Redesigning the D&D website

[Khairn]

Chibbell, your first rant was bang on target, and this follow-up just supports its accuracy. It also looks great!

With WotC trying to become the RPG industry leader in online content and support, having such a poorly designed and performing website should be an embaressment to the company. It's sad to say, but given WotC's track-record on responding to criticism (constructive or otherwise) I wouldn't anticipate an acknowledgment any time soon.

 

[Filcher]

Freakin' awesome. I hope all the haters in the previous thread get a chance to look at this.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Firstly, looks fantastic!

Secondly, WotC web design team probably suffers from the same issue as I see daily at my place of employment. While the designers are very creative and competent and have great eyes for user experience, the sites themselves are approved by commitee made up of managerial people who have none of those skills and are too self-important to take the advice of those that do.

Hmm. Sounds familiar.

We hire a usability expert to make a usability study, and half of the concerns raised are dismised or ideas rejected, since they seem not to fit a certain "business vision". It feels a bit frustrating...

 

[Duvall]

Firstly, looks fantastic!

Secondly, WotC web design team probably suffers from the same issue as I see daily at my place of employment. While the designers are very creative and competent and have great eyes for user experience, the sites themselves are approved by commitee made up of managerial people who have none of those skills and are too self-important to take the advice of those that do.

I think we have a winner.

 

[WhatGravitas]

HWe hire a usability expert to make a usability study, and half of the concerns raised are dismised or ideas rejected, since they seem not to fit a certain "business vision". It feels a bit frustrating...

Could be worse - I've heard enough of my father's rants about guys in his office - because he's an architect, people want nice buildings, but everybody is a self-proclaimed expert (because buildings are so easy to visualise - like websites - so it's easy to get the idea that you can do it better). And to give a bit more context: Hochbauamt. Stellvertretender Abteilungsleiter. (I have no clue how to translate that into English without losing the punch these words deliver - English always sounds so slick and friendly )

Since you're also from Germany, you probably know his pain!

Cheers, LT.

 

[jimmifett]

Hmm. Sounds familiar.

We hire a usability expert to make a usability study, and half of the concerns raised are dismised or ideas rejected, since they seem not to fit a certain "business vision". It feels a bit frustrating...

Hah. We were doing a web app to replace 2 different apps and merge them. One of the user group's critical requirements was to make sure that pressing cntl+f would still be there to quickly search. I was so tempted to tell them that it was impossible to retain that functionality...

Ah well, it was an easy thing to check off as done. The number of times in conference calls that was brought up to make sure it was there though x_x

 

[Aluvial]

I also like the redesign you have done... BUT,

I like being able to get to everything off of one screen sized page...

Otherwise, why haven't you applied?

 

[Torchlyte]

Nice design. I think an archive link directly under the news header would make it easier for frequent users to access old content. Other than that, looks great.

Hah. We were doing a web app to replace 2 different apps and merge them. One of the user group's critical requirements was to make sure that pressing cntl+f would still be there to quickly search. I was so tempted to tell them that it was impossible to retain that functionality...

Ah well, it was an easy thing to check off as done. The number of times in conference calls that was brought up to make sure it was there though x_x

This is hilarious.

 

[PeterWeller]

I was nonplussed by the pod-cast, but your website redesign looks great. I am now inclined to agree with and support you.

 

[SuperJosh]

Just thought I would let you guys know that one of the WotC web designers commented on Chibbs redesign in the Dragonavenue.com article.

http://www.dragonavenue.com/dnd/post/redesigning_the_dungeons_and_dragon_website/#comments-header