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The Thinking Blog Re-Designed!
As I mentioned before, design for me is an ongoing process. There were two things about The Thinking Blog I had in my "To Do" list. First thing was the logo. It was simply not clear enough. Second thing was the code. Somethings were not loading fast enough but the small amount of tweaking needed turned out to a huge revision nightmare. That is the reason why it took me longer to clean up the code than I anticipated. So, what's new?1. Logo: I had some
(The resolution is high enough to be used as a 1024x768 sized wallpaper)
Finally, there was light and The Thinking Blog now has a new identity along with a new tagline: Power Your Brain!
2. Pages: Many suggested that it wasn't too easy to find a way to contact me via email or that I didn't have an about page for the new visitors to look at and find out what the fudge this thing is all about. As you can see from the top navigation bar, there are four new pages added to the site. They are:
- Popular is where you can find the most popular posts (updated monthly) according to the number of comments,
- Endorse is where you can give back a little for the time and effort I’ve put into this site,
- About is where you can find more about The Thinking Blog and what's it about,
- Contact is where you could reach me for tips, bugs, ads and anything else.
3. Code: The majority of the work done in this end was to create a faster page load time. This required eliminating unnecessary scripts, widgets and other items that were unlikely to be used as well as compressing the graphics of the design. Over the past months I have gathered quite some experience with what works and what doesn’t. Here is the comparison of file sizes that are loaded with the old design and the new one:
- Scripts - OLD: 149Kb, NEW: 12Kb, Difference: 137Kb.
- Images - OLD: 111Kb, NEW: 21Kb, Difference: 90Kb.
- Codes - OLD: 44Kb, NEW: 42Kb, Difference: 2Kb.
The template works for almost all resolutions including the rare 800x600! I also wanted to improve compatibility with the different types of internet browsers out there. As far as I'm currently aware of, these are the browsers that are now compatible:
- Mozilla Firefox
- Internet Explorer 5.5, 6 and 7
- Opera
Last but not least, I would like to thank all my friends who provided feedback: Aysun, Pearl, AgentSully, Justin, Kurt, Bob, Liz, Ahmed, Francesco, Jeremy, Efendi, Michael, Benedikt, Phil, Brian, Brohans, Susan, Shankar, Kiltak, Jihan, Halil and Wayne Smallman from Octane Interactive.
Oh and I almost forgot to mention another good news: I'm back at delivering your daily dose of
66 thoughts:
Arrrr.. after days of trying to fix the code jungle I still couldn't get the "Random" button in the top navigation bar!!
I still have the old one in the bottom of the sidebar if anyone is interested in using it but I have contacted the author of the hack to see what we can do about it.
P.S. All the hacks used in this Blogger template will come in an organized post soon. I didn't forget about you guys ;)
I love the new look! I had no idea it was undergoing a change. But, I guess I got out of loop of things since I'm working a full-time job during the week and another part-time on the weekends lol. Anyways, the site look great, it easier to read, loads a lot quicker, and the new logo is awesome...it reminds you that you're at "The Thinking Blog", I love it.
Ilker, Yes the new logo is quite impressive. Very clean, very clear communication. Looks like you have landed on a good direction for the blogs development. This new look has a lot of flexibility to it. I think the sharp logo could be the driving force for revs in the future. Nice job.
Yes, I too am going through a redesign, except mine was forced on me and I am no "code expert". Maybe I should hire you (laugh).
Catherine, the redhead
Well done! The design is cleaner and the site is easier to navigate.
This looks awesome ilker... the logo(s) and the colors .. everythings looking just great... very clean and fresh!
Thanks everyone! I'd love to hear your comments about my new pages and how to improve them as well.
Also looking forward to hear from Level 21 "code experts".. I'm still a n00b at coding actually =)
i love the new design! easy on the eye yet eye catching and navigations are easy to me. keep it up! =D
Definitely worth the wait Ilker! It took me a moment to adjust to the switch from right to left of the sidebar, but much cleaner and easier to browse....thank you!
I really like the new logo. It clearly defines what the blog is all about. The pages was a great idea as well.
Great job :)
I like new design.
I think new logo is very cool!
I LIKE!!!
The powered lightbulb is great! I like the new look, Ilker. But, I must confess I really liked your thinking alien, too...Guess I'm a bit biased (being The Alien Next Door)...:)
ilker, well done ! i like the new image and template, best wishes for the new blog.
Norman Roberts
webmaster
INNINGS+NSR+GAMES ADDICT
Great redesign. The new look is awesome!
I am about to do the same to my blog.
I do like the bulb, it's very detailed.
We thrashed around for a while with the fork + brain idea, but the timing was terrible, so that idea couldn't really be pursued.
Happy to see it all worked out in the end!
Really neat - love the logo - wish I was savvy enough with programming etc to attempt something like this.
congrats
RR
Nice logo - BTW: some years ago, when a friend of mine designed a logo for a working group called "no-ideas", he made a broken light bulb. I found it very smart !
To be honest, I'm sort of on the fence for the new design of the entire blog. I sort of liked the design from before. I do think there is some definite cuteness to the new logo though.
Nice clean up Ilker! Your suppoerting pages are looking tight as well! Good focus of information.
This new look is great!
I like this new design.
Best Wishes to you, Ilker!
Thanks for the mention, Ilker.
Great work... the template "live" is even better than the demo site :)
and it's really faster than the previous one.
but I have a couple of things I would change in the comments section: bigger fonts for comments, and a more visible "post a comment" link. :)
At your service. Bigger fonts for comments and a more visible "post a comment" link, done!
