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November 6, 2006
Brownstoner's New Look
For those of you just tuning in, we put up a new site design over the weekend. The major change is that we removed the left-hand column and enlarged the size of the editorial column by about 25%. We've already gotten an email from Bob Marvin, who may have a year or two on our average reader, expressing his pleasure at the fact that he no longer needs a magnifying glass to read the text. We've also gotten an email or two from people who don't like the new look. We're interested to hear everyone's feedback. Nothing's set in stone so please let us know what you like and what you don't, keeping in mind, of course, that it can take a few days to get used to a new design. (We're not entirely sold yet on the Arial font - maybe we should go with the font we use on Brooklyn Record.) How many of you remember what the site looked like a year ago?
Update: Vote on which header you prefer by clicking here.
Comments
New look is way beter on mobile devices, no question about it. Biger text and right column (most important) comes first.
Posted by: malymis at November 6, 2006 9:04 AM
It's nice, but I'm not a huge fan of Arial.
Posted by: Anonymous at November 6, 2006 9:11 AM
LOL--I can see myself hunched over my computer with a magnifying glass. Actually, I'm not quite THAT feeble, but I now can hit "Command +" a couple of times to enlarge the text w/o running out of space on the right :-)
Posted by: Bob Marvin at November 6, 2006 9:17 AM
I liked having some space on the left hand side so that my eyes could read the center of the page. I dont mind the font or the new look but can we move over the main text a bit to the right?
Posted by: Anonymous at November 6, 2006 9:20 AM
This font is not great. It's so circa 1984.
Posted by: renogirl at November 6, 2006 9:31 AM
I really miss the look and feel of the old site; why are you messing with your "brand?" It had a really nice aesthetic quality - This seems corporate and boring.
But not to worry - I'll adjust...
Posted by: Anonymous at November 6, 2006 9:35 AM
I always felt the old site was the most elegant, minimalist presententation of text and vastly prefer it to the new format. The new format looks so ordinary.
Posted by: Anonymous at November 6, 2006 9:36 AM
Wow, I think it's great, keep up the hard work here, and don't think it's going by unnoticed.
Posted by: Mentch at November 6, 2006 9:38 AM
http://tinyurl.com/wg55m
Posted by: Anonymous at November 6, 2006 9:42 AM
I like the text towards the center also. Where's the "search by subject" section?
Posted by: Anonymous at November 6, 2006 9:43 AM
a little serif would be nice. the ariel fits less with the brownstone aesthetic.
Posted by: Anonymous at November 6, 2006 9:48 AM
This is a good look for you 'Stoner. I find it cleaner and easier to read. Surprisingly modern and i’m sure you'll get some blowback from the traditionalists today but fwiw, I like it. Maybe you could change the pic on the top every so often to keep things fresh. Good job, keep it up.
Posted by: C-Roy at November 6, 2006 9:48 AM
Not crazy about the font, but I like the new design.
Posted by: Anonymous at November 6, 2006 9:52 AM
The link button typeface at the top banner has a prominently 'default' appearance. Overall though, I think it's an improvement, with hopefully increasingly larger pictures(maybe flickrified to be able to pop up in a much more examinable size), and with a font point size that is much easier on the eyes.
Here's to progress. Go Brownstoner!
Posted by: Bryan at November 6, 2006 9:54 AM
in my internet explorer browser, the right hand colum with the ads is cut off
Posted by: anon at November 6, 2006 9:57 AM
I do not like it, Sam I am. Sorry, the red post titles are terrible. I agree with the commenter who said it looks like the default setting.
It is easier to read, however. Maybe a new font, a new title format?
Posted by: sylvia at November 6, 2006 9:57 AM
The new look may make the text easier to read, but the site as a whole looks less stylish and a lot more generic than any of the previous layouts.
Posted by: Drew Kilgore at November 6, 2006 10:06 AM
Okay, we're going to kill the Arial right away and add some space on the left hand side of the page...Keep it coming!
