Right now it looks more professional. Love that you put the “Custom links,” but that’s the only thing I like. The links at the top (like “you”): Maybe because I’m used to this, but I don’t like them. They are confusing with all the drop-downs. I’d like to see another page-maybe the community page. There is also too much space between each line of tips. Version 2: Again, everything is too big-the same way as version one with parts being proportionally too-bigger than others. Still don’t like the links at the top (with "you) but it is more professional, although still too similar to eHow/blog. Too much space between each line of tips, and still the only thing I like better is the custom links. Overall, I’m thinking along the lines of “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” because I like the current version MUCH better. I want to see another page, like the community page. My final opinion: add custom links to this current version, and then leave it alone, but of the two, I prefer version 2.

4

I don’t see no difference in version 1 vs 2

5

I agree everything about the page is far too large, and judging by how long the images take to load on the page (they never did, completely), the pagesize in terms of kilobytes (megabytes?) is going to make my already slow ISP crawl.

6

There is, indeed, such a thing as “too big.” The font is uncomfortable and the page took an abnormally long amount of time to load (compared to my usual twitter, facebook, tumblr, etc.)

7

Other than it being too big, it is an interesting design. It’ll take some time to get used to, but I’m looking forward to how things roll out.

8

This just made me feel older looking at huge text, lol. I like number 2 better because that ‘nagging’ RC banner isn’t there. They somewhat feel “squished” like you’re literally reading the mobile version on a PC, especially when you scroll all the way down to the contributor name’s list… yeah… the text is too big :’(

9

I like both versions, but the only thing is that the design is too big. (Agree with previous comments)

10

The too big thing aside, I like version 2 more. I find that yellow bar in version 1 a bit distracting.

11

They both seem very similar I don’t know which I prefer. They are both good though.

12

I agree

13

I actually like the much larger text, and the layout generally. The layout is too damn wide, though. On a 23" screen it just takes up much too much physical space and requires substantial eye movement to read from one edge to the other. And I measure it at 1370 pixels wide, which won’t fit onto a 1366-wide laptop screen. Hmm :\

14

To be honest, I like the layout the way it is now. I looked up an article on wikiHow, and forgot the site name, but thought “Oh, that has an awesome design! I’ll definitely remember it by that!” and that’s how I got here…And stayed. I thought the current design was memorable and homey.

It was very big when I scrolled to the bottom. They’re both a bit big, but I do like version one more. June Days

15

I like version 2 but everything is a bit big and the things on the right are very intrusive.

16

Thanks for the feedback. We’re going to keep working away and refining things. I’ll continue to post pages as we develop them. This is just a mock-up and it sounds like from reviews here it may not be displaying properly in many cases. For example, the font on the new design is supposed to be larger than the current one, but probably not as large as some folks here are reporting. It’s supposed to fit on a standard laptop for example:slight_smile:As an FYI, our data indicates to us that larger fonts makes the page more accessible to more readers. Not everyone is young and enjoys great eyesight:slight_smile:. Our current demographic data indicates we tend not to attract as many older readers as are represented in the broader internet population. That is something I’d like this redesign to help fix. That said, based on descriptions above I think the font is clearly showing up too large for many people. Hopefully that looks better in production or will be fixable via adjustments. Also the speed issues people are reporting are to be expected on a mock up. That’s the sort of thing that we work on when we move things to production. It will be much faster in production:slight_smile:

17

You know as much as every regular editor, especially Lewis, is that that is not the actual true reason of not attracting the older population. Joking… I’m just poking on that because it’s a Friday.

18

Oh yes, there are many reasons including the fact that most 60 year olds don’t need advice on getting a teddy bear for their pet rock.:slight_smile:But in all seriousness, size of the font is a factor in attracting a broader swath of the population. Totally true that it’s not the only factor though!

19

I have news for you, if I decide to get a pet rock for my teddy bear, I will search wikiHow(l) furst and 4thmost. Not that I am quite sixty yet, but closer than Jack is…

20

LOL^ I think that the main problem I have, other than the huge text, is the fact that I don’t think I can see a way to navigate to a community dashboard. It’s all drop-down, right? That sounds a little bit harder. I like the dashboard we have now. Is that going to stay or are we navigating limited to drop down now?