A New Look for Slice
Posted on August 11, 2009
Filed Under Daily, Redesign | 21 Comments
Dear Readers,
Welcome to SliceofLemon.com 3.0.
If you recall, this site underwent a redesign in January, and although only seven short months have passed since the last layout change, there were a number of reasons we decided to tackle a project of this magnitude once again. Originally, we planed a redesign for October, marking SliceofLemon.com’s first birthday. But with Ramadan just around the corner, and the physically and spiritually hectic nature of the month, it was more feasible for us to bump up the redesign by about 12 weeks.
I’d like to take a few moments, and walk you through the new pages, so you don’t feel like I’ve left you stranded on an island in the middle of the Pacific. But if I did leave you on an island in the middle of the Pacific, wouldn’t that be like, Hawaii? I mean, just like Miss Teen USA South Carolina demonstrated to the world in 2007, Americans aren’t that good at geography, but I’m pretty sure that island would be Hawaii, in which case you all should totally thank me for being so generous.
Please keep your hands and feet close to you at all times, as we take a tour through the new site.
-For better visual spacing, we’ve stretched the header across the page, and allotted for more white space. We’ve also cleaned up the clutter that was in the sidebar, which had become more distracting than useful.
-The new design also allows for better navigation, as the various sections on this site are clearly outlined in a navigation bar at the top of each page. These sections include contact information, a history of this site, an FAQ, and other helpful information.
-Previously, we mentioned that there will be an archived place for our monthly banners, and we’re happy to say that we now have that place.
-The redesign also highlights the site’s newest section, “About this Site,” which was developed after readers e-mailed us asking about publishing platforms, design-related elements, and wanted an overview of the site’s history. We hope this new section has addressed reader concerns.
-Because of the popularity of the “Monday Morning Photo,” as well as the “Fall in Love” sections on this site, we’ve decided to start posting under these categories daily, or at least a few times a week. We’ve also anchored a placement near the top of the page so readers can bounce around to new posts.
-Along with trying to better highlight photos, and style elements, we’ve added a third button for “The Closet.” Although the videos continue on their hiatus, we’re going to make a better effort to post in this category a few times a week as well — answering reader questions, writing short posts on hijab-related fashion, as well as posting interviews with up and coming designers. So be sure to pop by “The Closet” daily as well.
-At the very bottom of this page, you’ll also find other places to find me on the Web, such as examiner.com, other publications I freelance for, or even…wait for it…Twitter.
Yes, after loads of heart-felt pleas from readers, SliceofLemon.com will now be tweeting. You can find us at twitter.com/sliceofl.
-And finally, we’ve updated some of the pages with new information, and photos, and will tweak the navigation bar for “The Closet” to reflect what the series is about, and how it got started, in the next few days.
We’ve tested the new site a number of times, and have come across a few glitches, which you might encounter as well, and we ask that you please be patient as we continue to iron out the kinks. We believe that these changes will make for a much better and organized experience for you, but as always, we would love to hear what you have to say.
Please leave a comment below, or send an e-mail to founder.editor@sliceoflemon.com with your thoughts.
Thanks,
Sabrina Enayatulla
Founder and Editor, SliceofLemon.com
Comments
21 Responses to “A New Look for Slice”
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Hi, sorry I haven’t commented in ages. I always check your blog DAILY, but I’m not muxch of a commenter. Lol, I miss the old design, but I am glad you removed the “ads” at the sidebar!!!
i liked the old design tbh. this ones not bad at all though.
just a warning, coke is very protective of its designs. you might get a letter/email.
i love your new design. thanks to the extra white space and the new sidebar ad corral, i can put off getting those glasses at least another 6 months..:) i love the clean new fonts too. Work that Century Gothic, girl!
p.s. i can’t believe you’re tweeting..! i’d follow you but i can only handle one social network thingy at a time.
i would really like to say that i like the new design but we should always be honest: i do not like it at all. ( probably you are pissed now since u put so much effort into it)
the old design was so refreshing and distinct from all these other blogs around. but what i really dont apreciate ist that moving ad on top. sorry but that makes me remind of some cheap spamming site. those ads are not even related to your blog…wow i guess i should stop now because i am being too mean when i do not want to
however, keep on doing. cos i really love your writing and i am always excited about your posts!!
I LOVE this redesign. Its like when you paint your room a new colour, which I did this year, and it feels like a completely different room. All shiny and full of possibilities!
And its like this with website design. Also following you on twitter which is awesome!
I’m not the out with the old in with new kinda gal sorry Sabrina…i really liked the old design, this ones good but i liked the old one better so much more refreshing!
