Friday, September 15, 2006

Trying a little something

We [me and many readers] have never really liked the in-pattern navigation in Knitty. Once you're into the pattern pages themselves, all you have are names to guide you to your destination. And if you're like me, you don't always remember the name of the pattern you want to see.

For a variety of reasons, then, we're pulling those links off the current issue. Looking at one pattern, and want to see a different one? Just click "patterns" in the top navbar, OR the word "Patterns" at the top of each pattern page. It'll take you right back to the VERY handy thumbnails, and you'll know in seconds which you want, instead of clicking about aimlessly.

We think this will be a good thing. If it turns out NOT to be, no worries. We can go back to the old system if we need to. Just give it a fair shot and see what you think.

There's so many advantages to being a web-based magazine, and being able to try subtle interface changes like this is one of the biggies. :-)

Thanks for your support, and keep on clicking!

Comments:
I don't know if anyone else is having problems with this, but when I click "Patterns," the page doesn't have the thumbnails or links to the patterns. I think it sounds like an interesting change, though!
 
I always felt that the names on their own were intriguing first time round. After that I remember which I want to find by name.
 
Yes, but! Do you know how many kick @ss patterns I find (from my Pre Knitty days)when I'm trying to look around for the one I remember seeing? Ha ha!
 
have yet to figure out exactly the best way to print them out for future use - please advise once and for all, and this time, I promise I'll save your instructions!
 
megan -- I can see them, so maybe you just need to reload? they should absolutely be there, that's for sure!

muninnhuginn & bezzie -- i know, but i'm hoping you'll still click around this way.

anonymous -- for now, printing landscape on windows seems to work best. if you print on mac, i think it works just fine (that's my understanding). but we ARE working on printer-friendly patterns that will be effortless. really.

thanks, guys!
 
I like the new version - I'm forever looking at the list at the top of a page and asking myself "Now what was that one?". This is much easier.

And Amy - when are you guys coming to DC? I'd LOVE to meet you and thank you in person for Knitty!!
 
I actually like the names at the top... I can click from pattern to pattern when the issue first comes out. Kind of like paging through a magazine.
 
How about a combination? The word pattern leads back to the thumbnails, but there also the names of the patterns to grant direct access.
 
Hello, for past couple of days I cannot access the new issue's patterns - the links to them simply are not there!!!
What to do?
 
sure they are -- just click on "patterns" in the top navbar on any page in the site and you'll be taken to the pattern index. it's a little different, but we're doing it for a good reason. thanks!
 
Nooo! I'm sure lots of people, me included, want to browse all the patterns without having to move back and forth. Also, once landed on a pattern page, it's not really very clearly indicated that you need to click on the minuscule white "patterns" link to go back.

Could you think about adding a discreet navigation saying "previous | patterns main | next" on all pattern pages to help?
 
*sorry, "minuscule _black_ patterns link"*
 
Sorry Amy, I'm not loving it :( And I'm sorry that my first comment on your blog is negative :(

I think that not having the "Patterns" link an obvious link (it looks exactly the same as the rest of the headers) is going to cause a lot of confusion. I knew what to look for and found it easier to just use the back button on my browser...

Perhaps Maija's solution of "<-- Previous Pattern | Main Patterns Page | Next Pattern -->" is the best compromise?
 
Are you going to do this for the archived patterns as well??? I am forever having to go through a lot of the names before I find which I want (because I have a horrible memory for that sort of thing), and I love the thumbnails on the patterns link!
Pretty please, with sugar on top?
 
As someone who's been doing information architecture for 12 years, I can tell you that the more ways you have for people to navigate through your site, the better. That said, I agree with those who have commented that the "patterns" link at the top is neither obvious (easy to find) or intiutive (people won't be looking there, they'll be looking at the bottom of the pattern pages for navigation).

I would recommend that you put back the navigation on the pattern pages as it was, but add a link to the main pattern index for the issue for those who want to return to the thumbnail view.

Another suggestion - the archive page is getting long and unwieldy due to the number of patterns increasing (happily!). I've noticed it can be really slow to load, and it always takes me forever to find the "socks" section, for example. Two ways to go - one would be to have the "archive" page offer a list of patterns by category (so the links would be pullovers, socks, etc.) AND ALSO by difficulty level. If this is not possible, I'd suggest a list of category links at the top of the archive page which then jumps users down to the category they seek. The latter would be easier to do, but I think the former is infinitely more useful and better positions the site for future growth.

OK, I'll shut up now!

Thanks for a great issue, as always!
 
I'm with Laura A. -- I like to have the names at the top, and clicking through them all is like flipping through a magazine. If I find something I might want to knit, I can bookmark it. And the pattern link was always there so I could go back to the thumbnails if I wanted to.

Loving this issue, by the way!
 
Not to be a negative nancy but I like having the names across the top. That way I can just click through all the patterns one right after the other. I haven't actually tried the new interface though, so I will reserve judgement until I do. ;)
 
Sorry, I have to side with having the pattern names on each page. And the nav bar for previous/main/next. I don't want to jump back every time, I want to scroll through the pages to see what inspiring things you've come up with.

Keep up the good work.
 
Personally, I don't think there's much difference - a click takes the tiniest fraction of a second, after all, and I'd rather choose the pattern I want to look at from the thumbnail than the name, but then I don't remember names.

And if someone doesn't figure out that the black-on-white header "Patterns" links to the thumbnail page, there's always the "patterns" link on the top navigation bar that's always been there, and that's what I've always used anyway. It's the universal navigation bar for the whole site, and I personally find it easier to just always go back there.

Really, though, I think it just comes down to what you're used to...
 
I'm all in favour of trying new things, but I really like being able to click easily through each pattern. "Previous-next" would work fine for me; having to navigate always from the main pattern page, not so much. Thumbnails are definitely the best way to find a pattern you're already familiar with - but we've always been able to get to that page - and as other commenters have said, for a new issue, we like to flip through everything!

Just, y'know. FWIW. Keep playing around.
 
I'm not sure if the problem I'm having is related to the site reorganization or not, but the Fetching and RPM patterns, for example, are not showing up on the archive page, the page I always go to when I'm looking for something.
 
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