Comments on: The pros and cons of a live redesign http://www.upstartblogger.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-a-live-redesign Successful Blogging Made Simple Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:20:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: antoine butler http://www.upstartblogger.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-a-live-redesign#comment-15763 antoine butler Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:43:32 +0000 http://www.upstartblogger.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-a-live-redesign#comment-15763 I'd have to agree with Andrew. I love live re-designs and found this post because I'm considering doing one myself. The drawbacks are obvious and the pro's for the designer / developer can be negligible. The key factor I'd think is the audience. If you've got visitors that are peers and understand what and why your going with a live redesign it would be to your ultimate benefit. If not, it will only be a source of frustration and pressure. Two things no designer / developer needs more of, right? I’d have to agree with Andrew. I love live re-designs and found this post because I’m considering doing one myself. The drawbacks are obvious and the pro’s for the designer / developer can be negligible.

The key factor I’d think is the audience. If you’ve got visitors that are peers and understand what and why your going with a live redesign it would be to your ultimate benefit. If not, it will only be a source of frustration and pressure. Two things no designer / developer needs more of, right?

]]> By: Andrew http://www.upstartblogger.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-a-live-redesign#comment-13369 Andrew Mon, 21 Jan 2008 21:43:09 +0000 http://www.upstartblogger.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-a-live-redesign#comment-13369 Personally, I like live redesigns. Even as a spectator, I like watching the tweaks and fixes as they happen. I think it's the same satisfaction that comes with seeing a building under renovation; you get a glimpse of all the work that goes into the finished product and you're left wondering just how it's going to look finished. Maybe it's just me. Personally, I like live redesigns. Even as a spectator, I like watching the tweaks and fixes as they happen. I think it’s the same satisfaction that comes with seeing a building under renovation; you get a glimpse of all the work that goes into the finished product and you’re left wondering just how it’s going to look finished.

Maybe it’s just me.

]]> By: Graham Smith http://www.upstartblogger.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-a-live-redesign#comment-13365 Graham Smith Mon, 21 Jan 2008 14:01:31 +0000 http://www.upstartblogger.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-a-live-redesign#comment-13365 Well. I guess it depends on your audience, or volume of daily viewings. If like me, the website is low profile, barely visited :( then this would be better for a 'live' what you see is how it is. As you say, when it goes pear shaped, even though I know knowone is likely to be on the site, my sense of perfectionism takes over and I assume the whole world is watching, therefore i fix it as quick as I damn can. If you suffer from procrastination then a 'safe' option may just never quite get done. Obviously if you do not suffer from motivational issues then I guess its not an issue. Also comes down to how confident you are in tweaking live, in fixing a problem if it arrises and if you mind someone visitors seeing a less than perfect site. The site I am working on, using your modicus theme is in constant state of change, some BIG mistakes I have made, but often get fixed quickly. And anyway, the simple solution to working live is to make a session copy of your PHP or CSS files before you start tweaking. Then every so often check your changes, then if everything is ok, carry on and save again. So worse case ism, that you break the layout, cant find the culprit but have a copy of the files to roll out from the beginning of the session. So you just loose some time, but still gain knowledge of WHAT NOT TO DO. Works for me... Graham Well. I guess it depends on your audience, or volume of daily viewings.

If like me, the website is low profile, barely visited :( then this would be better for a ‘live’ what you see is how it is. As you say, when it goes pear shaped, even though I know knowone is likely to be on the site, my sense of perfectionism takes over and I assume the whole world is watching, therefore i fix it as quick as I damn can.

If you suffer from procrastination then a ’safe’ option may just never quite get done. Obviously if you do not suffer from motivational issues then I guess its not an issue.

Also comes down to how confident you are in tweaking live, in fixing a problem if it arrises and if you mind someone visitors seeing a less than perfect site.

The site I am working on, using your modicus theme is in constant state of change, some BIG mistakes I have made, but often get fixed quickly.

