On a hot late summer day I sat down with the staff at NoD to talk about the future of our online design magazine. We’ve been publishing since 2006, and with a wealth of content contributed by an array of writers and editors over the years, it seemed a good time take stock of our strategic direction and our audience, and figure out the best way to put together inspirational content for creative people.
Right away we realized we had a lot of content—and given that we intend to keep publishing more we figured it was a good time to simplify our reader experience. So we surveyed our readers to better understand what they are interested in and what things we can improve. On October 3rd, we channeled all that feedback into the launch of a redesigned NoD blog.
This is the part when I introduce myself as the new Publisher of NoD. I am Patricio Sarzosa, the Creative Director at Sessions College, where I oversee the visual experience of the school. In my career I have worked in many different design contexts, ranging from newspapers, to advertising, to design studios, to in-house Web design and teaching, and I’m looking forward using my background and interests to shape the future of NoD.
Since it is NoD after all, I’d like to make some notes on the new design: We gave the new NOD a magazine look where the latest content is considered the main point of attention, made prominent with a larger image and bigger text than a normal post. The remaining posts on the homepage we presented in a grid, so you have more news using less space. Plus you are going to see a new feature, called the Popular Post. Based on readers’ comments or Likes, this widget highlights the recent posts that are in vogue.
We also simplified our navigation, limiting our main tabs to News, Views, and Inspiration to help guide you to the specific content that you are looking for. Do you want to know what is happening on the industry? Check the News. Do you want to read a great interview or opinion piece? Check Views. Or not sure what colors to use for your client’s Web site? Find some ideas in the Inspiration section.
I’m also pleased to announce that we’ve teamed up with the Graphic Artists Guild (the Guild) to bring you detailed information from the business side of the graphic arts world. The Guild’s mission is to promote and protect the economic interests of its members, to improve conditions for all creators, and to raise standards for the entire industry. They are a national artists union that embraces creators at all levels of skill and expertise, and we are happy to be able to do our part by spreading awareness of the Guild and their goals.
We’ve come a long way, but we know there is more to do and we’re looking forward to continuing to make NOD better. We appreciate your feedback and hope you enjoy it!
Cheers,
P