It's simple clean and deviant. I like it. However, the sidebar fonts are quite hard to read. Especially the "visited" links (too dark)
Made the sidebar text larger and visited links a bit lighter. Is it better now?
On the random post link problem, you got two different versions of the link/scripts you are trying to use, one is stepping on the other's toes.
In your sidebar, delete just that code, and then I believe the one in the header should work. If you want one in the sidebar as well, create the link with the same code as you are using in the top header. They both should work then, I think.
finally ^^ the logo is nice :D
i better be off thinking my own logo too :P
nice to see it up and running here ;)
Thanks Phydeaux3. The "Random" button on top navigation finally works!! =)
Well, Ilker for those of us that are technologically challenged...I'd say great job!
Since my computers just crashed when I downloaded the new version of Firefox....you never ever want suggestions from me my friend!
Very well done Ilker. Great job.
Ilker,
maybe create a second 'leave a comment' link at the top of the comments...also make it more noticeable please.
another idea...maybe alter the Stumble button at the bottom of the post so it doesn't jiggle the entire comment column.
otherwise this rocks 100%...how much do you charge to do up widgetslab.com
I like the layout, it is clean, and my colour too! Congrats! to you llker! Good work!
Nice re-design. I can't understad why you're still using Blogger though!
@Derek: No second leave a comment link for you. Work those fingers and scroll down! =)
Stumble button at the bottom of the post is fixed to prevent jiggling. Clear your cache and reload the site.
You can contact me from this address for graphic design work.
@Malin: Hopefully, next re-design I will be switching over to Wordpress.
You rock with your new design and it is simply superb. We love it but again you're still with Blogger and comment form sucks :-(
The new design really looks good :)
This post has been removed by the author.
@Benedict: Something about the comment form will be done for easier thought-sharing. I'm looking at how to implement a hack without slowing down loading time.
Ahhhhh...loving the new look and logo....makes me think more ;)
GREAT WORK!!!
Life Samadhi Avatari The New Christ
Hi Ilker,
Thanks for submitting the story to Digg about my blog commenting system. We don't currently support Blogger, but when we do would you be interested in trying our system out? I looks like you get quite of bit of comments as it is. With Intense Debate Comments, your users can connect better and enjoy a better commenting experience. email me at josh at intensedebate dot com if you are interested. thx again.
I like this new look of yours, Ilker. It's stylish and delightfully coordinated with 'easy on the eyes' in mind. Then again, I'll also admit that I'm kinda partial and that's ok too.
Great going kiddo. As long as you're happy, I'm absolutely thrilled!
*Hugs*
Ilker,
Excellent. Thanks for letting me participate! I so like the results.
Liz
I really like the look I have been thinking about tweaking my own blog just dont have the time. But again yours is fantastic!
I like the last design...but this one is better..so plain yet it rock plus the curiosity with the cat awesome. Love the new logo
cheers Kabayan!
hello ilker!
the new design is clear and simple. liked it :) good job there.
@E Akino: Thanks.. but the cat is an advertisement (for another site). I designed the ad so that it looks nice as well! Cool, huh? =)
WOW!! so cool!!
i have been longing to visit your site so desperately from past 3 months. i don;t know what's wrong with blogger or your site in Mainland China, I couldn't browse your site, nor update my blog.
am here in Hong Kong and now it feels good to see your brand new site ... ah pretty good job!
keep it up
and make me thinking on & on
Ilker,
Thanks for making me happy with the bigger fonts and the comment link! :D
now it really rocks! :D
Love the new look, Ilker. Now your blog rocks even more.
I love the new look of your site! I have to say that I really liked your old one too, as they are both way better than anything I could do. I do think you have improved it with this new layout though, and I love the logo!
I'd picked up on the change as well, with your avatar on MyBlogLog changing too.
You're right on the page load. Much quicker. Site's easier to navigate, without being too much a novelty.
Good job, Ilker!
hi, i love your new logo. It's perfect for your thinking blog and the tagline 'power your brain' is cool!
The Blog more is organized and clean. Taste of this! Soon expressive is sufficient. The changes had been for better, congratulations!
Ilker - love the new design. I loved the old design too, but this one is very clean looking. Thanks for seeking out my opinion and for mentioning me.
Best regards,
Sully
Very nice. I like the clean look and especially the new logo. I think it expresses your intention very well.
It's so beautiful now. Acqua is one of my favorite colors.
It's You who's got to like it.
Thanks Tina. I like it a lot!
Actually, there is a little Turquoise color in it as well. It's based on the gem turquoise =)
Highly prefer your currennt look. A lot more polished and professional. Easy on the eyes also. Sent you an e-mail check on it.
Looks great. Very professional.
It's cool man!
But if the background white color is changed into light blue or light yellow I think it will be better. You can try it. :)
Looks good, Ilker.
I as here the other day and thought I was in the wrong place for a minute...haha
The redesign is great, love the new header and the logo is superb. It carries your message and your style, works really well with your template.
Cool off to sniff around a bit.
Glad your back.
I must say .. it's almost ingenius to have an Advertisement graphic as the actual header - where everybody clicks to get back to the home/start page.
Is it term? or CPC? // Anyway, miss the logo, like the new look regardless ..
HART aka PetLvr
It was certainly interesting for me to read that article. Thanks for it. I like such themes and anything connected to them. I would like to read a bit more soon.
It is extremely interesting for me to read that post. Thanks for it. I like such topics and everything that is connected to them. BTW, why don't you change design :).
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