on the richmond.com redesign, again
December 1, 2007 - 08:17
richmond.com, the self-styled (and all 1998-style) “the official Online City Portal” and home of the award-winning RBlog, has sprung for a redesign (sort of). The same mass of links line the left side of the page, and tacky ad-space still dominate the layout. The *new* is that you now have to scroll *more* to get to the content. It is almost like they would just serve advertisements and links if the could get away with it…
Seriously. What’s up with R.com? You’d think (1) the “official website” of Richmond might actually attempt good web design (when bloggers are already doing a better job) and (2) cover content that applies to things Richmonders are interested in rather than personal ramblings from the staff. How on earth is an editorial assistant’s advice on what to do with leftover turkey relevant to anything? I feel like this site has been going downhill daily. Even all the good writers have left. Sad because it has a lot of potential if the people running it would get their acts together.
Jeez. 2002 called and they want their template back.
I wonder if they’ve updated the backend behind the site. It looks like what happens when people switch software and quickly upgrade their new front end to try and match the old front end.
It certainly doesn’t look like a fully thought out redesign to me.
Is this re-design spurred by increased competition (aka RVANews)?
I personally like the new design of richmond.com. I think it gives the viewer more white space and is easier to read and navigate. In response to the turkey leftovers, has anyone ever thought the point of Top 5 is supposed to humorous? The thought of someone hanging turkey from their arms actually makes me laugh out loud.
Way to go richmond.com! I’ll still be checking your site everyday.
should media cover competitive outlets? no opinion being expressed… just throwing it out there.
also, just noticed that “museum” is spelled wrong on the right side there… would richmond.com do that?? ;)
“In response to the turkey leftovers, has anyone ever thought the point of Top 5 is supposed to humorous?”
Well, one’s definition of humor here is completely subjective. While some may “laugh out loud,” others may see it as asinine. Currently, the Top 5 is just the personal ramblings of the staff each week. I don’t look to Richmond.com to tell me what the staff has been doing/thinking. I look to Richmond.com to tell me what Richmond has been doing/thinking. Why not do a Top 5 poll or email write-in?
But on to more important topics: grammar and spelling.
“also, just noticed that “museum” is spelled wrong on the right side there… would richmond.com do that?? ;)”
Um, have you ever read some of the articles on Richmond.com? They use a ton of freelancers, and it seems the editorial staff can’t even run spell check before posting those articles for the world to see. I’m sorry, but I don’t think 1 North Belmont serves “salmon mouse.” Sounds yummy. Seriously, just a little quality control is all we’re asking. It makes Richmond look stupid.
I certainly don’t see a spelling error.
j/k thanks for the tip, ass.