Responding via the new public list (which I've moved to
http://lists.open311.org/groups/webdev/)
Thanks for getting this started Scott. This looks like a great mockup. Let
me start by responding to the the PDF/PNG. The layout feels just about
right, but I wonder if it'd make sense to showcase cities or companies in
addition to the featured apps. So we might have the logo from SCF,
ConnectedBits, Motorola, Lagan, etc as well as the city seal for Boston and
San Francisco and other cities to show the level adoption by government and
industry.
As for the navigation, I think the Home button should be the logo. I wonder
if "Discover" is too vague or not intuitive enough. I think "Get It" should
be "Use it" since you're not necessarily getting something like downloading
an app. I also think there should be a standard "About" page and link. I
tend to prefer the About & Contact links to be on the far right as a
standard practice. I think Developer can be more front and center. The
developer section will likely be housed on this same website rather than
elsewhere.
Something to be aware of in regard to the branding, the Open311 brand does
already have an established logo, which is just the color scheme and the
Apex typeface. I'd be happy to keep using that. The big caveat is that
there has been ongoing discussion for over a year to use an alternative
name to this effort, so the "Open311" brand may be paired with something
else and perhaps eventually phased out. This warrants further discussion
which we don't need to get into now, but just think of the logo branding
being something that can be flexible and may very well change soon.
I think the main above the fold area should do as much as possible to
visually demonstrate what this is about, so preferably we'd have an
illustration or a screenshot or two from one of the featured apps. The rest
of the layout and hierarchy seems about right to me.
Aesthetically, I think this is generally going in the right direction, but
obviously I'm looking forward to color. The current site is nice and bright
and vibrant, so I'd like to keep that and continue the color scheme to a
large extent if possible.
I'm not sure if I can easily pick between the two different directions you
described, I guess I think it should have elements of each. I think it
should be clean and modern and illustrations are good too. It shouldn't
feel too cold and technical, but also not feel too overly playful and
lighthearted. I definitely like the subtlety and texture of the background
on your Dribble.
I hope that helps.
Phil
On Thu, Dec 15, 2011 at 5:49 AM, Scott Silverman <<email obscured>> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> Sorry about the delay in sending out today. Took me longer than
> anticipated to get back to a computer (where the files are). In any case,
> I've attached the Open311 comp. Both an annotated PDF and 1:1 PNG are
> attached.
>
> In addition, I wanted to collect a little feedback on the theme of the
> design. There are two potential directions, and I'd like to hear your
> thoughts:
>
>
> 1. Going with the *open* theme of Open311: a clean, sky blue with
> illustrated elements. Some examples of this are the Things Cloud
page<http://culturedcode.com/beta/thingscloud/signup/> from
> Cultured Code and the Sparrow page <http://cl.ly/CcHE> in the Mac App
> Store.
> 2. Going with a more technical, calculated feel and building on top of
> graph paper. Keeping the design minimal, clean, and modern. I've mocked up
> a potential feeling on Dribbble<http://dribbble.com/shots/340233-Open311>
> .
>
>
> Take a look and get me your feedback, after which I will begin work the
> final designs.
>
> Thanks,
> Scott
>
> --
> Scott Silverman
> scottsil.com / @scottsil
>
>
>
>
>
> --
Philip Ashlock
Open Platforms Manager | CivicCommons.org <http://www.civiccommons.org/> &
OpenPlans.org <http://www.openplans.org/> |
@philipashlock<http://www.twitter.com/philipashlock>
http://lists.open311.org/groups/webdev/)
Thanks for getting this started Scott. This looks like a great mockup. Let
me start by responding to the the PDF/PNG. The layout feels just about
right, but I wonder if it'd make sense to showcase cities or companies in
addition to the featured apps. So we might have the logo from SCF,
ConnectedBits, Motorola, Lagan, etc as well as the city seal for Boston and
San Francisco and other cities to show the level adoption by government and
industry.
As for the navigation, I think the Home button should be the logo. I wonder
if "Discover" is too vague or not intuitive enough. I think "Get It" should
be "Use it" since you're not necessarily getting something like downloading
an app. I also think there should be a standard "About" page and link. I
tend to prefer the About & Contact links to be on the far right as a
standard practice. I think Developer can be more front and center. The
developer section will likely be housed on this same website rather than
elsewhere.
Something to be aware of in regard to the branding, the Open311 brand does
already have an established logo, which is just the color scheme and the
Apex typeface. I'd be happy to keep using that. The big caveat is that
there has been ongoing discussion for over a year to use an alternative
name to this effort, so the "Open311" brand may be paired with something
else and perhaps eventually phased out. This warrants further discussion
which we don't need to get into now, but just think of the logo branding
being something that can be flexible and may very well change soon.
I think the main above the fold area should do as much as possible to
visually demonstrate what this is about, so preferably we'd have an
illustration or a screenshot or two from one of the featured apps. The rest
of the layout and hierarchy seems about right to me.
Aesthetically, I think this is generally going in the right direction, but
obviously I'm looking forward to color. The current site is nice and bright
and vibrant, so I'd like to keep that and continue the color scheme to a
large extent if possible.
I'm not sure if I can easily pick between the two different directions you
described, I guess I think it should have elements of each. I think it
should be clean and modern and illustrations are good too. It shouldn't
feel too cold and technical, but also not feel too overly playful and
lighthearted. I definitely like the subtlety and texture of the background
on your Dribble.
I hope that helps.
Phil
On Thu, Dec 15, 2011 at 5:49 AM, Scott Silverman <<email obscured>> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> Sorry about the delay in sending out today. Took me longer than
> anticipated to get back to a computer (where the files are). In any case,
> I've attached the Open311 comp. Both an annotated PDF and 1:1 PNG are
> attached.
>
> In addition, I wanted to collect a little feedback on the theme of the
> design. There are two potential directions, and I'd like to hear your
> thoughts:
>
>
> 1. Going with the *open* theme of Open311: a clean, sky blue with
> illustrated elements. Some examples of this are the Things Cloud
page<http://culturedcode.com/beta/thingscloud/signup/> from
> Cultured Code and the Sparrow page <http://cl.ly/CcHE> in the Mac App
> Store.
> 2. Going with a more technical, calculated feel and building on top of
> graph paper. Keeping the design minimal, clean, and modern. I've mocked up
> a potential feeling on Dribbble<http://dribbble.com/shots/340233-Open311>
> .
>
>
> Take a look and get me your feedback, after which I will begin work the
> final designs.
>
> Thanks,
> Scott
>
> --
> Scott Silverman
> scottsil.com / @scottsil
>
>
>
>
>
> --
Philip Ashlock
Open Platforms Manager | CivicCommons.org <http://www.civiccommons.org/> &
OpenPlans.org <http://www.openplans.org/> |
@philipashlock<http://www.twitter.com/philipashlock>