Posted by: brownstoner at November 6, 2006 10:06 AM
Traitor! Change is against the Brownstoner ethos! This looks like the fugly and dangerous Scarano/Ratner/Fedders fonts that are springing up on non-landmarked blogs all over Brooklyn! I demand that you restore the original typeface that was used in 1884!
Posted by: linusvanpelt at November 6, 2006 10:06 AM
Linus,
We actually had Bricolage do the new design ;)
Posted by: brownstoner at November 6, 2006 10:07 AM
One word: verdana
PLEASE, no serifed font for the text, very hard to read on screen. The font would have to be SO BIG, since it is serifed, to read well. Perhaps for the headlines only.
I agree with the header "default" comments, but overall a cleaner, bolder look.
But content is king, so whatever design you like, fine. Just keep up the great topics and even better debates in the posts.
Posted by: lostinbrooklyn at November 6, 2006 10:15 AM
Oh, I forgot...Linus, if it was a Scarano designed site, the line spacing would be doubled and we'd pretend there were no paragraphs to mess up the WCR "word count ratio." ;)
Posted by: lostinbrooklyn at November 6, 2006 10:18 AM
Blech! One needs a larger than average screen to accomodate new format.
Posted by: crouchback at November 6, 2006 10:20 AM
it would be great to warm up the picture bar on top, the blues wash it out and the colors are so cold. where did all the nice brown tones go?
Posted by: Anonymous at November 6, 2006 10:21 AM
I like the new site and second Verdana.
FYI, when you click on about, you get the Brooklyn Record homepage...
Posted by: tinarina at November 6, 2006 10:23 AM
Don't think the overall width actually changed very much...
Posted by: brownstoner at November 6, 2006 10:24 AM
Have to say, although the bigger font is welcome, I preferred the overall look of the old site. Sorry.
Posted by: Anonymous at November 6, 2006 10:24 AM
2nd for verdana font.
its a standard font that is easy to read but not as clinical as arial.
also the red titles can maybe be in a serif font that is blue or brown closer to the sites colors rathign than a glaring default bright red. "brownstoner" logo and background pic also seems to clinical from previous version. thanks.
Posted by: Anonymous at November 6, 2006 10:31 AM
What I would like to see is easier way to search archives for old OpenHouse and HOTD picks..... so when sale prices do come thru (from newspapers or propshark) can re-read all the 'reviews' and insights from brownstone contributors.
Posted by: petebklyn at November 6, 2006 10:43 AM
I like everything except the font - much easier to read. Oh and maybe a bit more color. But choosing between this and the old - I choose this one.
Posted by: OldMillBasin at November 6, 2006 10:45 AM
Don't see what people have against Arial---very clean-looking and legible. My only complaint is the red headlines---agree that you should use another color.
Posted by: bklynhts-er at November 6, 2006 10:46 AM
Serif fonts (like times new roman, palatino, garamond) are much easier to read in paragraphs. Sans serif fonts (like arial, helvetica, gil sans) were designed to be used as headline type not body type. Paragraph type should always be set in a serif font.
Posted by: Anonymous at November 6, 2006 10:48 AM
Also, the indenting on the left side is confusing - you should do something to make the comment and the poster look like a unit -
Posted by: Anonymous at November 6, 2006 10:48 AM
I'm a huge fan of this site but I'm not crazy about the redesign. The old photo of a Brownstone in the midst of a total renovation with legs walking over bricks, captured the whole thrust of the site which I always felt was for do it yourself homeowners (and potential owners) navagating through the joy and pain and ensueing obsessive behavior of creating restoring and/or building a home in Brooklyn. Very appealing. The new photo doesn't evoke much and seems more stock. I felt confused by the round banner ad for Brooklynian...Is that a sister site of the Brownstoner media brand or is it a new form of advertising? Since its so prominantly featured on the title banner it feels like it might be a sister site, something I didn't know about. If that's an ad, I think its confusing. Also, the Brownstoner Font feels a little simple to me. Again it doesn't make you feel like you are in the same place as when I used to log into Brownstoner. But this is just one man's opinion. This site is still my obsession and maybe I just need to get used to it. Its only 1041am on Monday.
