Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with redesign

Politely communicating that your site needs a total makeover

Anonymous — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:29:07 -0800

How does a lowly unpaid blog contributor tell his/her bosses that the whole site needs a major redesign? I've had the privilege of being invited to contribute for my former employer's new blog, and I've been enjoying producing some content on a weekly basis or so as part of a team of 5-6 people. However, their entire content management system is archaic, buggy, and needs a major systematic and aesthetic overhaul. I'm talking no RSS feed, disappearing posts, a comment system that doesn't even allow users to leave their names. Worst of all, I have a sneaking suspicion that I'm the only person involved in this whole project who is tech-savvy enough to be aware of solutions such as Wordpress that could fix this situation (or Drupal, if they wanted to fix their whole site.) And I'm no IT expert myself.

I'm having to balance my distaste (to put it mildly) for the way they're running this new blog with my admiration for the organization in general for allowing me to contribute, as well as my important and delicate professional relationship with them. The main communications/IT person has served as a reference on job applications in the past, and I care very deeply about how these important contacts view me if I end up working in their industry full-time in the future. I just graduated college and lack full-time employment, so I know that having this opportunity is an important privilege and professional and personal relationship I would never want to damage.

I guess this is a question not only as to whether I should or should not say something, but if I should, a question of communication. How can I express that their site, particularly this blog, has such an outdated look and feel that it must be negatively impacting their credibility without sounding like a snooty, ungrateful young upstart? Can I offer to help them redesign their site, or at least get them a Wordpress, without sounding or acting like I know better than they do? Is there a way to avoid the risks and pitfalls of this situation besides shutting up and putting up with this web 0.5 silliness? Similar experiences and suggestions for content management systems or blog hosting sites are also welcome.

throwaway email: helpmefixmyemployersblog@gmail.com

Facebook redesign woes March 09 edition

GleepGlop — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:21:23 -0800

How do I post images in the comments on the newest Facebook redesign? I sometimes like to post images instead of written comments a la Fark in the comment threads on people's status updates. I could swear I used to be able to do this but I don't see any built-in option to do this anymore. Don't tell me I have to get all HTML-ey and image host-ey.

Efficient and Private Blog Redesign?

kmel — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:11:46 -0800

What's easiest way to work on a redesign of my blog while keeping the live version as is? I use Wordpress, fully hosted on my own domain. I need to redesign, testing out and tweaking various themes as I go, ideally using my current content. How should I go about this? I don't want random people or search engines to find it while I'm working on it.

I have some other inactive domain names hosted by the same host. The only thing I know to do is to install Wordpress on one of them, create a new database, and import my current content. But there's got to be an easier way, right?

Assume that I don't want to make gin

mumkin — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 09:53:36 -0800

Bathroom remodel question: does one really need a bathtub? I'm thinking of redoing our bathroom and am considering my options. While aesthetically I'm inclined to claw-footed double-ended enameled slipper tubs with outré Victorian hardware, they're pretty frivolously impractical. Indeed, having any bathtub at all seems pretty impractical, since both of us are shower people. The curved sides and narrow width of shower baths have always annoyed me, and I'd really just like to rip out our existing tub and replace it with a walk-in shower. We could probably squeeze a shower and a tub in, but it'd be tight, the size of the shower would suffer, and I'd rather just do without the tub.

Would this be a terrible design decision? Tubs seem like a relic of bygone bathing customs, but would I be shooting myself in the foot? Obviously there are bath-loving people who wouldn't want to buy my house if it lacked a tub, but are they a significant constituency? Is the ideal of a long, warm bubble-bath soak—even if it's something you never do—sufficient reason to build in an unused tub? Are there other reasons to have a tub? We don't have kids, but it's possible we might make one someday... do you need a conventional bathtub for children? What am I overlooking?

Deconstruct Domino site please.

acro — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 14:02:53 -0800

Are there any tools to copy a website built with Lotus Domino? I'd like to find a free or reasonably cheap automated way to rebuild this site elsewhere. (Moving away from Lotus Domino to an open source cms).

How to choose a new web design firm?

feelinggood — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 06:59:39 -0800

The small (450 students) private school I represent is looking for a new web design/host firm. Our present web firm designed, technically maintains, programs and hosts (through Pair) our site. We do daily updates - new dates, events, etc. We don't know where to begin in looking for a new firm. What is the process? What are the half a dozen critical questions to ask, capabilities to look for? The one we have used for the last 5 years is OK, but we're not completely happy - they seem unresponsive to new developments we want. We want to keep our present look and feel at first, but gradually refresh and redesign it and increase its functionality.
Do we do an RFP (Request for Proposals)? Go with word of mouth recommendations? Interview prospective design firms? How do we even get a short list??
How important is it that the new firm is physically in our own city? Is the present client list important? We have an alumni database to maintain, and want to expand to online conference registration, etc. over the next three years.
What are the migration issues I should be aware of?
Might be important: We're in Canada.

Website redesign

mulkey — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 10:51:30 -0800

How much should be budgeted to redesign a small/medium sized association's website? I'm a part of a mostly volunteer run nonprofit. It's smallish, but has been steadily growing and we've finally decided to spend some money on a site redesign and upgrade. Most of the problems with the website currently are pretty typical, confusing layout, difficulty navigating etc. There is some great content, and there is a real potential to offer more on the site.

It's a growing association, and there have been no attempts thus far to put meeting registration, membership dues, voting or subscription renewals online. But this is something that most members are interested in. There are maybe 2-300 members.

My question is how much should we budget to redesign the website and add in the functionality that I described? We need to get quotes and all, but I have no idea how much we should expect to pay. Anyone care to venture a guess? I'd appreciate it!