Redesigning the D&D website

WotC_Huscarl · May 1, 2008

I posted a comment where the design first appeared, but I'll copy it here --

As one of the people who works on the D&D website, I’ll toss in a few reactions.

First, this take on the website demonstrates what can be accomplished by a single person working toward a single vision. Unfortunately, that’s not the case with the D&D site. It serves many masters, and they all get a voice in how it’s put together. The web team wants one thing, the brand team wants another, marketing wants a third, and corporate tosses in a fourth. Everyone knows what happens when an elephant gets designed by a committee. No one gets everything he wants; it’s all a compromise.

But second, yeah, we do pay attention to things like this. We (the web team) have looked at this build and tossed it around a bit. There are things we like and things we don’t, as might be expected. But no one dismissed it out of hand. We’re always open to good ideas.

Steve

el-remmen · May 1, 2008

WotC_Huscarl said:
First, this take on the website demonstrates what can be accomplished by a single person working toward a single vision. Unfortunately, that’s not the case with the D&D site. It serves many masters, and they all get a voice in how it’s put together. The web team wants one thing, the brand team wants another, marketing wants a third, and corporate tosses in a fourth. Everyone knows what happens when an elephant gets designed by a committee. No one gets everything he wants; it’s all a compromise.

This is a nicer way of saying what I said before.

Chibbell · May 1, 2008

Thanks again for the responses everyone.

Steve - I can only hope that one day you guys won't have to design by committee. As I said at Dragon Ave, it's unfortunately something that is par for the course at a lot of companies. If only more organizations left the experts to do their jobs.

Good luck with the sites and 4E!

Plane Sailing · May 1, 2008

WotC_Huscarl said:
First, this take on the website demonstrates what can be accomplished by a single person working toward a single vision. Unfortunately, that’s not the case with the D&D site. It serves many masters, and they all get a voice in how it’s put together. The web team wants one thing, the brand team wants another, marketing wants a third, and corporate tosses in a fourth. Everyone knows what happens when an elephant gets designed by a committee. No one gets everything he wants; it’s all a compromise.

I feel your pain, having experienced it myself many times

Thanks for dropping by!

jimmifett · May 1, 2008

WotC_Huscarl said:
It serves many masters, and they all get a voice in how it’s put together. The web team wants one thing, the brand team wants another, marketing wants a third, and corporate tosses in a fourth. Everyone knows what happens when an elephant gets designed by a committee. No one gets everything he wants; it’s all a compromise.

This is quite common sadly. The solution that i've found that works the best in these situations is to have someone who understands the overall vision of what is intended, and that person has the power to veto the others in the commitee and enforce a given design philosophy.

Esentially, a roman emperor if you will. The vision and design philosophy gets decided ahead of time. Someone is then in charge of the design philosophy and makes sure all teams have their desires conform to this world view. This peson would ultimately be repsonsible for the site (or any other type of project). If a group wants to change part of the philosophy, they must convince this person of their point of view.

In my experience, commitees are good for brainstorming and conceptual, never for implementation.

and in the security field, Compromise is a failure in integrity

Immolate · May 1, 2008

Steve,

I've been an avid player and fan of D&D since 1978, and you won't find a more loyal fan of the brand. You've explained to us why it can't be done, and as a member of the corporate association of wage slaves (CaWS) for twenty-seven years, I am intimately familiar with the refrain you're playing. I just have one thing to say in response:

Chibbell's redesign excited me.

All of the tension I usually feel when visiting the WoTC site, the fear that there was something there that I really needed to read, but was probably cleverly hidden from casual view, melted away. This was a design that I intuitively understood. I had a strong urge to start clicking on things, even knowing that it was a mock-up. Now that's powerful.

Philosophy is as powerful an influence as design competence--this I know. But philosphy can be changed by the right person with the right vision and the ability to make others see it. I hope, for the sake of my favorite hobby, that the right person exists.

jimgoings · May 1, 2008

Chibbell's redesign excited me.

All of the tension I usually feel when visiting the WoTC site, the fear that there was something there that I really needed to read, but was probably cleverly hidden from casual view, melted away. This was a design that I intuitively understood. I had a strong urge to start clicking on things, even knowing that it was a mock-up. Now that's powerful.

Wow... that was some awesome kudos. I can't agree more. The difference between the two designs is night and day. Chibbell FTW.

So glad Chibbell is a good friend and my DM... he teaches me new stuff about design all the time. He's really good at what he does and is passionate about design in general. This passion translates quite nicely into his DMing style. Lot's of flavor and a focus on fun at the table.

Chibbell · May 1, 2008

Immolate said:
Steve,
Chibbell's redesign excited me.

All of the tension I usually feel when visiting the WoTC site, the fear that there was something there that I really needed to read, but was probably cleverly hidden from casual view, melted away. This was a design that I intuitively understood. I had a strong urge to start clicking on things, even knowing that it was a mock-up. Now that's powerful.

That is quite possibly the nicest compliment I have ever received. It hits to the very core of what I was aiming for. You humble me, sir.

Mustrum_Ridcully · May 1, 2008

WotC_Huscarl said:
I posted a comment where the design first appeared, but I'll copy it here --

As one of the people who works on the D&D website, I’ll toss in a few reactions.

First, this take on the website demonstrates what can be accomplished by a single person working toward a single vision. Unfortunately, that’s not the case with the D&D site. It serves many masters, and they all get a voice in how it’s put together. The web team wants one thing, the brand team wants another, marketing wants a third, and corporate tosses in a fourth. Everyone knows what happens when an elephant gets designed by a committee. No one gets everything he wants; it’s all a compromise.

But second, yeah, we do pay attention to things like this. We (the web team) have looked at this build and tossed it around a bit. There are things we like and things we don’t, as might be expected. But no one dismissed it out of hand. We’re always open to good ideas.

Steve

Let's hope threads and blog posts like these can give you some more leverage for improving the design.

Oldtimer · May 1, 2008

WotC_Huscarl said:
As one of the people who works on the D&D website, I’ll toss in a few reactions.

First, this take on the website demonstrates what can be accomplished by a single person working toward a single vision. Unfortunately, that’s not the case with the D&D site. It serves many masters, and they all get a voice in how it’s put together. The web team wants one thing, the brand team wants another, marketing wants a third, and corporate tosses in a fourth. Everyone knows what happens when an elephant gets designed by a committee. No one gets everything he wants; it’s all a compromise.

But second, yeah, we do pay attention to things like this. We (the web team) have looked at this build and tossed it around a bit. There are things we like and things we don’t, as might be expected. But no one dismissed it out of hand. We’re always open to good ideas.

Steve

Steve, it pains me to hear that the corporate mentality is so strong at WotC. It does not bode well for D&D on the 'net.

Consider that this is how the present site looks in my IE6:

You can probably understand why I think the site is completely useless in its present form.

Redesigning the D&D website

WotC_Huscarl

First Post

el-remmen

Moderator Emeritus

Chibbell

First Post

Plane Sailing

Astral Admin - Mwahahaha!

jimmifett

Banned

Immolate

First Post

jimgoings

Explorer

Chibbell

First Post

Mustrum_Ridcully

Hero

Oldtimer

Great Old One

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