Jakob Nielsen killed TemplateMonster??!

bonti · 05-24-2004, 08:49 AM

I've just visited TemplateMonster.com. I was surprised to find a totally new design there.
From the ICQ discussion with some of my friends: too patriotic (pro-American), fast loading, impact on usability.
As for me it looks nice; more corporate, get much on usability indeed; I had an impression that it's Jakob Nielsen putted into practice!!!
On the other side it is... I don't know... More dull? Dry and too business?? Or maybe it's just my nostalgia about old TM (one of my favorite sites on the net).
Is it worth to lose on design for the sake of usability??
I don't know really...
But anyway it's worth looking at!!!

adam_uk · 05-24-2004, 09:10 AM

think i prefer the old design its a good job but i think i prefer the old one

RJ · 05-24-2004, 12:28 PM

I think it looks great!

Dr.Pepper · 05-24-2004, 01:03 PM

Liked old one better.

Mr. Websites · 05-24-2004, 01:48 PM

I think the new one's better, actually..

xclusive · 05-26-2004, 10:03 PM

I think it looks much better.

Mr. Websites · 05-27-2004, 10:19 AM

There's more replies here than votes.

RJ · 05-27-2004, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr. Websites
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/website-development/31575-jakob-nielsen-killed-templatemonster.html
There's more replies here than votes.

I noticed that too, but I think it's because the poll is a loaded question -- implying that Template Monster lost out on design and not everyone would agree with that.

Spirited · 05-27-2004, 04:24 PM

I'm not that familiar with template monster so can't really say whether it is better or worse than before, but I think it looks good.

I think people forget that you can have all the bells and whistles you want, but in the end if it isn't usable then nobody - or at least fewer people - will go on it at all.

That's not to say that "useable" design has to be boring design, since being a designer is taking the practical and making it go wow! - without loosing its practicality. There is too much of Lawrence (British TV interior designer - cant spell his last names)'s attitude in website design today "I just make it look good (and that's debateable) I get other people to think about the day to day use of it" (rough quote when he was designing a kitchen and unsure of where the cooker was to go in relation to the sink and the fridge for ease of use) - Designing the kitchen to be useable is a large part of his job as a designer - otherwise the people he employs are the real designers and his job is to tell them what colour to paint it (which is really the job of the client, making him superflous.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=31575

Design (IMHO) is getting something to do it's job well and look great whilst doing it. Its not about getting something that looks great and doesn't or might not work. You have to build the useable (boring) skeleton and muscles of a site before the fun creative part of getting it to look great.

Unlike the recently banned fluffy bunny, I do believe that good looking, professionally finished, design is very important, unfortuatly there is no point in it if you don't do the ground work first. Design is both aspects.

nicholas · 05-27-2004, 05:13 PM

It is fine to me... may need a bit of getting used to (like the old one at first), but nothing overly different about it imho.

View Poll Results: Is it worth to lose on design for the sake of usability??
Yes	4	66.67%
No	1	16.67%
It depends...	1	16.67%
Voters: 6. You may not vote on this poll

05-24-2004, 08:49 AM	THREAD STARTER #1 (permalink)
bonti First Time Poster! Join Date: May 2004 Location: Ger Posts: 1	Jakob Nielsen killed TemplateMonster??! I've just visited TemplateMonster.com. I was surprised to find a totally new design there. From the ICQ discussion with some of my friends: too patriotic (pro-American), fast loading, impact on usability. As for me it looks nice; more corporate, get much on usability indeed; I had an impression that it's Jakob Nielsen putted into practice!!! On the other side it is... I don't know... More dull? Dry and too business?? Or maybe it's just my nostalgia about old TM (one of my favorite sites on the net). Is it worth to lose on design for the sake of usability?? I don't know really... But anyway it's worth looking at!!!

05-24-2004, 12:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
RJ NamePros Admin Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 12,919 Follow @DomainBuyer	I think it looks great! __________________ Reach me at rj at namepros dot com

05-27-2004, 05:13 PM	#10 (permalink)
nicholas NamePros Regular Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: The Beach Posts: 584	It is fine to me... may need a bit of getting used to (like the old one at first), but nothing overly different about it imho. __________________ Newsback.com -- Commentary and backstories of the news -----------------------------------------------

05-24-2004, 09:10 AM	#2 (permalink)
adam_uk Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 2,187	think i prefer the old design its a good job but i think i prefer the old one

05-24-2004, 01:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
Dr.Pepper Account Closed Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: USA Posts: 1,186	Liked old one better.

05-24-2004, 01:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
Mr. Websites Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Toronto Posts: 2,308	I think the new one's better, actually..

05-26-2004, 10:03 PM	#6 (permalink)
xclusive NamePros Regular Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 636	I think it looks much better.

05-27-2004, 10:19 AM	#7 (permalink)
Mr. Websites Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Toronto Posts: 2,308	There's more replies here than votes.

05-27-2004, 04:24 PM	#9 (permalink)
Spirited NamePros Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Devon, UK Posts: 76	I'm not that familiar with template monster so can't really say whether it is better or worse than before, but I think it looks good. I think people forget that you can have all the bells and whistles you want, but in the end if it isn't usable then nobody - or at least fewer people - will go on it at all. That's not to say that "useable" design has to be boring design, since being a designer is taking the practical and making it go wow! - without loosing its practicality. There is too much of Lawrence (British TV interior designer - cant spell his last names)'s attitude in website design today "I just make it look good (and that's debateable) I get other people to think about the day to day use of it" (rough quote when he was designing a kitchen and unsure of where the cooker was to go in relation to the sink and the fridge for ease of use) - Designing the kitchen to be useable is a large part of his job as a designer - otherwise the people he employs are the real designers and his job is to tell them what colour to paint it (which is really the job of the client, making him superflous. ????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=31575 Design (IMHO) is getting something to do it's job well and look great whilst doing it. Its not about getting something that looks great and doesn't or might not work. You have to build the useable (boring) skeleton and muscles of a site before the fun creative part of getting it to look great. Unlike the recently banned fluffy bunny, I do believe that good looking, professionally finished, design is very important, unfortuatly there is no point in it if you don't do the ground work first. Design is both aspects.

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