Still playing with the redesign, so this weekend, while I’m away in the Hamptons, I’ll be coding up a storm. Here’s a bit of what’s to come, but before I go through the torture that is scripting, let me know what you’re thinking. (Yes, I drew Linus in there). I plan to add icons in place of the words “permalink” and “comments.” Eventually, I’ll add more functionality…
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The cartoon doesn't do your hair justice. Nonetheless, love the colour scheme. pink + green is my fave combo.
the green is a bit too bright for my taste…
No comment about the new look – just wondering how a somewhat "average" person gets to meet the people you do.
Dinner with Jack Nicholson, a date w/ Mr. Big's friend, photos with you and Beyonce??
This is the stuff an "ordinary" person like myself often wishes for.
Aww. You included an SK sketch. Thanks. Interesting color scheme. I expected a bit more red but perhaps that would be a bit too obvious. Good luck with it.
As a new fan of your site, I don't consider you 'average' at all. I think the mix of your intelligence and wit is what makes you NOT average. I can only imagine that you have many friends- and people love to be around you. This is what I get from what you write (your personality)…
I have to say, I was hoping for something more sophisticated. I think your writings are several steps above the "Devil Wears Prada" look you have here. Nonetheless, I know scripting is a SUPER pain and a TON of work, so kudos.
Looking good, Ms. Klein! I love it!
i like the new set-up, it looks easier to navigate (one side bar instead of two, with info about yourself on top instead of on the left). i am glad you kept the search box and the category search. the color scheme and drawing is such a stark contrast to what you have now – i like it, but it focuses so much on the external, socialite side of you. the current site seems to have more of a genuine feel to it. any way you can come up with something in between? (easier said than done of course).
Like it. Except I like your old pic better.
You shouldn't wear white pants. Should be grey. Maybe with a pin stripe of some kind. With a cuff at the bottom. Strappy shoes, sure.
that's hot. :)
i absolutely love it, but i'll chime in and agree with the hair color (too orange), and i think a lime green would ratchet it up a notch compared to the primary-color green you have now. but even if you don't make a single change, it's very cute. devil wears prada comparison is one i'd take as a compliment.
i have to say, I really like your site now- for its sophisticated simplicity. the new one is fine but it seems to high techy and new age cartoonish cute if that makes any sense. i guess im just saying it doesnt seem to fit the aesthetic your blog provides.
Love the new graphic and very partial to the top nav, not partial to the right hand nav, prefer it on the left but that's my own quirk. Digging the color scheme particularly the spare use of pink to warm it up a bit but would take the green down a notch.
i. love. it.
Did Lindsay design it for you? If not, might want to stretch yourself a bit more cause it really has a lindsayism feel to it.
hey steph, long time fan and fellow web designer..
-have you considered making the background a color other than white? might go better with the new sassier look you're going for.
-linus seems lonely and random there in the corner..maybe he needs a leash?
-i agree with sophie, the graphic doesn't do your hair justice. i'd say make it bigger, curlier, and fabulous it up with some graphic "highlights" and "lowlights", if that makes any sense..add some streaks to make it look more like your real hair. that's your signature look, you can't not use it!
-another small opinion..i always thought that the "photos of me" tag with an arrow by your picture is uneccessary and to be honest, as much as i love you, gives the website a narcissistic feel. maybe turn it into a thumbnail along with smaller thumbnails of different categories, like your fab food pictures and bar pictures..i think having the pictures there would be a cue enough where people will know to click on them to see more..
With that new look you are falling in the "pink cover, loopy letters, caricatures of pointy shoes and shopping bags".
Please do not go there . It looks too commercial.
I just have a strong preference for your original, classy, modern and fresh natural way!
Lose the google ads. At this point you actually do get paid to run this site. Without the site, no book, no show, etc. And the five dollars you make on google ads just aren't worth it.
For some reason the color-scheme strikes me as something Miami-esk (tropical and full of life). I like it. I'm interested to see the functionality and the overall layout, though.
I like your sketch.
I like the old picture better. And the old green too…!
Hi,
I like it a lot better the way it is and wouldn't change the general tone. Honestly, I'm sick of all the cartoons that they put on chick-lit books – I really like that your current website is not that way.
