Angie McKaig - E-Business Consultant and Entrepreneur

it's a work in progress2006.04.18

You know when you've been looking for so long at a design that you begin to hate it, really really hate it? Inevitably this state occurs right at the time when you're busiest and just don't have enough hours in the day to change the design.

Meanwhile, you hate the design so much that you just don't want to post any more.

That's the way angiemckaig.com has been for, well, months. What was cute in 2004 began driving me nuts when the year flipped over to 2006. And a lot of that was the typeface - while Scriptina was fresh and cool in 2004, it's now virtually everywhere - not just on design blogs but on the sign for a local Roti restaurant, a new dance club in my hood, and even a flyer from a local furniture retailer.

Argh.

So, a new design (keep your eyes peeled for potholes; I may have missed a few implementations throughout this enormous site - apologies in advance, and I'm working on it...), a new typeface (Waterbrush), some sexy pics from iStockphoto and most importantly, no more pink! :) While this was a trend for me in 2004, I have to say, I think I OD'd on pink (I still like it in small, more personal doses) and the red seems to fit where I am now.

And a new tagline: still a great pair of legs. While four years is a mere trifle compared to a) the number of years I've been online and b) the age of a lot of blogs in this biz, I have to admit this is one of the largest personal projects I've ever kept up with, and so, pride in the longevity. Plus, I found design, business, geekery and culture just so... narrow. *grin*

Now for the good news: I've been storing up links like squirrels for winter waiting for this new design to launch. You'll see a flood over the next few days, so get ready to get caught up.

11 comments

Lukasz said on 2006.04.18

A big rabbit, not that big but still. I like it. The rabbit I mean.

Oh, and by the way, what a nice and fresh design.

Colleen said on 2006.04.18

Ooohhh!! I love it!! This is the fresh, clean yet sassy look I always try for but never really achieve. So lovely.

The only off thing I'm seeing are the borders around the two bottom RSS icons over there. And I'd probably stick a 1 px black border along the top of the footer down there but see, I always overdo things.

And I know what you mean about getting sick of a design, only my threshold is about two seconds versus two years. I admire your restraint.

Anyway, lovely design!

Angie said on 2006.04.18

Restraint, ha, thanks Colleen! I used to only be able to go about 2 months but then I started working for myself... amazing the extra hours that gig eats up. :) I had planned to redesign in Sept 2004. Then Spring 2005. Then... you get the idea, yes?

The RSS icons are not designed by me, but I grabbed the light-background babies from http://www.feedicons.com/ - but I'll take a look.

There is a slight keyline above the legs down there - they looked *very* floaty without it - but anything heavier just seemed, well, heavy.

And for those who are newer to Angiemckaig.com - why they legs? Dunno. I put them in a design back in 2002, and they kind of stuck. Every design since (about 4, I think) has had legs in it.

Danae said on 2006.04.18

It looks fantastic, angie! I love the photograph and the design is as clean and classy as ever.

Joe Kucharski said on 2006.04.18

I like the new look immensely! I have missed your posts..

Dana said on 2006.04.19

Looks fantastic, and it's great to have you back!

Amanda said on 2006.04.19

Love the new look! I've OD'd on pink myself and am working my way back to the world of primary colors. As an entreprenuer, I check your site for good articles (and read some tonight!).

Marjut said on 2006.04.20

Love it. Great redesign indeed!

Gordon said on 2006.04.20

Yeah that Scriptina font was getting a little jaded... I mean it was everywhere (guilty!). LOL.

LOVING the new look... but the real question is, what is it's name?

Angie said on 2006.04.20

Thanks to all for the kind comments - I missed setting "border=0" in a couple of places, but that's being fixed as we speak. That's a HomeSite error - I hadn't configured it yet on my new laptop to auto-include that. :)

And Gordon, the new look, I've decided, is called "Bob".

*laughs*

Or are you referring to the new font? It's Waterbrush.

Dane Carlson said on 2006.04.25

I really like the new look, and you're right -- the faintest of lines under the boots at the top do help to keep them from just floating there.

home · about · contact
The most important thing is knowing. Everything will work out if you just remember to breathe. Chocolate is not for sharing. Beauty is everywhere if you just remember to look for it. Perfection is impossible but improvement can happen every single day. However vast the darkness, we must supply our own light. Make a wish. Dance when the music moves you. If it's hard to say, odds are it's what the listener most needs to hear. Wear a new colour. Do that thing that scares you. Love as often as possible.