I have been plagued by an annoying thought for the past few months.
My website simply loads too damned slow.
Partly it’s my fault – I have burdened this bitch down with tons of scripts, images, and customization. I’ve tried various solutions to decrease load time like eliminating extraneous functionality, moving my server to a cloud, combining image sprites, caching stuff, and all sorts of nerd crap. Nothing works.
Today, I came to a realization. I need to redesign the mofo.
I plan on working on this pretty much nonstop until I get it done. It could take days, weeks, or maybe even a month or two. Add that to my day job and the band I play in, girlfriend responsibilities, and the posting I do each day. I’m going to be busy.
The new design will be simpler and cleaner. I also plan to have an adults-only section with a live webcam hooked up in my standalone shower so you can see me using shower gloves on my magic. You’ll have to pay $1.99, but you can swing it. You’re not that poor.
My biggest challenge is in graphic design. If you have suggestions of what imagery might suit my personality and writing style, I’m all ears. If you don’t have suggestions, I’ll just go with what I think is coolest. Which may or may not be coolest. Remember, I used to wear tight jeans thinking it would impress chicks.
For example – the slider at the top of the homepage. I love the slider. I think people dig it. But I’m not sure whether to keep it or not. It takes up real estate.
Also, my logo – it needs to be redone. Again, I have no thoughts. Nor any good jokes right now.
Since this will affect you, my readers, I implore you to give me suggestions. But whenever I ask for suggestions I never get any. It’s a weird, antithetical situation. I write about how cotton balls gross me out, and everyone replies. I don’t get it.
So, since I desperately need feedback, and you never do what I ask, I command you to NOT comment below with thoughts and suggestion. While I’m at it, you must never send me homemade confections or size 13 Italian loafers. Also, no nude photos. Oh wait, this is the opposite thing, so let me clarify.
Guys – send TONS of nude photos.
Okay, I’m done. Time to sleep and dream of CSS and PHP and HTML. Also taking the big exam in college when I didn’t study or go to class all semester.
mmrtnt says:
The only thing, design-wise, that jumped out at me was the space between the logo and the start of a post.
I did a really quick hack on this and posted it here:
http://imgur.com/MvKTm
As someone who is constantly working on his website, you have my sympathy.
????
D.J. Paris says:
@mmrtnt Yeah, I had already messed with the CSS and made that area smaller, but couldn’t ever get it tighter without f’ing up the graphics. Now, I’m on the Thesis theme, and couldn’t be happier. I still have one tweak that nobody seems to know how to make though, and it’s an important one. Ha.
mmrtnt says:
Oh. Forgot to add – I love the current graphics. The head int he clouds, the bright colors and somber background – it’s really impressive.
My suggestion only applies to layout.
D.J. Paris says:
@mmrtnt Yeah, but it was a template and I needed something that was just mine and more “me” – but thanks for the compliments!
Francesca says:
I say definitely go all-walrus.
Okay, but my real suggestion is to maybe increase the size of the graphic at the top and make the text bigger, etc. There seems to be a lot of empty space at the top of the page IMO (kind of what the last poster was saying).
(Walruses are cool though)
D.J. Paris says:
Yeah – agreed. You like the new look? Thanks!
Katjaneway says:
Well, perhaps the stuff on the right can be redesigned. That’s what probably takes up the most bandwidth to load (although honestly, like I said before, I’ve never had a problem). Between “most popular” and “most read” I’d just completely get rid of “most read” since to me it seems kind of redundant. I say keep the logo, I love it. However, maybe put the “thoughts stories contact me” etc on the bottom or on the side. Maybe’ I’d put the search function closer to the top. If it can be redesigned to the point where you’re not scrolling for an eternity down the page that would probably help. I think the page should only be as long as its comments. That should cut down on load time.
D.J. Paris says:
@Katjaneway Yeah, it was a load issue, mostly. Now it loads up much faster and people seem to dig it. It’s dressed down a bit, but I think it works better in a weird way. I do miss the cool design of the old one. But it wasn’t really “mine.”
beingbeckyp says:
As a brand-new reader, I actually LOVE your design. I do have to say though, that I’m a little confused between “thoughts” and “stories.” There’s not really a quick explanation of the difference anywhere.
You constantly make me laugh, however. And the shower cam, I’ll link to your feed if you link to mine!
D.J. Paris says:
@beingbeckyp Thanks for that feedback. I will figure out a way to better explain that. Good call.
JW Moxie says:
It’s definitely time for a redo. It’s time to streamline and pare down. Wake up and get on the darned computer, please. Buzz me when you can.
D.J. Paris says:
@JW Moxie Um – I did, and you build the logo. Remember? Obviously I’m getting to this comment only a month late. Ha.
northernCK says:
For what its worth, I wouldn’t touch a thing. It’s one of the better designed blogs I have come across. There is a cohesiveness from your brand to your positioning to your design/marketing that few others achieve. It’s clean, without much clutter, and there’s plenty of white space.
Plus, if you achieved over 38 days from the last time your cat peed on your bed, you must be doing something right.
D.J. Paris says:
@northernCK Thanks for your support, and ultimately I ended up changing it. It was time. I needed something that was more my style and reflected me. But yeah, the old one was pretty and cool. Thank you for reading. Really.
Jim Moorman says:
I like it as-is, but respect your desire to be constantly improving. As your most loyal advertiser, I must be selfish and recommend that whatever the new design, please continue to offer me the prime real estate! Honestly, though, your site is pretty awesome. I recently designed my site (as you know – http://jimmoormanbooks.com) and looked at hundreds of author and blog sites. Yours is good. It’s fun, easy to navigate, and it’s very readable.
Maybe keep the theme/layout and just change the way the content is organized? You can change navigation, add plugins, remove plugins, etc.
Just my .02 cents.
Jim Moorman
D.J. Paris says:
I like it as-is, but respect your desire to be constantly improving. As your most loyal advertiser, I must be selfish and recommend that whatever the new design, please continue to offer me the prime real estate! Honestly, though, your site is pretty awesome. I recently designed my site (as you know – http://jimmoormanbooks.com) and looked at hundreds of author and blog sites. Yours is good. It’s fun, easy to navigate, and it’s very readable.
Maybe keep the theme/layout and just change the way the content is organized? You can change navigation, add plugins, remove plugins, etc.
Just my .02 cents.
Jim Moorman