Web Site Makeover or Total Overhaul? Lessons Learned From a Kitchen Remodel.

 Recently a friend asked me, "How do you know if your company's web site needs a visual design refresh opposed to a full redesign?" Because we both spend a lot of time cooking, I talked to him about the decisions he made during his kitchen remodel process and how they may apply to his web site as well.

Why are you considering a remodel?
Believe it or not, determining if you need a web site redesign or face-lift is very similar to investing in a home improvement project. It all starts with a solid understanding of the aspects of your kitchen that don't meet your needs and what type of budget you have for the project. Some reasons you may be considering a kitchen remodel:

Is your family expanding? Have you suddenly found yourself doing a lot more cooking? Did you compromise on the kitchen when you bought the house? Are you constantly misplacing your utensils, pots, bowls because you do not have enough storage? Do you suddenly have the budget for the kitchen of your dreams? Did one of your appliances die? Are you generally happy with your kitchen but feel it looks dated?

Similarly, when considering a web site redesign or refresh you are probably prompted by similar changes in your needs:

Are you suddenly producing more content? Is your current site a starter site? Do you or your users have a hard time finding information on your web site? Have you been recently provided additional funding for your web site? Does the site continue to support your goals but feels dated?

It's Time for a Change, Now What?

Once you've identified that there is an issue with your kitchen / web, you have options on how you plan address them:

1. reface your cabinets
2. full remodel
3. upgrade your appliances.

Cabinet Re-facing
You do not require a bigger kitchen. You find everything you need with ease. The cabinets just look out of date. You're a good candidate for cabinet re-facing. The same principles can be applied to your web site. If your goals are being met and you are happy with the general structure of the site (content organization and layout); you're probably a good candidate for a refresh.

The Remodel
Do you have a structural problem that prevents you from finding your tools? Is your kitchen just too small and you need more room? Do want more appliances (bigger fridge, a wine cooler, etc). More room, more cabinets, better organization, new appliances all suggest that you are looking at a remodel if you have the budget.

Similarly, if your web site is making it hard for users to find information or you want to add large pieces of functionality that were not previously accounted for; it's probably time for a redesign.

Upgrading Appliances
How I long for a nice Subzero stainless steel refrigerator with side-by-side doors. While I am dreaming, why don't we add a Wolf or Viking oven and range to the wish list? Appliances are expensive! People usually only replace them when 1) the old ones break, 2) they are investing in a larger remodel.

On the Web; however, people add new appliances (widgets, tools, functionality) to their site all the time. This is usually where the trouble starts and before too long you have that Subzero refrigerator, two avocado 1970's ovens opposite each other, a fantastic wine cooler and disposal held together by duct tape. Not to mention your previously organized recipe collection is now in four or five places -- one of which is not even in your kitchen!

Why we Refreshed forumone.com in early 2009
Our last redesign of forumone.com was in 2006 and the site was built on a custom CMS (syntaxCMS). By 2009, the visual design felt very dated and we were missing a few key pieces of content on the homepage. Over the last few years we have been attending and hosting more events and we wanted to feature them on the homepage. We have also created a strong following on several social networking sites and wanted to provide links to those communities from our homepage to encourage more conversation with our core audiences. The primary reasons that we went for a refresh over a redesign:

1. Goals / Objectives: The homepage no longer supported our expanding goals and objectives and we needed to address them in a timely manner.
2. Timing: We did not have design or development resources available to address a full redesign
3. Visual Design: The visual design felt dated and we wanted something that was more representative of the caliber of work we provide our clients.

If we just refreshed, then why are there rumors of a redesign?
It's true . We are redesigning Forum One's web site and we are excited to be able to share the new design with you soon. The existing technical platform, information architecture and visual design do not support all of our objectives for the new site.

1. Technical Platform: We used to (and sometimes still do) develop our sites on SyntaxCMS. Most of current client work is now developed on open-source platforms; most notably Drupal or Wordpress. We felt it was very important that our company web site demonstrate our abilities with these technologies.
2. Information Architecture: There are significant tweaks to page layout, interactive behaviors, and to some site sections that will help users more quickly access content related to their needs.
3. Visual Design: We really want the visual design of this site to showcase our capabilities in both coordinating a strong design and implementing that design through CSS, HTML and Javascript.

Stay tuned to our blogs to learn more about the upcoming redesign of forumone.com