Subject: Re: PostgreSQL website redesign
Mime-Version: 1.0 (Apple Message framework v1084)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
From: "Jonathan S. Katz" <jonathan.katz@excoventures.com>
In-Reply-To: 
 <CAA-aLv68enSnbGyeVqMPrMLp4UpWUdGmOCsf8TiUka9aPku02g@mail.gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 20 Nov 2011 12:11:50 -0500
Cc: "w^3" <pgsql-www@postgresql.org>
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Message-Id: <B58DB26E-1748-4B79-BAC3-3FCF7A545035@excoventures.com>
References: 
 <CAA-aLv68enSnbGyeVqMPrMLp4UpWUdGmOCsf8TiUka9aPku02g@mail.gmail.com>
To: Thom Brown <thom@linux.com>

Going to try answering the proposed questions:

> - what is the website's target audience?

I think this is broken down into groups:

1.  Potentials Users - people evaluating using Postgres for professional =
/ academic / personal purposes.  They need to feel there is a concise =
way to understand what Postgres is used for and why to use it, and be =
able to easily find all the details to answer their questions

2.  Ongoing Users - people who are already using Postgres and need to =
find resources to solve their problems (i.e. docs), but also can find a =
reason to be more active in the community

3.  Community - those active in the project, making sure they have easy =
access to all community resources available

> - how do we wish to be perceived? (e.g. traditional, modern, friendly,
> professional etc.)

Clean, professional, resourceful.  More professional adoption of =
Postgres =3D> more support for the community =3D> more contributions to =
the project

> - what do we hope to achieve with the website design?
> - what new opportunities does this present us with?

Even though I agree that the PG website layout is good and really it =
just needs "some paint," with a redesign there will most likely be =
layout changes because of minor tweaks.  Hopefully they can be limited, =
but if there would be any layout change I would suggest it would be the =
homepage, specifically with readability.

The easiest part to address is the font size, but that would push a lot =
of what we have already out on it of the viewing pane. But this presents =
us with an opportunity: the first paragraph should be a brief =
description about what Postgres is and why you should use it.  If you go =
to any of the NoSQL database sites, the first thing you read on them is =
what their database is, what it's features / differentiators are, and =
where to download it.  To find that info on the Postgres site, you have =
to go one-click in, and even then, the most concise description is on =
the "About" page, which in a lot of sites today, is used more for a =
historical perspective.

A clear message on the homepage on why Postgres is and why you should =
use it, coupled with the download links, info on news / events / blogs, =
would be good, and perhaps have a link to testimonials on a different =
page.  This also assumes we make the page a bit more readable, i.e. with =
a larger font all-around.

> - what usability problems do we currently have that the redesign could =
address?

I actually think the site is usable as is :-) But perhaps someone who is =
a UX expert with less familiarity with the project could give a better =
opinion on that.

Best,

Jonathan=