Love it! And what do you do all day?
Very clean and crisp. Splendid!
Uhm…the restyling of your blog looks great:-)
Anyway I thinks I will have to work hard during the week end with my new blog and restyle it..just before holidays.
Ciao
I like it in general, but I keep thinking of design theory… I fear the picture of you getting into (or out of) a cab doesn't say much about you. I'm thinking it should be more dynamic, adding to development of your personal brand. Now that you have a book coming out and a movie deal, you're big enough to think about these things. Better to get it right before the book comes out and you *really* blow up than to have to change it later if it doesn't prove to be multi-functional enough. If you change it down the road, you can lose people in a brand image switch if they don't recognize your look, which is bad if you're trying to make money. However, I am by no means an expert. It's just that I have friends in design classes and they're always telling me how the instructor says each design component should be chosen for a reason than is logically traced back to the concept/idea of the product.
I always liked this guy's designs, although I'm not sure it would fit image you have of yourself. I'm sure they change they're design to fit the product at least somewhat, but I think these people are probably more of the hipster type:
http://www.1977inc.com/1977inc/artists/jon_e.html
I actually think your current look is great. Don't change a thing.
Same goes for the blog :P
DON'T LOSE THE FAVORITE POSTS!!!! I love them. I have refer to the "men to avoid" whenever me husband does something to annoy me! I remind him that I really should have avoided him and I tell him why! I love the colors and the picture. Don't worry about the ads…we all have to make a living!
Don't sweat the small stuff. It is all good. Have fun in the Hamptons.
Hey, I like your layout more on the redesign- the colors are coming across very bright though. Not sure about the font on 'greek tragedy' the one you're currently using -nice plain News Gothic comes across as more contemporary and honest.
I'm with Stacy on this one. The new design(color and the illustration) came across to me as girlish rather than womanish You're current site does the latter which I think is better. The current site also goes well with the soap opera theme "Greek Tragedy…" The current site appeal is more mature which I think is the makeup of most people who read blogs. It also doesnt seem to jive with your GREAT "the hamptons/manhattan scene" photography. Why not use those?
But if you really like illustration…
Yours is great and reminds me of the cd cover illustrations on those Ibiza trance cds (ie Hed Kendi etc). But I wouldnt do a taxi scene. Maybe an airport lounge(jet set), bar or yacht scene instead? LOL.
Some sample illustrations
http://www.seamlessrecordings.co.uk/seamless/default.aspx?Page=Series&SeriesID=10
Sorry if critique is too harsh. Whatever makes you happy.
honest opinion from a creative in L.A.(which means nothing) :the colors are really saturated. it looks common and uninteresting. agree with all of the standard; 'devil wears prada' comments. the current photo is so strange that it's really fantastic. do something with photos.
if you could have a link that brings the reader back to the article after looking at the photos, that would be a good thing.
I like the sketch a lot. Overall, it's much more crisp and sparse than what you've got now, and that's a good thing.
Hmmm, a bit colorful for me, but everyone has their own taste. I love the original site where you have a lot of floral going on- makes it 'more real' and less kiddie like… I hope that didn't come across as an insult. Just being honest because I love your work, and it should definitely be formatted in a more 'serious' tone, a more realistic image–if you will.
That's my two cents for the evening…Good luck!
It is ok….i think it is your kind of blogs. you change you design it means your tastes are changing. it is nothing more than a normal feature of a person, i think. i wouldnt have much comments about the redesign, because even if i told you not to change the design, previous was better, you dont listen it.
hace sol
Got on this blog through your sister. Great site, great pictures and including Linus now seems only fair since he a significant other. Keep up the good work, you're on the right track!
btw. thanx again for the hospitallity. I owe U.
The Dutch keeping in touch.
I like Linus. Keep the look clean and user friendly. The backward K bugs me. I've been reading you for a long time, I hope your exciting new opportunities will only change you for the better. Enjoy the ride and hang on. :-)
Leave the google ads along the side…otherwise this will seem completely commercial rather than a delightful (let us keep the illusion) non-commercial read. P.S. I've tried to find Manhattan Transfer's 100 women you shouldn't date that is the counterpoint to your 100 men you shouldn't date and can't find it. Can you post it somewhere on your site?
