RE: Suggested tweaks to dita.xml.org site layout

["Carol Geyer" <carol.geyer@oasis-open.org>]

Su-Laine,
I like your abbreviated Welcome message very much. It was a simple change, so I
just made it (although I added "to this site" at the end; it seemed like we
were asking people to contribute content to DITA instead of DITA XML.org
otherwise).

Shrinking and realigning the logo and byline is more work and impacts other
Focus Areas. Some of them, such as OpenDocument XML.org, wouldn't have room for
the logo and tagline side-by-side. I'd like to maintain a common look-and-feel
across all the Focus Areas, unless there's a really strong reason for changing
one. 

We could move ABOUT THIS SITE into the vertical nav and move the logo/tagline
up. That would require a theme change, but if you think it's worth it, I'll get
our IT guys to sort it out.

Do the node headlines seem too heavy to you or is it just me?

Carol



-----Original Message-----
From: Su-Laine Yeo [mailto:su-laine.yeo@justsystems.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, July 09, 2008 11:28 PM
To: Carol Geyer
Cc: DITA Editorial Board
Subject: Suggested tweaks to dita.xml.org site layout

Hi Carol,

 

I've attached a mockup, created in Photoshop, of some proposed changes to the
site chrome and main page. The changes are:

1) Shrink and realign the main logo and byline, so that they take up less
space. I can make a new focusareas_logo.jpg file.

2) Edit the Welcome message so it takes up less space. 

 

I would expect these changes to be pretty straightforward to implement, and
they would make the site more information-dense. 

 

Current version of welcome message:


"Welcome to DITA XML.org <http://dita.xml.org> .


This is the official community gathering place and information resource for the
DITA OASIS Standard <http://dita.xml.org/standard> . DITA builds content reuse
into the authoring process, defining an XML architecture for designing,
writing, managing, and publishing many kinds of information in print and on the
Web. 

The standard is advanced through an open process by the OASIS DITA Technical
Committee <http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/tc_home.php?wg_abbrev=dita> , a
group that encourages new participation from developers and users. This is a
community-driven site, and the public is encouraged to contribute content.
<http://dita.xml.org/contribute-content> "

Proposed welcome message:

"Dita.xml.org is the official community gathering place and information
resource for the DITA OASIS Standard <http://dita.xml.org/standard> , an XML
architecture for designing, writing, managing, and publishing information. We
encourage you to contribute content. <http://dita.xml.org/contribute-content> "

The rest of the information from the current welcome message is in the page on
the DITA OASIS Standard (or can easily be put there) which is only one click
away.

 

What do you think?

 

Su-Laine

 

Su-Laine Yeo
Interaction Design Specialist 



JustSystems Canada, Inc.
Office: 778-327-6356 
syeo@justsystems.com

http://na.justsystems.com <http://www.xmetal.com>