May1Reboot is based on the simple idea of collectively relaunching websites at the same time — and in doing so — rallying each other and sticking to that one deadline. Turns out, without strict discipline it’s easy to get lost in details.
© www.may1reboot.com
At least for me, deciding upon the look and feel of web pages is a process that ends up more time consuming than playing Civilization: Just one more turn, um, tweak here and there … OMG, did a whole afternoon just pass right now?
Counting the days until relaunch day, I came to the realization how important it is to stick to achievable goals and to always remind yourself: Good (UI/UX) design should also have a purpose.
Mobile first design
So, here it is: My incomplete list of changes that readers can hopefully benefit from.
- Define a set of styles for mobile devices first and then adjust for bigger screens
- Do less network requests, e.g. only load custom fonts if absolutely necessary
- Try to use modern CSS features, e.g. flexbox, and SVGs instead of icon fonts
- Aim for consistent look by introducing a predictable color palette
In case you consider joining in the celebration next year, most the mentioned improvements are a good starting point for any website.
The path is the goal
The groundwork is done, and there is a lot more to come.
Somehow, the fact of having missed the original deadline slightly (by 2 weeks) motivates me already to update this site on a regular basis, and provide content in a more predictable fashion.
Last, but not least, of course: Expect a continous flow of little design improvements …