This design is pretty nice, but tbh i really liked the old one. The banner was wider and it really went well with the whole ‘slice of lemon’ thing.
But i do love the tabs at the top and at the side, they are awesomee!!
I like the old design better.
I’ll comment here b/c the commments are closed on your dailyLOVESTYLE. so i went to view what else Preseve had to offer through your link.. and i am now in love with thegreenlife.com. ANDDDD they have an online registry! i am totally gonna register there when/if i ever tie the knot…or move into a home and register for house warming presents
) LOVE the LOVESTYLE
i’ve really been giving your re-design a lot of thought.
loving the century gothic and the white space for sure. Also love the smaller banner – and i am totally OK with the ads because dolla dolla bills, ya’ll (i have no idea where that came from)
The only thing is that it’s v. text heavy on your main page now. I probably won’t remember to check your daily photos/closet/love style every day. Will those posts update on RSS readers?
I love reading posts with photos. and if i’m just clicking around quickly online… sometimes i only just glance at the photos. bad habit, yes. but sometimes i only have a minute between meetings to check my internet. i need a blog fix to get me through the day.
oh! one more thing. i always clicked through to your examiner page from your old icon in the upper right. Now, i won’t be reminded and will probably forget to look there.
But you never know. I could get used to all of these changes and become a pro at navigating your new layout. i’m going to give it some time and let it all sink in.
i love you!
I loved the old design, it was so original. But this will grow on me also because the content on it is always awesome!
It’s cool! like moving from the bedroom in your parents house, with all your posters on the wall and crap every where, to a grown-up appartment of your own that u pay for with salary from a big professional job…does that even make sense? that’s what I thought of anyway…but I’m SO NOT LOVING THE ADDS! I know u gotta get ur hustle on, but not liking that i as a reader have to see them (and they are kinda big corporate type adds), including the ones that pop up, not in a new windows, but over the page, u know…it just takes away from the personalized feeling of before…but it’s what u like that matters
I prefer the old design, and it looks like I’m not the only one. To be honest, this new one reminds me too much of dooce.com, only Heather’s looks better. I love your writing, but maybe you should rethink the redesign.. Sorry for being so blunt, I know what a pain designing a website can be
…I always admired the creative aspect of your old design. The coke piece on the top is just not making me tick, actually it is annoying me…sorry! I still love your work and will read it everyday & just will try to forget the old layout w/ time I guess…
…oh BTW was wondering why you decided to make the change? When something is not broken, why fix it?!
Hi Sarah. If you had a chance to read the post, I think we did a pretty good job explaining all the reasons we decided to make the changes. I hope it was helpful to you as a reader.
Sometimes, it’s not necessarily about what’s “broken” per say, as much as it is that sometimes a change is needed for what is more helpful to readers (in terms of navigation), as well as to better reflect the blogger. I always compare change, under most circumstances, to fashion. When I was in 5th grade, I used to wear stirrup pants ALL THE TIME. They were awesome, and there was no real reason for me to stop wearing them, except for the fact that stirrup pants don’t really reflect my sense of style anymore. They don’t project to the world who I am now. Similarly, the new site, with the more open space and cleaner lines, and more features (i.e. photos, style, closet) better reflects where I am in my life now as a blogger, while giving readers more of what they come to this site for. As for the banner, I miss the old logo too, it’s currently on my Twitter page, but it will definitely come back here — it’s just a matter of ironing out a few design kinks, and getting that monthly top banner back into the rotation. Hope that answers your question!
I was digging the old style as well. I agree with a previous commenter regarding using Coca Cola’s logo – I also wondered if they wouldn’t come at you Pepsi-Cola style. I think part of the fun of the old style was it was very refreshing, and the layout was neat. But I think whatever reflects your personality better is what you should stick with because readers will come and go, but you have to wake up every morning to the same blog so it should be one you enjoy looking at.
i couldnt think of a nice way of saying the coka cola thing is awful – but people above have said it already so im just adding that i agree…lease change that bit other than that its lovley.
I miss the yellow. It looks too much like coca cola and you cannot slice coke… Doesn’t go well with the name “Slice of Lemon”.
Looking forward to readin your posts.
hey, love the stuff u write, but not loving the new layout…sorry :S but i agree with als simmons and also the way its set out now, it cmes across like its gona be hard work to read..the font and the whiteness makes it like im reading a boring article not a fun blog
To be honest with you I prefer the older style, for sure! At least the ads were in the sidebar and didn’t pop out of no-where!