ianleblanc
First Post
Someone hire him quick! Seriously WotC do something!
Redesigning the D&D website
- Thread starter Chibbell
- Start date
Chibbell
First Post
Time and money are always a bit hard to estimate without a significant investment in understanding exactly what the problems are, the goals outlined and the technical challenges and limitations addressed. This sort of design could have absolutely nothing to do with the direction WotC wanted to go.
To do a website like this properly it requires an open, collaborative environment with clear, authoritative leaders that can push the project through. You have to have a team that works well together and excels at their individual goals. Deadlines are also quite important. The shorter the deadline generally the more money / people you need. That said, all the money and people in the world can't make the impossible happen. A single high-level micro-manager can also severely impede a project.
I should also note that the right level of executive sponsorship also be quite important. Having someone who trust you to do your job is invaluable.
I honestly think a small team working closely together with a clear decision making process could make this sort of site happen fairly quickly at a reasonable cost. It's hard to determine how hard some aspects would be, given that I am unfamiliar with their data structure.
To do a website like this properly it requires an open, collaborative environment with clear, authoritative leaders that can push the project through. You have to have a team that works well together and excels at their individual goals. Deadlines are also quite important. The shorter the deadline generally the more money / people you need. That said, all the money and people in the world can't make the impossible happen. A single high-level micro-manager can also severely impede a project.
I should also note that the right level of executive sponsorship also be quite important. Having someone who trust you to do your job is invaluable.
I honestly think a small team working closely together with a clear decision making process could make this sort of site happen fairly quickly at a reasonable cost. It's hard to determine how hard some aspects would be, given that I am unfamiliar with their data structure.
Dragonblade
Adventurer
jimgoings said:
The problem is I don't think WotC has the budget to afford senior professional web designers of Chibb's caliber. Otherwise, their site would already look like this.
Their web offerings seem to take a distinct backseat to their printed stuff. Their print offerings are fantastic, for example. I expect they blow most of their budget on art, book design, and game developers and designers.
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cangrejoide
First Post
I agree completely , WOTC should hire you at the very least as consultant for their web design.
Did you post this at the gleemax forums?
If so, any official reaction?
Start a web petition, I will sign it in a second!
Did you post this at the gleemax forums?
If so, any official reaction?
Start a web petition, I will sign it in a second!
Chibbell
First Post
Dragonblade said:
I sincerely doubt budget is the issue. A 13ft beholder statue is not exactly a cheap thing to make. Given their push towards a digital initiative it only makes sense that they would have moved some funds around to their online department.
While I am extremely critical of WotC's implementation of the D&D site we should remember that we don't have a lot of information to go off of. There could be any number of reasons as to why the site is in its current state. Poor management, poor planning, split focus on other areas, a poor hire or transition to a new position...anything really.
It's easy to blame "big corporate WotC" for sucking at the web but I do realize that there are people working there with real problems that we know nothing about. I'm sure they have the best intentions.
Jackelope King
First Post
Very interesting, Chibbs. I mentioned over on DA about adding the RSS feed button to the news box as one of the few things I'd change. I also like the (vastly) reduced clutter.
WhatGravitas
Explorer
Out of interest, what do you think of WotC's Magic website (ignoring the atrocious ad placement at the top of the page, which is fairly recent)?Chibbell said:
Bear in mind that the MtG homepage design is quite old (AFAIK at least 2 - 3 years).
I'm asking because I'm wondering whether the same web team has done it.
Cheers, LT.
Plane Sailing
Astral Admin - Mwahahaha!
Excellent vision, really nicely produced.
I imagine that in this version clicking on Dragon or Dungeon would take you to a similarly attractive "table of contents" for the current edition, and with perhaps a gallery of cover images of back issues to access earlier 'issue' content. That was the online magazine contents has titles, description, teaser art and so forth for each article.
I imagine that in this version clicking on Dragon or Dungeon would take you to a similarly attractive "table of contents" for the current edition, and with perhaps a gallery of cover images of back issues to access earlier 'issue' content. That was the online magazine contents has titles, description, teaser art and so forth for each article.