Deep in wait. Lemon is her idea of a good time. Every day there is a beautiful turn of phrase. I love that!
it's pretty and i like the bright colors. but i recall you saying that you didn't want your book to be pink and have a cartoon woman carrying bags and wearing pointy shoes on the cover. now i know this is not EXACTLY that – not much is pink here – but the cartoon of the woman seems to be sort of what i thought you didn't want on your book cover. but what do i know, i don't know you or really know what you truly envision for your book cover.
maybe it can incorporate what the book cover will look like, if you know that yet.
and the woman's hair should be curly.
Ciao Steph. I am also a new fun.
The restyling looks great but maybe the
new cartoon does not do justice to the
title of your blog that is intriguing
and ironic. Alltogether, I think I would
keep the old background.
Ciao Steph. I am also a new fun.
The restyling looks great but maybe the
new cartoon does not do justice to the
title of your blog, intriguing, ironic,
a bit mysterious. Alltogether, I think
I would keep the old background.
honest opinion from a creative in L.A.(which means nothing) :the colors are really saturated. it looks common and uninteresting. agree with all of the standard; 'devil wears prada' comments.
I can't agree more. I'm sorry, but I hate the electric green and find the new graphics trite. Use your photos (that's your art form, after all) and capitalize on your spectacular hair. Narcissistic or not, that's what pulled me in. Just had to read what the owner of that unbelievable hair had to say about her life.
Sorry, I was quoting mobiusstrip there (code din't take).
ok, keeping photo… reworking the colors to be more tragic. or at least using colors I would actually wear. thanks for the help.
Hey Steph,
New fan of course….LOL. Anyhow, I like the dog and the way you are dress but I do think the color of the hair does a disservice to your wonderful tresses. Also, the color somewhat clashes. I say change the background to a different color instead of white and leave the original picture. The one you drew, although its fashionable, seem to teeny bopper and not as sophisticated as you come off.
I love the Greek Tragedy on the new one it comes off as quirky. Try something between the two designs.
Hey Steph,
New fan of course….LOL. Anyhow, I like the dog and the way you are dress but I do think the color of the hair does a disservice to your wonderful tresses. Also, the color somewhat clashes. I say change the background to a different color instead of white and leave the original picture. The one you drew, although its fashionable, seem to teeny bopper and not as sophisticated as you come off.
I love the Greek Tragedy on the new one it comes off as quirky. Try something between the two designs.
Hey Steph,
New fan of course….LOL. Anyhow, I like the dog and the way you are dress but I do think the color of the hair does a disservice to your wonderful tresses. Also, the color somewhat clashes. I say change the background to a different color instead of white and leave the original picture. The one you drew, although its fashionable, seem to teeny bopper and not as sophisticated as you come off.
I love the Greek Tragedy on the new one it comes off as quirky. Try something between the two designs.
Steph, I just started reading your blog after the NY Times piece. I love it. It's true and it's honest. I've been writing a book of my own for almost a year and I relate to a lot of your stories. Keep up the good work and congrats on the book and movie deals! As far as the look of your new site, I'm not crazy about it. It looks too much like the Sex and the City, chick lit books, commercial look. Keep it original and honest. I vote to keep your original banner.
Glad your're restoring the photos and 86'ing the graphics. Like Seth Godin (http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/), your photo is your brand's logo.
Re: colors. I visit your blog to read your posts and view your photos. I don't really care about the colors as long as they're not competing for my eye's attention. If I want color, I drag out the body paints and a party breaks out.
Re: layout. Embedded Google Ads are fine. It sure beats a PBS subscription drive. My suggestion is to move your strongest visual to the top left quadrant. I like Web sites that follow the 'Z' eye pattern principle (top-left to top-right to lower-left to lower-right to exit).
Re: searches. Key word and "Most Popular" would be about all I need. I don't really care when you posted or what topic the post satisfies. You do a great job of hyper linking your posts which always improves my journey through your blog.
Now, you've motivated me to return to my pages after a year's absence and with "Practice what you preach," ringing in my ears.
Second City Scott