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Week 35: D-Lists

D-Lists.

In the space of 5 minutes I can identify some of the key strengths and weaknesses of this design, and sketch out a mockup.

STRENGTHS:

• There is good contrast between background and content (i.e.: typography), so everything is fairly readable.
• There isn’t too much obsolete content, and the site is quite easy to browse.
• The large post images are really eye-catching, and draw you into reading more of each post.

WEAKNESSES:

• The lack of content boxes/dividers makes the layout feel a little disorganized
• The typography is readable, but the dark background is quite hard on the eyes
• There is a lack of call-to-action buttons.
• The site needs a bit more color to attract the users eye.

My Redesign

As always, I was limited by the 30 minute time-frame, but I tried to improve upon several of D-List’s features, adding a few design flourishes and a clearer layout that promoted content over wasted space:

WHAT I TRIED TO DO:

• I made the layout much more structured, introducing content areas and dividers
• I simplified the content further, and stripped away unnecessary content
• I integrated a sleek menu design to make the site easier to navigate.
• I used splashes of color to liven up the design.
• I integrated call-to-action buttons to entice readers to click through and continue reading posts.

Comparing the 2 Designs:

Here is a quick comparison between the original design and my 30 minute redesign. Sure, my design could be more polished, but I believe that a lot of the basic elements have been improved upon, creating a more pleasant browsing experience.

How and Why To Enter Redesign Saturdays

You can have the chance to have your website redesigned in next weeks post. All you need to do is leave a comment to this post with your website address and why you think it needs a redesign.

*NOTE: I can only accept sites with English content, as foreign language websites are simply too hard for me to work with.

The Benefits of Getting Your Site Redesigned Include:

• Most obviously – a FREE redesign job!
• Your website gets exposure to PSDFAN’s thousands of readers
• You understand how to improve your website. This isn’t just a redesign, it’s a lesson in design.
• You will get emailed the .psd of your redesign and can do whatever you want with it!

So please, leave a comment today for a chance to have your website redesigned next week!

About the Author:

Tom is the founder of PSDFAN. He loves writing tutorials, learning more about design and interacting with the community. On a more interesting note he can also play guitar hero drunk with his teeth.

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