My Blog Design Process - Part 2

In the first part of my blog design process I discussed about providing design functionality and using appropriate elements so that you get the point across to your readers.

Now let’s talk a little bit about relevance and the flow of content in design.

Relevant Design

As I am designing this blog theme for an upcoming blogger placing relevant content holders appropriately is probably the biggest challenge. I don’t want it to look too pushy, or have too much information all at one go, and I also don’t want it to look like not much is going on.

So let’s begin at the top where the header takes up it’s space, and even though it does occupy a chunk of the area ‘above the fold‘, it is necessary. You’ll see why, when it goes live.

Moving on down, the main menu navigation expands for the entire width of the blog, so if any new pages are added it will all fit in. Going with a two column theme, the sidebar gets separated into two columns just to show some ad space and collapses to a single column sidebar again.

I actually had to go and redesign a few things as I wrote this post as some things popped out to me now that never did before. Keeping design relevant to the aim of the site is much more important than adding just a few default blending options in photoshop, for that extra shine, gloss or gradient.

Flow of Content

Making a beautiful looking glass is great, but if it doesn’t sit well with your lips chances are your drink will spill all over you. Same with layouts, if the design of a layout doesn’t lead the reader into its content - chances are they will spill over as well, probably to another blog or site.

Both design and content need to co-relate with each other. Sometimes you need to let the content control your design. For this design, some of the content {like advertising} is dynamic so it will be taking its place above the fold as is customary. Letting the reader glide through the rest of the content without being bothered by ads.

Sidebar distractions are minimized with emphasis given to the content area, which will have certain eye-catching elements.

I’m happy to say that the design is progressing very well, and even though the blog has a very fun nature behind it - it looks good enough to be taken seriously.

Hopefully in a few days the blog design should be done and I will be unveiling it to all of you, along with another little surprise. It has something to do with algorithms and doing complex designs, simply.

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Recommended Reading

• My Blog Design Process - Part 3
• My Blog Design Process - Part 1
• Everybody Go To - New Theme Soon On The Way
• Case Study: Launching A Web Product - Hiccups