[col-sect][column]So, an update. First, and most obvious, a couple changes to the site. I’ve finally pared it down to be a “single column theme”, sans sidebar. Even more streamlined than before. And centred. And unlike recent incarnations of the site, this one will even render somewhat properly in IE6 for those unfortunate enough to have no choice but to use that ancient browser, like for example those at work at the City of Vancouver, where it’s the default corporate browser. Awesome. Since the site’s inception I’ve wrestled with this sidebar issue: its benefits in navigation and orientation for new visitors weighed against its ragged and untidy appearance. I admit that when going to new blogs, my eyes always tend to go first to the small text beneath the author’s photo to get a quick low-down on what the blog is all about. I’m not disputing the typical sidebar’s usefulness, but that benefit comes at the hefty cost of your site containing an element that looks like hell. The decision is easy for me to arrive at though. Cleanliness wins. “Oh Patrick, you’re so concerned with looks.” Well, I am an architect. But really, you want to get into this? Ok fine, what do most sidebars contain? A blurb about the author. A list of the ten most recent posts. A tag cloud. Recent comments. Links to other places. Google Ads. I don’t know, man. Doesn’t seem all that crucial. A lot of filler. Like when you buy roses, all the fluffy stuff they try to throw in there to fill out the bunch despite your specific instructions to leave it out. Bigger point: fluff is the [/column][column]default way of the world. Unless, ladies and gentleman, you take action to fight it. Or maybe you actually like fluff and filler. Whatever.

Next is the title: all caps in Gills Sans, a classic from 1928. It’s working nicely because I wanted something that fills the width of the body of the site to reinforce the clean edges, but at the same time wouldn’t  take up too much visual weight with too much height. So the title is a nice, long elegant proportion, 18:1. And the letter spacing also softens the title’s impact. I picked a nice dark grey.  The navigation buttons at the top are smaller and admittedly their graphics do little to help orient new visitors. But that’s not their main objective. Regulars will get it.

Probably won’t be the last monkeying I’ll do with the site, but it’s probably set for the next little while.

In other news

A vacation? My attitude on getting away kind of soured. I would love to get away, but Mexico, as beautiful as some of the beaches look on the tiny photos on the travel websites (don’t get me restarted on the travel websites – terrible); I’m just not enthused about spending my vacation time flaking in luxury in a second world nation. All the reviews I read about staff theft at so called 4 star resorts didn’t help much either. So inaction. I’m also thinking that a vintage Speedmaster might be a better investment. [/column][/col-sect]

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