And anyway, the simple solution to working live is to make a session copy of your PHP or CSS files before you start tweaking. Then every so often check your changes, then if everything is ok, carry on and save again. So worse case ism, that you break the layout, cant find the culprit but have a copy of the files to roll out from the beginning of the session. So you just loose some time, but still gain knowledge of WHAT NOT TO DO. Works for me…

Graham

]]> By: Josh http://www.upstartblogger.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-a-live-redesign#comment-13364 Josh Mon, 21 Jan 2008 09:30:55 +0000 http://www.upstartblogger.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-a-live-redesign#comment-13364 Sometimes live changes are necessary, but they're not fun. At least a blog is harder to break than an enterprise web app! ;) I've fiddled with my own live blog several times, but I don't get the traffic to justify a development version - if it takes me 15 min to make my changes, I've only disturbed one visitor. For yourself, I think a live change is probably fine if you're looking to do it quickly. Sometimes live changes are necessary, but they’re not fun. At least a blog is harder to break than an enterprise web app! ;) I’ve fiddled with my own live blog several times, but I don’t get the traffic to justify a development version - if it takes me 15 min to make my changes, I’ve only disturbed one visitor. For yourself, I think a live change is probably fine if you’re looking to do it quickly.

]]> By: Futurosity http://www.upstartblogger.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-a-live-redesign#comment-13361 Futurosity Mon, 21 Jan 2008 04:05:56 +0000 http://www.upstartblogger.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-a-live-redesign#comment-13361 I usually design a theme locally using MAMP, then go live when I have things mostly worked out (I was tweaking the current redesign of <a href="http://www.futurosity.com/" title="Futurosity" rel="nofollow">Futurosity</a> when I saw your post). But I still fine tune and play with a design live before I release it as a theme. It keeps me motivated to finish and I also find it more useful to troubleshoot a live site. I usually design a theme locally using MAMP, then go live when I have things mostly worked out (I was tweaking the current redesign of Futurosity when I saw your post). But I still fine tune and play with a design live before I release it as a theme. It keeps me motivated to finish and I also find it more useful to troubleshoot a live site.

]]> By: Deb http://www.upstartblogger.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-a-live-redesign#comment-13360 Deb Mon, 21 Jan 2008 01:33:51 +0000 http://www.upstartblogger.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-a-live-redesign#comment-13360 Live redesign = motivation and accountability.... Hmmm. I'm not sure I agree with that train of thought. And, I'm also not sure I'd be interested in seeing every tweak. One big potential drawback to a live redesign could be alienating your current audience or your future audience if some testing doesn't work out as planned. Perhaps they are unable to access the content they were hoping to find or something you tried out just looks plain funky. That would be quite a first and possibly lasting impression. IMHO, design should never be rushed, especially with all that design or redesign encompasses; however, solving a problem within a set time frame and budget is often part of the design equation. Perhaps just announcing a deadline date would be motivation enough. Live redesign = motivation and accountability…. Hmmm. I’m not sure I agree with that train of thought. And, I’m also not sure I’d be interested in seeing every tweak.

One big potential drawback to a live redesign could be alienating your current audience or your future audience if some testing doesn’t work out as planned. Perhaps they are unable to access the content they were hoping to find or something you tried out just looks plain funky. That would be quite a first and possibly lasting impression.

IMHO, design should never be rushed, especially with all that design or redesign encompasses; however, solving a problem within a set time frame and budget is often part of the design equation.

Perhaps just announcing a deadline date would be motivation enough.

]]> By: Amber http://www.upstartblogger.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-a-live-redesign#comment-13359 Amber Sun, 20 Jan 2008 23:47:20 +0000 http://www.upstartblogger.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-a-live-redesign#comment-13359 I always use a test site to work out the kinks in any of my new themes. After I feel I've perfected it as far as I can, then I move it over. Then I do changes on the fly if I absolutely have to. Maybe you could try that. I always use a test site to work out the kinks in any of my new themes. After I feel I’ve perfected it as far as I can, then I move it over. Then I do changes on the fly if I absolutely have to.

Maybe you could try that.

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