[WikiEN-l] Fwd: [Foundation-l] Do you want to write pages that thousands of people see every day?

[FT2]

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/Testing_content/Landing_page/mod2

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
18640<https://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