Stamp: 17 October 2008 | 15 Comments | Back to Previous Page
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As you've noticed, we've changed our design. I spent almost half a year redesigning, optimizing and testing my template in order to get the full satisfaction. As for me, the greatest obstacle in designing myself. Hopefully, I've been able to deliver this sleek and simple design to you.
In our new design, we've implemented several features for better reader experience :
- New Wallpapers Gallery
- Recent Comments Section
- Archives Page
- Ruby Search
- List of Popular Articles
- Live Preview for Comment
If you have any comments on our design, feel free to speak.
If you want to see our process in designing new UsingMac template, you can continue on reading this article.
Version 1
Trying to use wood texture as the background. Last less than one week.
Version 2
Trying to think different by using Bee's Nest as the guide for placing navigation menu. Feel boring after two weeks.
Version 3
Use big button for the navigation menu, to give the feeling that the spot is really important. However, not satisfying due to lack of awareness of the site (the logo is blended into navigation bar).
Version 4
Applying simple and huge header to the design. Duplication detected, hence rejected.
Version 5
Monstrous size of logo, navigation menu and share buttons. Marked as expensive design and rejected.
Version 6
Rainbow UsingMac which gives me the feeling of having colorful experience in using Mac. This is a nice design, but I didn't get the permission from the author to use the background rainbow image (in fact, the author didn't even reply me).
Final Version
At least for now, this design suits me the best: Simple and Sleek.
Any comments? Perhaps you want to try our new live comment preview? :)
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15 Comments
Alex
It's great! I like it a lot! And THAAANKS for making it still dark! (Mac Tricks & Tips doesn't look so good...) So, keep up the good work Wendy!
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Alex
PS. I have one little request: Can you add the possibility to hit 'Return' in the comment box? So that the whole comment can be displayed in more lines than just one. Thanks!
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Gian-Pa
Hi.
I like very much the colors and fonts of every text.
The only I think you should improve is the background and the logo
Keep the good work!
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el1073
I like the graphic, but I don't understand why there is a big grey block between menus and articles :)
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chris
i like version 6
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Erik Westrup
The final one looks very nice!"
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Krinling
Wow. Nice design. However I don't liek the "dot Com" thing. The simple and sleek "USINGMAC!" or "UsingMac" or "UsingMac.com" was just fine ! And last: the tagline now also has a gradient. If you'd undo that it gives the illusino of the website name being in the big having the righthand side in the shadow, and the tagline in a special light spot (without shadows). But really this layout is great !
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Wendy
Thanks for all the comments, I will put those into consideration, especially the Return key problem. I know we will need it, but for time being please bear with using html tag <br> for line break.
For the big grey box, it won't be an empty box forever, *something* will be put inside, in the near future.
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Ken Burns Effect
Why don't you fix this silly, stupid, ignorant RSS double-posting? I'm so f-word tired of repeatedly mark posts as read, posts already read the first time they showed up. Fix this or you got one subscriber less.
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Wendy
Hm.. I wonder why, because I tried to subscribe to UsingMac RSS and I didn't get any double posting problem. Can anyone help me with this?
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SuperJoker
Loving the new design. ;)
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Ken Burns Effect
@Wendy: Just wait, they show up! I use NewsFire and it's been a problem from day one (jan -08).
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brandon
this great, i love the dark with hint of colors. best template of them all. i can understand the time it takes to redesign im in the middle of redoing my portfolio site.
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kelly
fresh look! nice!
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João Coutinho
Amazing result. I just think you should apply a little bit more color.
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