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Looking at new site The Conversations Network and redesigned The Long Now Foundation, I realize something I've been noticing steadily growing: the technical constraints of blogs tools have changed how *all* web pages look.
Neither of these sites needs to look like a blog. And yet, they have all the traditional earmarks: the banner like art element, the long narrow floating body, the main content body and the suplementary links on the right, and almost no navigation.
Has the ability to design a site been reduced to deciding how big your fonts will be? After the css zen garden, why is everything so the same?
Hi, Christina. While The Conversations Network's new website doesn't need to use the Wordpress look, it seemed to work fairly well. As a poor, begging non-profit, we can't afford to hire an expensive IA, but if a good one wants to volunteer to advise us, we be glad for the help. :-)
Gee, I thought moving from a three-column format to a two-column one was a big step in the right direction. (Another :-))
Doug Kaye
The Conversations Network
It's good looking, it just looks like a blog. ;-) I was wondering why so many sites look like blogs when they aren't.. now I know. With so few lightweight CMS's out there, people use the blog tools, and get blog looks. Maybe public square might be a cure in the near future.
And yes, we should talk! Drop me a line...
Hi Christina
I sympathise with your point, but on the plus side one of the principles of good usability is commonality of interface.
What's happening with the blog look and feel is the next stage in a line of UI convergence.
The same happened when designers emulated the BBCi and Microsoft look and feel. It happened with the early search engine portals. People used to copy Yahoo etc. and when Google came along it happened again.
I wonder what the next look and feel to emulate is going to be?
Matt