Viral Video Site Redesign
It was never our intention to leave the Viral Video Chart quite as design-lite as it is currently. We just wanted to launch it really fast and never got beyond the logo-in-30-point-arial-italic vibe.
Please let us know what you think of the design below.
It still needs some work and we need to put some effort into the logo. We're a bit nervous, because a lot of people have said that they like the no-frills minimal design aesthetic of the current undesign. We need to balance that with the need for a recognisable identity. It's our intention to let lots of bloggers and sites syndicate the chart, so we're going to need a recognisable logo / brand / mark that can be stamped onto these syndicated charts and which can communicate that the data's from us and it's not just some editor's top-ten picks. (The design above shows a top ten, but the site will continue to display the top 20 videos).
I forgot to mention. We probably want the option of sticking a 728x90 banner into the masthead, so the orange may be significantly obscured, but possibly by something more garish still ;)
We need to start thinking how to pay for our hosting costs and our biscuits, I'm afraid.
We don't think we want graphical ad units anywhere else. At least a banner right at the top will disappear as soon as you scroll down to look at the content.
Posted by: scottjamesbutton | October 13, 2006 at 12:17 AM
Thanks for the email notification - I appreciate you guys taking the time to try and reach out to the blogosphere. Anyway, on to more important things...
I have to admit I'm a big fan of minimalism not because of the look in itself because of the speed of loading and the focus on the real "meat" of the site.
Based on the one screenshot above, I think the redesign is promising. Even with my previous statements, I've found the viral video chart a big spare at times. This is definitely a step in the right direction in order to provide yourselves more identity while still keeping things simple and focused on the videos themselves.
I guess the real test comes when you have to figure out how fast or slow the redesigned page will go. Too many bells and whistles may make people stop coming and instead just check the site-specific top ten lists...
Posted by: rgsunico | October 13, 2006 at 12:20 AM
Look fine to me. I'm certainly no expert, and I can't read the font on this picture, although I'm sure it will be larger on the page itself. Aesthetics mean a lot less to me than usability.
Posted by: Miss Cellania | October 13, 2006 at 12:22 AM
Most of this should be done in the CSS, though there will be a few more images. It's still most likely that it's the 80KB worth of uncached thumbnails that will slow things down!
Posted by: scottjamesbutton | October 13, 2006 at 12:27 AM
It's very web 2.0, isn't it? I mean, it's nice and all that but aren't you worried that you'll fade into the background a bit? It doesn't yell 'recognisable brand' to me.
Sorry, I prefer the design-lite ethos of the current one.
Posted by: laurence timms | October 13, 2006 at 12:37 AM
Thanks for the email - great idea to reach out to the blogs that referenced you, and considerate as well.
As for the design - I approve. Looks Web 2.0-ish and simple and clean so it encourages people to use it as a resource.
Cheers!
Posted by: ariel | October 13, 2006 at 12:37 AM
Hmm. I take the point that Web 2.0 = indistinct on the chin. May as well call ourselves chartr or vi.d.eo.tv or something.
Craigslist has a distinct identity through it's undesign. Even the low-intervention hypothetical restylings of Craigslist I've seen people propose tend to undermine its persona with an overly generic elegance.
Posted by: scottjamesbutton | October 13, 2006 at 12:55 AM
This is it. And please don't get me wrong - I love the site and I'm 100% behind you, but there are bound to be me-too copycats coming along before too long and I think that you need some kind of 'original and best' visual design that really sticks in the mind.
Craigslist, delicious, b3ta.com - once you've visited you don't forget them.
Posted by: laurence timms | October 13, 2006 at 01:28 AM
Well kind of you to ask. I guess the colors on the chart are nice.
But sorry to say the logo and banner are kinda crap.
Either go stripped bare no frills super crap in your face or get a real designer to do an attractive logo. It can be simple, but should look mod and saavy.
I'd do the latter if I were you. Now it's halfway and smacks of someone's mom doing design.
Good luck. Love the chart and what you guys do.
Posted by: susie F | October 13, 2006 at 03:49 AM
To be fair to the designer, he has provided more interesting logos, but I'd been concerned about their visual noise. The one you can see in the picture here is really a placeholder while we parked the logo discussion. You're right that it needs unparking.
Posted by: scottjamesbutton | October 13, 2006 at 04:28 AM
sorry but i'm not a big fan of orange, although i do get what you're trying to do. i'd still prefer minimal but you do what you think is best. i'll continue to check in at the site. great concept and real convenient to keep up w/ the latest vids from all over.
Posted by: Cyn | October 13, 2006 at 04:53 AM
I like it. Still looks nice and airy.
But as the comments above have mentioned, watch out for load times. The video pictures are already load intensive and, as such, don't add to the strain.
Another thing, I enlarged the picture and am seeing lots of extra bits and pieces there, like 'Funny' & 'Entertainment'. For me there is no need to make it overly intricate (apart from my suggestion in the comments on October 11, 2006). There's also a 'Links' menu on the right. Perhaps its good for you to have them but I'd hide those features from the main page.
Also, the 'blog | buzz | blurb | ...' on the current site are in a very convenient position. Would be nice to keep them up there and in view.
Anyways, I wish I could un-design as well as you.
Regards.
Posted by: Anon | October 13, 2006 at 07:30 AM