[Bf-webcontent] blender.org upgrade - Design

[Tom M]

You guys might want to have a look at some of our competitors sites

http://pixologic.com/
http://www.luxology.com/
http://3d-coat.com/

are the 3 best in my view.

Doing a comparison, the first thing that comes to mind, is that our
landing page is a bunch of text.  Each of our competitors, text takes
a minor role.

The second thing that comes to mind is that pixologic, luxology, and
3dcoat sites all fit on my netbook screen just fine (1024x576).  Will
the Blender site design be viewable on non huge screens?

Next thought is that I've no idea what you want me to do, where you
want to lead me.  The only thing that draws my attention is the 'Your
Own 3D Software', but there is nothing to do there.  So next my mind
wanders to the download button, but I've not yet been given a reason
to want to download blender.  Then my mind sees a bunch of text and my
eyes kinda glaze over.

Luxologys site is excellent in that they tell me exactly what they
want me to to.  I have three appealing options 'Take the Tour', to
'Try' or to 'Buy'.

Now lets visit the download page of each site.

http://pixologic.com/zbrush/downloadcenter/
http://www.luxology.com/trymodo/
http://3d-coat.com/download/login/

Modos is by far the best, it tells me what I'm getting, and why I want
to get it.

For Blenders download page I'm not really sure what I'm getting or why
I should get it.

The plus for Blender is that I don't have to sign up for anything,
whereas for luxology and 3dcoat they want your email first.

For Blender another point is I have a confusing array of options - I
have 6 possible links to download from - what do they mean?  If I
download from USA will that mean it defaults to english?  What is an
NL1 and NL2?  Also why is it telling me it has technomumbo jumbo - it
has a 'python 3.3 and ffmpeg', why is it telling me this?  Where am I
supposed to download a 'glibc 2.11' how to I know if I have one?

The point is that we are providing the user with an overload of
technical knowledge which isn't necessary.  If they don't meet the
requirements - blender should just pop up a message on startup that a
requirement needs to be installed.  For a non technical expert our
download page is quite scary and has huge unknowns.

For the download link if we really want the user to pick which country
to download from - I'd do a 'click on the download link' then a popup
that they select which country - and with an explanation that it only
changes (slightly) how fast the file downloads, not what language.

Hope you find this feedback useful,

LetterRip




On Mon, Jun 10, 2013 at 7:19 AM, Francesco Siddi
<francesco.siddi at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello everyone,
> we are finally able to share some images from the work in progress
> website. Comments and feedback are welcome.
> During the week we will be able to start content migration, so who has
> given availability will be contacted for further planning.
>
> Btw, all images used in the carousel and banners are placeholders.
>
> http://www.pasteall.org/pic/show.php?id=53262
> http://www.pasteall.org/pic/show.php?id=53263
> http://www.pasteall.org/pic/show.php?id=53264
>
> Francesco and Pablo
> _______________________________________________
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