Posted by: Argyle Road at November 6, 2006 10:51 AM
what's so bad about Arial? i like the whole look. it's just much cleaner. and i don't mind the asymmetrical nature. it makes it look that much more unique. i have a problem with the top pic-- looks a lot like the pics on LGS Brooklyn.
Posted by: ftgreener at November 6, 2006 10:54 AM
what's so bad about Arial? i like the whole look. it's just much cleaner. and i don't mind the asymmetrical nature. it makes it look that much more unique. i have a minor problem with the top pic-- looks a lot like the pics on LGS Brooklyn -- but it is still pretty. overall, change is good.
Posted by: ftgreener at November 6, 2006 10:54 AM
I agree with Argyle Road that the new photo is too generic. The renovation photo is symbolic of this site's origins. I remember when you used to have a photo of yourself with one of your kids...How long ago was that? It seems like ages. Or am I dreaming?
Posted by: Anonymous at November 6, 2006 11:08 AM
I agree with Argyle Road that the new photo is too generic. The renovation photo is symbolic of this site's origins. I remember when you used to have a photo of yourself with one of your kids...How long ago was that? It seems like ages. Or am I dreaming?
Posted by: Anonymous at November 6, 2006 11:08 AM
It looks cheap. And please, move the reafing text to the right a touch.
Posted by: loser at November 6, 2006 11:24 AM
Bring back the old photo and I'll adjust to the rest!
Posted by: dt at November 6, 2006 11:32 AM
I liked it better when text was centered, but I like the new font because it is easier to read. It was extremely small on my palm pilot.
Posted by: anon at November 6, 2006 11:37 AM
Not crazy about the font - looks too typical and blogish.
Can you reallocate the space dedicated to text vs ads? The ads seem to have 45% of the space on my screen in this new format.
Posted by: Anonymous at November 6, 2006 11:47 AM
I hate the new format. Brownstoner.com now looks like every other blogsite. So boring and dull. The font is blah. Moreover, bring back the old photo or choose another one that captures a truly beautiful Brownstone Brooklyn streetscape (e.g., Montgomery, So. Portland, Midwood, Willow or Stuyvesant Ave.). The current photo says nothing and appears lifeless. Give visitors to the site the charm of the old photo or a provocative "Wow! This is Brooklyn?!?" photo. Despite the above criticism, I still love the content, Stoner! Keep it coming!
Posted by: SuperAnon at November 6, 2006 11:59 AM
I miss the intimacy of the old design. With the smaller font and images I could open it at work without people around me being able to read it as they passed in the hallway and I could also scroll through the posts fairly quickly. This feels a bit like an "easy to read" picture book, and it feels like I am displying the content to the whole world around me at work.
Posted by: ameraleed at November 6, 2006 12:05 PM
Of course I have an opinion about this...looks likes ads are taking center stage now. Why can't the real estate brokers column appear as one of the headers next to "Home" and "Forum"? An extra column makes the actual body of info seems squished to the left.
Posted by: North Sleeper at November 6, 2006 12:19 PM
I love it! Very refreshing; change the photo every now and then and surprise us....
Posted by: Miss Josie at November 6, 2006 12:35 PM
I love it! Very refreshing; change the photo every now and then and surprise us....
Posted by: Miss Josie at November 6, 2006 12:35 PM
I LOVED the old banner picture. Although the new pic is fitting, it doesn't have the same attention grabbing quality... it looks generic. The old photo displayed emotion. Other than the picture, the new design is fine.
Posted by: Anonymous at November 6, 2006 12:45 PM
Overall, I think the new look is "cleaner," but it also looks a little too like Brooklyn Record. Just now I forgot which site I was reading!
