TechSoup, the nonprofit tech web site where I host a discussion forum, went live with a redesigned home page over the weekend. I love the new look, although it’s only skin-deep. This is Phase 1 and only affects the home page–most links take you to pages on the old site, with a the old design and the old navigation. TechSoup’s description of the project recognizes this issue:
What you see today, Phase 1, offers several key improvements:
- An easier-to-use redesigned home page,
- An upgraded search function,
- An improved search results page, and
- A single sign-on for our U.S. registered users.
While these upgrades should improve your experience on the site, the phased approach also has its challenges. For example, while the home page and the search results page have been redesigned, the articles and forums have not yet been updated.
You can read more about the redesign at http://home.techsoup.org/pages/makeoverpage.aspx, whick includes links to co-CEO Marnie Webb’s blog and an FAQ page. You can provide feedback on the redesign by clicking the black feedback button on the above page.
Congratulations to TechSoup. Here’s to Phase 2.
Here’s to Phase 2, indeed.
Thanks for sharing the word about the redesign. It’s easy to focus on the homepage (there’s a lot under the hood of that design). But, for my money, the real potential for improvement here is in the search function.
Curious to see if that plays out.