Back in Business

Ladies and gentlemen, please allow me to direct your attention to the center stage, where I will now reveal to you my latest bit of creativity:  The VooDoo Design Lounge (insert obligatory applause audio clip here).

This site represents the return of what I want to do on the web when it comes to managing the wide spectrum of my particularly unique content needs.  Most importantly, it deals with an understanding that many different types of people browse the web in a variety of ways.  With less focus on navigation, I’ve attempted to make the experience natural and easy to browse around in.

Expression Engine to the rescue!

I’ve been using EECore since it came out (and someday plan on upgrading, when I can afford it), but I’ve not realized just how powerful of a system this is until recently.  Some of the things I’ll cover in more detail soon (for those of you wanting to learn more about EE) is how to properly use conditionals and includes.  I’ll also talk a bit about the concept of how multiple weblogs can be intertwined to manage different sections of data, and how to work with custom input fields for your entries (for content that’s not like a journal).

Things started very grey.

After my site went down earlier this year, I tried to get myself into a new design that would replace the work I had lost.  It was quite grey, and somehow that grey went deeper than just a color choice.  It reflected a darker, “less fun” side of me that wasn’t very appealing (though at the time I didn’t realize it).  Perhaps it was a reflection of some of the stresses that my family and I have been through already this year.

The pivotal moment for me was Matt Robin’s quote on that Flickr thread:

Grey eh? Is this the colour you’ll run with?

I like it overall, but personally…I think it’s almost a step backwards from how your site is at the moment (although there are more features in this one). I think you’ve spoilt us before - cos I sort of expect more (visually) from you I guess. Just being honest dude. Call me an ar*ehole if you want to!! :o

Just please, please, please don’t put upside-down flowers in the header! :D

So, with Matt’s honesty I realized that he had a point.  With that I realized that my interest in dark, gothic, and gloomy things might give off the false impression that I’m a dark, gothic, and gloomy person.  People judge you by how you appear, whether it be clothing or your website.

Advice from a friend.

So, while chatting it up with my good buddy Jon Snook, I mentioned how I had wanted to do something else, but I was afraid of moving away from the amount of work I had already invested.  We talked about the VooDoo design image, and how much it had inspired me with creativity.  His words to me were simple:  “Just do it, I know you can.”

So, I bit the bullet, and made a mockup.  From there I started getting great feedback on that mockup from the few people that I had shown, and moved into developing my html for it.  What you’re looking at now is a version of that original idea that I feel is close enough to launch.

What’s left?

Oh man, there feels like there’s so much to do.  But then I look at how much I’ve done so far, and it sort of keeps it in perspective.  I just need to (in order of priority):

• Sort out my RSS feeds and how I want to manage them
• Complete the currently in-progress about section
• Add link to the images where printed items can be purchased
• Continue to clean and polish my somewhat haphazard code (bull in a china shop)
• Continue to test for errors and/or improvements to general usability

I need your help!

As you look at the site, and I do hope you will.  Please take note of things that you find that could use improving.  If you don’t like something, don’t just tell me that, plan on offering an alternative idea or fix and I will certainly consider it with value.  Being on the inside of the house doesn’t always tell me the same things that you can see from where you sit.

Next entry: Project 52

Previous entry: One tweak at a time