Posted by: lesterhead at November 6, 2006 12:48 PM
two thumbs up..
Posted by: glf at November 6, 2006 1:21 PM
I agree with ameraleed's comments about it being large at work. If I was unfamiliar with the site I would also read it as "Brownstoner - Brooklyn's Bulletin Board", based on the layout at the top.
Although the new site is clean, it lacks some of the charm that initially attracted me to the site. The photo and menu links seem cold and generic. One row of ads would also extend down further when you scoll down - right now a lot of horizontal space is devoted to them at the top of the page.
Posted by: HC at November 6, 2006 1:40 PM
No more space is being allocated to ads than before. There were always two columns of them. THe only diff is that the editorial column is wider and the left-hand column that used to include the blogroll and broker links has been removed and that content put below the ads.
Posted by: brownstoner at November 6, 2006 1:41 PM
I'd prefer to have links open up in new windows, as opposed to the way it is now where it opens in the same window you're using.
Posted by: Rich at November 6, 2006 1:47 PM
You need some space on the left...10 pixels at the very least. Also, the About button takes you into Brooklyn Record...???
Posted by: Anonymous at November 6, 2006 1:51 PM
love the man in rubble better. love the fact "I" don't need magnifying glasses either... I'm only 37 ;-)
Posted by: realtor guy at November 6, 2006 2:09 PM
the new design is fine I do prefer the old photo. just one thing - even if you don't add a left column please move the test over a bit it looks like its running off the page its very annoying.
Posted by: Anonymous at November 6, 2006 2:24 PM
If you want to read both active reno blogs, you need to click 4 times! This is up from 3 clicks on the previous layout and 2 clicks on the layout before that. What an unnecessary waste of time. Brownstoner - why are you burying one of the best features on the site?
Posted by: Anonymous at November 6, 2006 2:27 PM
Point well taken about the reno blogs
Posted by: brownstoner at November 6, 2006 2:39 PM
i loved the old photo too. the new one isn't nearly as cool! and i prefer the smaller font, but not a big deal... the rest looks good to me!
Posted by: lc at November 6, 2006 2:42 PM
I need a little space on the left and Arial is a poor choice--go with a nice serif face, it'll be easier to read.
Posted by: Anonymous at November 6, 2006 2:44 PM
where's the other reno blogs?
Posted by: Anonymous at November 6, 2006 2:45 PM
Not that I care that much, but the new banner pic makes more sense than the old guy-in-the-rubble pic. This isn't renovator.com. Some of the people here reno'ed fixer-uppers (like I did), others bought places in move-in condition. I don't think one of us has a special claim on the True Soul of Brownstoner. The new pic applies to everybody.
Posted by: linusvanpelt at November 6, 2006 3:35 PM
The new pic is just so... obvious. The site is called brownstoner, so putting a picture of a brownstone isn't a bad thing... but it also doesn't display thought and creativity. Interestingly enough, as I recall, the old photo was not even one of a brownstone (it's was of a building in DUMBO), but it applied perfectly to the brownstone concept. Showed that some thought was actually put into the banner.
Posted by: Anonymous at November 6, 2006 4:12 PM
What happened to the search section? If I want to look up electricians or what-not previously discussed on the site, where do I go to find?
Posted by: Anonymous at November 6, 2006 4:48 PM
Speaking of Reno Blogs has Brownstoner finished his reno? 'Cuz the last entry was November 16, 2005.
Posted by: Anonymous at November 6, 2006 5:23 PM
When are you going to switch the forums over to a phpBB so that any new post made to a topic brings that topic to the top of the page? All the forums are right now is the same question asked and answered over and over again.
I mean how many topics do we really need for who do I call for Iron Work and the answer of Vinny's?
