Hi all,
We have a website / shop (160 pages) that is not yet responsive.
We want to have the site responsive asap. The basic design/layout is our own custom design and will not have large adjustments.
Should we build from scratch or convert the existing site?
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It really depends, Johan.
Is the site build on master-pages which you can alter? If so, how many pages has been altered and will (no longer) honor the changes made on the master? And so much more …
If this is the site you’re referring to http://www.nlstudio.eu you might also want to take some time to patch things up. In fact, in this case, I would start from scratch, re-build the complete site responsively. This doesn’t have to take that long. Just start with a solid base, create a couple of masters for landing- and follow-up pages … take the time you need to accomplish a really reliable base here, and as soon as you’re satisfied with whatever you’ve come up with; move your stuff over from the old to the new project.
Please contact me for any questions, I’m sure I can help you out here 
Richard
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Thanks Richard,
We started preparing from scratch indeed in order to re-design simplify or patch things up.
Greetz,
Johan
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I’d redesign 
Richard
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I would take a look at Backdraft.
And, you’ll probably need to re-think your nav menu to play well with mobile/responsive needs.
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Thanks Doty,
We’l having a look into it to use elements of Backdraft.
Greetz,
Johan
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Johan - I’m curious.
Currently writing a Design almanac for my own purpose wrapping up the stuff I learned within the past years. In this lil book, I have some “theories” that need either approval or adjustment. Especially those sites, that are coming to adjustment are outermost important, cause all the “old thinking” will be lost one day.
Would it be possible to have a look on the current site? I mean just for my private purposes? If you don’t want to share it officially you can send me the link private via my account details. You’d do me a favor.
Cheers
Thomas
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Hi Thomas,
I’ll be happy you to have a look at the site off course http://www.nlstudio.eu
Please let me know in case you have any response.
Greetz,
Johan
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Hi Johan,
OK - the link was already shared - my bad
I do have one:
One of my theories is, that no client requires a 160 pages monolith. EXCEPT “Shops”. By this, there is my other theory which is called: “Think modular”. A shop to me and these days is an external thing off the regular company informations. From the structure, it looks like:
/*Main Domain and Company Info*/
my-company.com
/*Shop Domain as a Sub-Domain*/
shop.my-domain.com
Naturally both refer to each other.
This is making things immensely flexible and adjustable. Design is basically separated from function which is to me the best thinkable thing.
So why do a client doesn’t need 160 pages?
Because people don’t like to read. They spent maximum 5 minutes average on your page which will mean 300 seconds divided by 160 which will end up 2 seconds each page. As said one exception:
“Shopping”
There I have to mind and grind but I still think of a “Featuring OnePage basic Index” with some aspects (sections) in excerpt style - whether to further info pages by call-to-action or directly featuring products from your shop portfolio.
Be flexible and start from a proper story (outline) - and leave primary “Design” out. That’s the way I traget projects these days - but my theory may fail (which would be a pity, though).
Cheers
Thomas
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Hi Thomas,
Referring to Sub-Domain: There is now http://shop.nlstudio.eu
Will there be according to you, any difference between:
and
Give yourself a better website » MY DOMAIN or Give yourself a better website » MY DOMAIN
Greetz,
Johan
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It’s just about separating additionals from the web site itself into it’s own sub-domain:
It keeps things clean and clear. And, whatever you’ll change on your web site … the kids are protected.
Richard
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Thanks Richard!
Gr
Johan
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Hm - good question. I may fail, but a subdomain requires its own establishing independent of the main-domain. But by back links from main to shop (vice versa), this should be pretty good to handle. Ranking will be another aspect, so a subdomain will be ranked differently from its main. But as well here:
Twice the chance and proper back-linking can do the rest.
I had a recent read on this (but can’t remember exactly which article). This one seems to be pretty close:
http://www.seomotion.org/en/subdomain-vs-subdirectory-best-practices-seo/
To me personal, it’s more a practical aspect to separate the one from the other, rather than dealing with an entire host mess. And there are even systems, doing hard running in a sub-folder and need to be preferably installed on a main-root (what a subdomain could be seen as).
Cheers
Thomas
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OK, thanks Thomas
I’ll keep that in mind
Gr
Johan
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Thomas,
I’v been reading the article you’d attached in your post subdomain versus subdirectory.
Seemingly in case using a goole+ account or other social media account might give some issues with subdirectories.
mydomain.com/shop
mydomain.com/blog
This structure keeps things also clear or did I overlook something here?
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No You didn’t. Everything is OK - no matter how or what you do.
I perhaps forgot to mention that I would run the shop with a different engine, off Freeway. And for this reason I’d do stuff on a subdomain.
All I wanted to say is:
Before you start doing one bit of code, start with the structure. It prevents you from re-thinking over and over again. This is the gist of this lesson
Cheers
Thomas
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Amen.
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Clear.
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After jumping through some of your pages and I’m impressed! It is a hard work to “feature” each single page by hand - using Mal’s. Page by page - growing within all the years, perhaps.
So basically, leave the structure as is - using EXACT the same file-names, such as:
http://www.nlstudio.eu/design-shop/lighting/all-lighting.html
It prevents you from htaccess redirect work and keeps all your social/SEO/ranking!
But now a go on the “rebuild”:
###Positioning
Through the huge number of single and individual pages, I’d say it’s kinda impossible keeping the “absolute positioning” up, cause it would mean to re-arrange each single item for each single page on each single breakpoint. Get used to “inflow-construction”. TheGrid (I call it so) is a 4-Column strategy - achievable.
###Showcase
I loved it - unfortunately it hasn’t been transferred into the responsive world. You make huge use of it, so you need to substitute this by (perhaps) Exhibeo.
If I’d have to do it, I’d call it a “laborious task” - time will be your friend (or enemy, who knows?)
###Design
It’s usually not mine to talk about it - it’s in everyones eyes. Two things I’d primary target if you were my client:
####The LOGO
Is neither a logo nor a brand - looking more like a EU sticker on your mobile homes. It could have some design.
####Huge shadows
I hate huge unnatural shadows (and pill-shapes just to welcome you in my world).
Huge, unnatural shadows are looking Un-Pro and can be substituted by more subtle ones. One of the biggest benefit of todays flat design.
####FONT strategy
Just to be clear: It’s absolutely OK to use “Default Fonts”. But if you use them, try to have an eye on typography. Get used to good to read sizes - line-height - letter-spacing. And perhaps have a look at Google Web Fonts. Nice and easy to use, its implementing even featured: http://www.kimmich-digitalmedia.com/videos/015_the-coding-episodes-part8-google-webfonts
####Most importantly
USE CSS Menus. A list of simple links is a no-go. And if you’re concerned about google+, I’d be more concerned in google ranking. Google can’t “see” a menu looking-like-so. It simply sees a list of external links. A “nav” element is imperative.
I hope this is OK so far, so a huge bunch of challenges “before to start” in Freeway. I recommend doing so - set a guideline and a storyboard, my all-time tipp.
Cheers
Thomas
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Arnhem, that’s about a 45min drive from here
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