I think I’m going to need every last minute on this one this week. I’ve decided to tackle a fun, free-thinking redesign of the CHNM homepage. I’m trying to think completely differently and do something new. So far, I’ve been through at least 10 different designs–and that’s after I created the first sketch with my idea. As I’ve created images and started coding, I change colors and change arrangement of information on the page. This is all after I spent days on the information architecture alone. With a large and important site like this, the architecture is extremely important and definitely my biggest challenge with the design. I still have some questions, and if I were to take it forward and eventually implement the redesign, then I will talk to more people and ask. For the most part, though, I wanted to tackle this myself without any influence from others. Just for now. To allow me to be as creative as possible.

I am approaching the design as if it really were an assignment for CHNM, but at the same time, I’m trying to let myself do things that may push the limits of design to come up with something totally different. Since I’ve been reading The Zen of CSS Design, I’m inspired by those designs and trying to incorporate many crucial design elements: color, repetition, alignment, imagery, and proximity. It’s hard work. I’ve been meticulously working with a gridmaker that Jeremy showed me in Photoshop, and trying to get all the margins and boxes aligned with all the right spacing ain’t easy. I’ve had to re-create images over and over and over and do lots and lots of math. I’m trying to keep it simple and clean, as is my style, and yet I want to incorporate lots of color and imagery. I keep thinking I’m almost there, then I decide to change something.

I’ve commented on Ken’s, Marty’s, Steve’s, Chris’s and Bill’s blogs about their designs and about Bill’s comments on mine…that, yes, when I find time, I will try to post something of my process for any of you who are interested. Unfortunately, my parents are coming to town, and we have our final design project. But, if it would help any of you, I’ll try to get something up next week. And, thanks Bill, for the vote of confidence. Unfortunately, the site didn’t turn out as well as I’d hoped.

This entry was posted on Monday, April 16th, 2007 at 12:51 pm and is filed under design, Clio Wired, History and New Media. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.