Posted by: Anonymous at November 6, 2006 5:27 PM
One last thought about the ads...With two column of ads, the site does feel more commercial, even if technically its the same percentage as before. I think seeing one column of ads and another of links felt less commercial, the way you had it before. But if the site can generate more income by selling more ads and Brownstoner can quit his day job, then maybe its worth it. Everyone deserves 8 hours of sleep.
Posted by: Argyle Road at November 6, 2006 5:33 PM
There were always (okay, for the past several months at least) 2 columns of ads. Probably seemed like less when there was a fourth column with links...
Posted by: brownstoner at November 6, 2006 5:59 PM
this is minutia but the current font for 'brownstoner' logo changed from the one earlier today looks like it needs to be optimized. It is dithering around the sky background and looks like it was scaled down rather than done for that font size.
I also agree on a richer background image.
Looking good...
Posted by: Anonymous at November 6, 2006 7:13 PM
i also just noticed that the rollovers on the main navigation menu are too muted. maybe that blue font (on rollover)should be darker or black...
Posted by: Anonymous at November 6, 2006 7:16 PM
also, it would be nice if the "brownstoner" logo would link back to the home page. This redundancy is standard for many sites and is convenient.
Posted by: Anonymous at November 6, 2006 7:18 PM
i 2nd 5:27 about the forums.
I think they'd be infinitely more valuable and generate more traffic too if they were something like this: http://archinect.com/forum/
where the last post goes to the top, and if you look towards the bottom , you can filter by categories.
Posted by: Anonymous at November 6, 2006 7:25 PM
See what happens when you ask a bunch of home reno's, architects, artisits and designers (oh, and other trades, sorry) what they think ;)
Road to hell is paved with good intentions, I hear. Perhaps asking for everyone's 2 cents may have been more than you wanted to chew or, eh, read.
Good discussion though. GO VERDANA!
Posted by: lostinbrooklyn at November 6, 2006 7:41 PM
Nah, this is great. Just what we were hoping for.
Posted by: brownstoner at November 6, 2006 8:24 PM
brownstoner, what about the voting results? come on, I'm hoping 51% of us have ordered you to revert.
but as i said @ 9:35 am, i'll adjust. maybe change is good.
Posted by: Anonymous at November 6, 2006 10:06 PM
Definitely an improvement -- faster and easier to read. Good work.
Posted by: z at November 7, 2006 12:28 AM
I agree with the posters who are annoyed that the text isn't centered- - it seems silly to me to have text on left + 2 columns of ads and links on right. Should be more balanced.
Posted by: Anonymous at November 7, 2006 6:08 AM
I do have to admit the old site felt more unique. This site looks like a typical blog site. If I had to change one thing is the picture at the top, you have posted much better pics.
Posted by: QBorBK at November 7, 2006 8:04 AM
Please get rid of the red headers! IT'S LIKE THE SITE IS SHOUTING! The brown headers were way less disruptive while still commanding attention.
Posted by: Anonymous at November 7, 2006 8:12 AM
What happened to MY BROWNSTONE section???
Posted by: Tom at November 7, 2006 11:58 AM
Please, please, please, Mr. B., change the picture at the top. It's soooooooo blah and generic (not like you). Show us some of that fantastic architecture you've captured throughout the area. If the photos change periodically, that would also be a sweet touch.
Posted by: Anonymous at November 7, 2006 1:02 PM
I hate how I can't look at the picture & read the caption below. Everything is TOO Big. Please make it smaller.
Posted by: Anonymous at November 7, 2006 1:59 PM
i was just about to update my photos in "my brownstone" and iot's not even there! :-( come back...please?
Posted by: modern in cg at November 7, 2006 2:01 PM
You still spin a good tale. Gives me plenty of bedtime stories to tell my kids...Once, there was a site with so many bitter and twisted people that they could not come together to do one once of good for their community, etc.....
Posted by: Scarano at November 7, 2006 11:50 PM
I hope the absence of the "My Brownstone" entries is just a temporary glitch.
Posted by: Bob Marvin at November 8, 2006 8:38 AM
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