Re: Website Redesign

To: <aisdiscuss@aisboard.org>
Subject: Re: Website Redesign
From: "Deatons" <deatons@earthlink.net>
Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:55:29 -0700
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Bob,
I've been growing irises for more years than I care to remember, but in many
ways, I COULD CARE LESS ABOUT THEIR CLASSIFICATIONS!  I just know what
catches my eye and that I want to grow it in my garden.  In many ways, the
people we want to attract to AIS feel the same way.  Yes, they need to know
what will or won't grow in their areas, what they need to do to make the
iris thrive in their gardens, what societies may be near their home, people
to contact, etc.  We do need a place for classifications, but like Brad
says, we need to catch them first with the pertinent information that will
make them want to become AIS members.  Later on we can educate them on
classifications.
Cheryl Deaton
----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Pries" <robertpries@embarqmail.com>
To: <aisdiscuss@aisboard.org>
Sent: Monday, August 25, 2008 1:32 PM
Subject: Re: [AISdiscuss] Website Redesign


> John has requested content. I will be more than happy to create new
content in
> the area of Iris classification. I can not find what used to be on the
website
> about Iris classification. Perhaps that is just as well since what had
been
> there was written by Tom Tadfor Little probably back in the 1960bs. It
was a
> log essay on the different horticultural classifications of Iris. Johnbs
> request for content sounds like he is just looking for an update of this
> article. I would suggest a different non-linear approach.
>
>  People coming to the Iris Society often are looking for the different
kinds
> of Iris. I would present them with an initial outline overview of the ten
> horticultural classes and then at each class I would provide a link to a
page
> defining more precisely each class. I would call this page for discussion
page
> two. Page one, the overview, would contain a brief explanation of the
> horticultural classes and would have a representative thumbnail picture of
> each class. From page one could select the type of Iris one was most
> interested in and go to page two for that group. Page two would have a
more
> detailed description of a single class with several representative
pictures.
> As you can see If one were to write content for the more tradition single
> article it would be very different then content for a sub-group of pages.
This
> is why I have been saying that content creates web design.
>
> When one adds the fact that there are two classification systems involving
> Iris (botanical and horticultural) and that each horticultural class
receives
> awards (another group of pages) then one can see that a good web design
can
> actually make complex subjects simple, or at least, let the viewer select
> their own information pathway. I believe a group of properly linked pages
good
> provide a resource that is filled with pictures, a delight to the eye, yet
> very informative. I would be willing to work on such a complex of pages,
but
> would find simply writing an essay rather dull.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "John I Jones" <jijones@usjoneses.com>
> To: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org
> Sent: Sunday, August 24, 2008 5:08:50 PM (GMT-0500) America/New_York
> Subject: Re: [AISdiscuss] Website Redesign
>
> The analogy is not an issue of which animal is best fitted for the
> desert, but rather the challenge of getting   to your target.  It is
> a well used analogy.  Sniping has no place here.
>
> I have asked for some example websites from Kathy.  I am sure you all
> have experience with various vendors that you would trust to do the
> same work for you again. I have known and worked with Kathy for over
> 15 years. She is an excellent designer. I feel confident enough in
> her to get started down the road with her. If for some reason it
> appears she is not right for the job, we can back off.
>
> Bob is right, a designer will give you what you ask for. The trick is
> to know what to ask for and ask for it in a way that allows the
> designer the flexibility to use knowledge and experience that we lack
> to give us the best product. Oftimes the most difficult part of all
> this is getting past our own egos (mine included) and letting others
> show us the way.
>
> You want to have impact on the site, fill in the worksheet and
> comment on what I have said below and in other posts. Spend some time
> thinking about this now. Three months from now is no good.
>
>
> We need a multi-purpose website. In priority order the criteria are:
>
> 1. Be welcoming to new users seeking information on how to grow,
> cultivate, use irises in the garden and in the home. Get their
> interest and keep them moving around the site.
>
> 2. Encouraging new visitors to join the society
>
> 3. Provide useful information to existing members
>
> 4. Provide administrative users with the information they need.
>
>
> We have a lot of information that fills uses 3 and 4. Navigation
> needs to be better
>
> What we need is content for 1 and 2.
>
> So if you have ideas for content, let us know what your idea is,
> outline what you propose for the content and get the content
> produced. Content is not going to come from Chris and me. It has to
> come from others. It has to be thought out, and constructed. Let's
> get some new material and not just reuse the old tired stuff. YES
> THIS IS A BIG JOB AND YOU (ALL OF YOU) NEED TO STEP UP.
>
> John
>
>
>
> On Aug 24, 2008, at 1:11 PM, Robert Pries wrote:
>
> > With regards to camels, they are much more effective than horses
> > for the long haul in the desert. Horse are inclined to quit on you.
> > No one person can anticipate the needs of a diverse society such as
> > AIS. Frankly I am not impressed by surveys I much prefer the give
> > and take of discussion. Much of what John has said I agree with
> > fully but I would love to see some examples of the web designers
> > work. I would value what some of the younger members of our group
> > would think of the designs. As I tried to explain before it is not
> > just the web design but the content and goal you are trying to
> > reach. the web-designer will give you whatever you ask for.
