Re: News is only found on the index page of the new WAI site?

On 27 Sep 2017, at 5:45, Shawn Henry wrote:

> Just a little clarification:
>
> On 9/26/2017 2:57 PM, Eric Eggert wrote:
>> On 26 Sep 2017, at 21:40, Shawn Henry wrote:
> ...
>>     I still think we should consider a 2-column layout with News the 
>> left column very high up. Per earlier e-mail -- probably not try to 
>> do that this week.
>>
>> ... does not conform to the banner-esque design philosophy that we 
>> have. The home page would then be just another two column page, much 
>> less impactful. We can do that, but we need a decision.
>
> Ah, sorry, I wasn't clear. I meant 2-columns *after* the banner-esque 
> design at the top -- as I offered last week -- but maybe I wasn't 
> clear then, either. :-(

No, I think it is clear, but it does not fit into the developed design 
language:

* We don’t have any home page design elements that would fit a two 
column design
* Currently the blocks go from the far left side to the far right side, 
what would happen with two columns? Would the blocks be only confined to 
the content area?
* What about current teasers that are next to each other (two/four 
column layouts)? Would they be underneath each other?
* Where would the image link to the video be in a two column layout?
* What would be on the left/right side of the two column layout?
* Would the columns be equal width? Or would one be wider? The left or 
the right column?
* Would the news be in the left or in the right column? If it is in the 
right column, how does this address the (perceived) issue of the news 
being “below the fold” on mobile and for screenreader?
* How does a two column layout address the issue of the news being below 
the fold (below 320px) on mobile, especially if we have one banner area 
on the top?

We did prioritize the content in two Face-to-Face meetings with the 
whole EO group. We asked for comments on the home page design. I got 
only hints that there were concerns about which content goes where. 
Changing the home page to a two column design is a architectural change 
that we did not cater for.

In September, on the current page, the link that is not in the 
navigation and got the most clicks was Policies with 4% from the news 
section. In August: Policies with 5%. In July it was 9% for the 
Policies.

Users are using the news links as quick links to get to resources that 
have been announced. As we would double up most news that are 
significant with a feature up the page, more users are able to find new 
resources, not less.

Users who want to follow every news item will a) find the news link, b) 
find the news on the home page, c) can subscribe to the mailing list, or 
d) subscribe to the RSS feed.

All other users benefit from the current, clearer layout, in my opinion.

Eric

>
> I need to find some time to better communicate my perspective on 
> several things. sigh
>
> ~Shawn



--

Eric Eggert
Web Accessibility Specialist
Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) at World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)