Any change, even one for the better, comes with a certain amount of discomfort. So, you may not like the newly redesigned Circus Magic website, but, I suspect you will.
Why Fix What Isn’t Broken?
So why would I engage in such a massive project, especially since the current design functioned well? Since implementing the previous design, the web has morphed. New methods and techniques are available that will give you a better experience when visiting Circus Magic.
The previous Circus Magic design developed and morphed over a number of years. As the site grew, roadblocks in the design prevented me from implementing some of the features I thought readers would enjoy.
Finally, I like web design and tinkering behind the scenes and the redesign certainly scratched that itch.
What was the Game Plan?
Probably the most dramatic change longtime readers will notice is that all of the information about the Circus Magic convention has it’s own site. This enabled a more structured approach to providing articles, tips and new at CircusMagic.com. Luckily, you can reach the convention site from a link right on main menu.
Of course this wasn’t the only change. I also wanted to improve the site by:
- Maintaining the overall look of the site using the current color scheme and logo.
- Making it easier to find useful content.
- Bringing back and highlighting classic content that was buried deeply in the old site.
- Simplifying the look of the site in order to give readers a better visual experience.
What Are My Favorite Changes?
My favorite features by far all relate to helping users find useful content on the site. The search box is available at the top of every page and behind the scenes, the search process works much better.
The world hates change, yet it is the only thing that has brought progress. – Charles Kettering
The sidebar helps readers easily find recent, classic, and popular articles. The category bar helps folks find all the posts that apply to their particular interests, and the breadcrumbs below the bar help you navigate through the site effectively and a redesigned archive page presents all of the material on the site in an organized way.
Another favorite feature of mine is having the ability to introduce some of the classic content over time. It will be fun updating and introducing the material anew.
Finally, the backbone of the site is the thesis theme. Thesis allows me to implement changes more easily and concentrate on bringing you the information you want.
So, How Did I Do?
Of course the site isn’t finished, there are a number of tweaks and features to finish up the re-launch. And… I still have a few surprises up my sleeve that I will be implementing over the coming year.
Let me know what you think. What do you like, and what do you think still need work? Are there other features you would like to see. Let me know in the comments below.
About LouPage
Lou started his career working his way through college as a magician and clown. Somewhere along the way he managed to become a school principal! Along with Steve Kissell, Lou co-founded the Circus Magic Convention. Lou is the webmaster at CircusMagic.com, a site dedicated to helping clowns, magicians, face painters, and other family entertainers improve their performing skills.
Contact Lou at: lou@circusmagic.com or Visit Lou's Website