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "John I Jones" <jijones@usjoneses.com>
> > To: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org
> > Sent: Sunday, August 24, 2008 3:48:28 PM (GMT-0500) America/New_York
> > Subject: Re: [AISdiscuss] Website Redesign
> >
> > Over the past year numbers of people have responded to my question
> > about what the website should convey to the viewer.
> >
> > I have all that. There is a worksheet that I have posted at
> > aisboard.org that any of you that are interested may fill out and
> > return to me. I need them quickly.
> >
> > The process will be iterative with concepts being presented and
> > commented on before proceeding to a final design and implementation.
> > I will listen to everyone's comments. As you might imagine not all
> > comments will be compatible with each other.
> >
> > The majority of the content on our website will not change. It can't,
> > we need to have it. Certainly we will need some additional content.
> >
> > Bob said: "Our present website is very good in sevral ways. It
> > provides a structure that allows for our corporate entitity to
> > function very well. It is like a yellow pages for all the information
> > that a director or member needs to intereact with our administrative
> > structure. Our future website should be able to perform in this way
> > also.
> >
> > The problem is in what our website conveys to new prospective
> > members. They are not interestested in when we were encorporated
> > (sic) or what our prganizational (sic) structure is. A prospective
> > member wants information about Irises and ideas on how they might
> > enjoy growing them. The organizational structure may be become
> > important later if they are excited to join.
> >
> > People are generally enthused by pictures and opening pages should
> > empahasize benefits of belomging but at the same time entriquing the
> > viewer with the flowers and te plants.
> >
> > When people come to the site they should be greeted with a warm
> > friendly opening and a clear menu that wil give them several options
> > that appeal to teir interests. There should be a committee formed to
> > create an outline of topics and the content created fo these topics.
> > It is possible to advertise along one side of our webpage other areas
> > that may interest the initial viewer getting them more envolved
> > (sic)."
> >
> > I agree with all of that and have, and will continue to, communicate
> > those sorts of input to the designer.
> >
> >
> > Let me be clear about a couple of things:
> >
> > 1. We need a professional designer who is up-to-date on the latest
> > issues on webdesign, navigation and communication.
> >
> > 2.  Organization and ease of navigation for all aspects of the
> > website are key.
> >
> > 3. The first impression of the site should be keyed to irisarians and
> > prospective irisarians, not administrative and business users.
> >
> > 4. The most common thread I have seen from all the responses on the
> > website redesign has been how much people liked the daylilly home
> > page which displays a different picture (from a fixed library) every
> > time you reload the webpage. I intend to do something similar but
> > without using so much of the page space so that we can have more
> > graphic and informative choices instead of, for instance, the long
> > list of hard to read links that appear on the daylily page.
> >
> > Lastly, I have been tasked by the Board to manage and implement a
> > website redesign. I will continue to elicit comments and present
> > ideas/samples but, final decisions rest with me, not with a committee
> > unless you want a camel instead of a horse. If this is not the
> > perspective of the Board, please let me know now and I will gladly
> > hand the project off to someone else.
> >
> > John
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Aug 24, 2008, at 11:30 AM, Robert Pries wrote:
> >
> >> I am unclear as to what a designer would do and would we like the
> >> result. It seems to me that before paying for a redesign we would
> >> want to know what it entailed. This is sort of a which cmes first
> >> the chicken or the egg. I think it generally has to work in tandem.
> >> I certainly would like input on any ideas as so as to ensure they
> >> are sound marketing of our product. I would like to see sample of
> >> what the designer has done before. I am certain this shows some
> >> coceipt on my part but I think I could put together a design I just
> >> could not implement it. As PR chair I really think I should nbe imn
> >> contact with th designer. To me a design is content driven not the
> >> content driven by the design.
> >>
> >>
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: "John I Jones" <jijones@usjoneses.com>
> >> To: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org
> >> Sent: Saturday, August 23, 2008 2:39:41 PM (GMT-0500) America/
> >> New_York
> >> Subject: [AISdiscuss] Website Redesign
> >>
> >> I finally been able to get some time from a designer I have used
> >> before and am in the process of contracting for a redesign on the
> >> website.
> >>
> >> I will keep you all appraised of the progress.
> >>
> >> John
> >>
> >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
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> >> <aissecretary@irises.org>
> >> The archives for AISDiscuss are at:
> >> http://www.aisboard.org/lists/aisdiscuss/
> >>
> >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> >> To sign-off this list, send email to the AIS Secretary
> >> <aissecretary@irises.org>
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> >> http://www.aisboard.org/lists/aisdiscuss/
> >
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> > To sign-off this list, send email to the AIS Secretary
> > <aissecretary@irises.org>
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> > http://www.aisboard.org/lists/aisdiscuss/
> >
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> > To sign-off this list, send email to the AIS Secretary
> > <aissecretary@irises.org>
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> > http://www.aisboard.org/lists/aisdiscuss/
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
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>
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References:
- Re: Website Redesign
  - From: Robert Pries <robertpries@embarqmail.com>
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