A list apart, web design review! Is it perfect?

[dude]

A list apart is supposed to be the best designed website on the net. Because it is a website for the webmasters. It holds its authority and place in its category. So it is going to be a good challange for us to find out any flaw in A list apart web site's web design, layout, navigation, usability? Can you find a flaw in A List Apart web site?

Quote:

“For people who make websites” A List Apart Magazine explores the design, development, and meaning of web content, with a special focus on techniques and benefits of designing with web standards.

A list apart : Flawed design?

[quantum]

That's really a tough challange dude. Those people are the professionals of the professionals. Besides, I really like A list apart, so it's hard to critique them. Give me some time to get back on this after a thorough scrutinizing.
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[emm]

Yes, that is a tough question! What do I say? I do not like their header graphics!
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“You might say reality is the result of complex negotiations between the observer and the observed. But that is simply a point of view…”
Digital Bangladesh

[dude]

Quote:

I do not like their header graphics.

Okay, that is a point. But not a good one. You may not like the header, but I think it is okay. For a website like A List Apart, you don't use a flashy, animated or bright header. From an artistic point of view, the current header is perfect.

There is one flaw I think, I found. They do not have a site map. For such a large website like A List Apart, it is important to have a complete site map, so that people can easily take an overall look at where is what. Specially when the site has a large archive of categorised articles.

[emm]

Good point about the site map. And I think you are right on the header graphics also. Still, they could make it better definitely.
_________________
“You might say reality is the result of complex negotiations between the observer and the observed. But that is simply a point of view…”
Digital Bangladesh

[dude]

Noone finds anymore flaw with A List Apart? I think, it is one of those almost perfect websites then.

[quantum]

Yeah, I guess you can say A list apart is perfect. In the sense that it does well what it was supposed to do. Provide useful articles in a very readable and user friendly manner.
_________________

Dust fills my eyes / Clouds roll by / and I roll with them / Centuries cry / Orders fly / and I fall again
Afford best design, implement best solution. Outsource your web design.

[Find the Time]

Surely there has to come a point where trying to find fault in a design just doesn't help any more. I suppose what I'm saying is that you need a balanced viewpoint, even if you're a designer, think about whether the whole thing works, and in my view A List Apart DOES work, because the content it contains is really really useful.
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Find the Time = urgent appeal for Asian people in the UK to become bone marrow donors - it's easy and you can save the life of someone with Leukaemia

[dude]

You are right find the time. But we are only trying to learn good design. And someone said, you learn good design from the bad design. If we can find faults in other's designs then we will know what to avoid in our own designs.