I'm not usually one for graphic design, so this could probably do with improving and relevant links adding.
I've added a version that could be helpful at http://outreach.wikimedia.org/wiki/Account_Creation_Improvement_Project/Test...
What I'm hoping to address are:
1. Layouts "original version" and "redesign" are too close to "wall of text" for many newcomers. Even though they are simple short bullet lists with icons, I'm concerned they'll skip it. A better layout and a few brief bullets may do better and also be more informative.
2. The audience is people who want to get involved, so an overview they can come back to might be helpful. I have assumed this page is linked from the toolkit so they can always find it.
3. It might be better to have a link for "editing", and save the mention of policies there. At the start a user needs to know the basics, that some stuff will be ok and some won't, and "click here to find out which". Then they are reading it *by choice* and it'll probably be more "sticky" as a result.
Words like "policies" may tend to overwhelm or frighten many of those we want to engage.
4. The section for "readers" also includes* "Reading, or want to make improvements and corrections?" *The *unstated thought *is that a reader will also be someone who might want to make a small correction. Gut feel says that a major route is readers who are then tempted to make their first correction, or who need to know they *can *think of it. I'd like to see the effect of including "making a small improvement or correction" *as part of info for end-users*, not just keeping it separate.
Not technically accurate but may be effective this way, as "editing" could be felt as overwhelming (initially) where "make a small correction" may be perceived as empowering. Many people may think "someone should fix that" and despite all our pages, not fully realize the "someone" is allowed to be *them*.
5. *I have not put links in yet.* I would not make individual words, lines, or sentences a link. Link proliferation is a distraction, we found that out in the record 2010 fundraiser. Make each section (except the last) to be *one* link clickable anywhere. Unfortunately (bug 18640https://bugzilla.wikimedia.org/show_bug.cgi?id=18460) the <a href...> html tag can't be used yet in markup, otherwise I'd make the entirety of each cell a single link to some (short) relevant subpage.
I'd actually like it done via a popup, that appears when you click a cell for information. That's more classy and suited to the richer interface of other modern websites, but outside my skills. Anyone else know where I can find a basic "click this and get a dismissible popup" DIV class? :)
6. Should contain something interesting and engaging too :)
Feedback and any design-related questions welcomed! Not sure where to link this from/to though.
FT2