Fwd: [ubuntu-web] Updated guidelines for community sites

[Alan Bell]

  just for context for my next mail . . .

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	[ubuntu-web] Updated guidelines for community sites
Date: 	Thu, 14 Oct 2010 16:58:43 -0500
From: 	Matthew Nuzum <matthew.nuzum at canonical.com>
Reply-To: 	Ubuntu Web Presence Team <ubuntu-website at lists.canonical.com>
To: 	Ubuntu Web Presence Team <ubuntu-website at lists.canonical.com>



Hello, you've been waiting for this for far too long, I hope it has been 
worth it (I think it has but read on and judge for yourself).

Alejandra, who many of you have interacted with, and her new 
cohort Inayaili De Leon have provided us with updated brand 
guidelines/models specifically for sites that are part of the official 
network of Ubuntu sites but that should not feel like part of the 
typical ubuntu.com <http://ubuntu.com> flow.

For example, if you visit http://webapps.ubuntu.com/marketplace/ you 
should feel like you're in the ubuntu.com <http://ubuntu.com> website 
because it is part of the normal flow of navigation.

However, if you visit wiki.ubuntu.com <http://wiki.ubuntu.com> or the 
fridge you should not feel like you're at www.ubuntu.com 
<http://www.ubuntu.com>. The navigational needs are completely 
different. You should feel like you're connected to ubuntu.com 
<http://ubuntu.com> but not part of it.

The problems we faced when trying to use the old guidelines for these 
community sites is that we didn't know how to deal with navigation. We 
didn't know how to indicate which site users were on and we were worried 
about confusing users with navigation that looked the same but 
mysteriously changed behavior depending on what site they were on.

Here's an image of the new model: 
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Website/WebThemes?action=AttachFile&do=view&target=wiki_global_header_and_footer.png 
<https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Website/WebThemes?action=AttachFile&do=view&target=wiki_global_header_and_footer.png>

Let me explain some of the features here.

First, the Ubuntu logo area is clearly indicating the site you're on. 
Clicking this should take you to the current site's homepage (not to 
www.ubuntu.com <http://www.ubuntu.com>).

The orange area does not include primary navigation, instead all of the 
site navigation is in the gray area. (see below for question #1 about this).

The search bar is visually distinct from that of ubuntu.com 
<http://ubuntu.com> and allows room for site speicific search features 
and instructions.

Above the orange bar to the far right is something being called the 
"Mother ship' navigation. It links back to key areas on Ubuntu.com.

Down near the bottom of the page in the footer area wehave some new 
navigation elements: 
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Website/WebThemes?action=AttachFile&do=view&target=global_fat_footer.png 
<https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Website/WebThemes?action=AttachFile&do=view&target=global_fat_footer.png>

You'll see here that the "fat footer" or mini sitemap is reserved for 
the current site. Don't duplicate Ubuntu.com's footer. All of the 
elements in the lists should be relevant to the existing site. Below 
that is a 2nd footer with an Ubuntu logo and links to Contact us, 
Trademark and Legal information.

This template is for Ubuntu community and Ubuntu related sites to use. 
I'll be implementing it for wiki.ubuntu.com <http://wiki.ubuntu.com> in 
the coming weeks (though the existing testing wiki update will go live 
before this is ready).

I have a couple questions and I know you do too, here is a start: Maybe 
Alejandra can chime in with some thoughts, others please feel free to 
toss in your questions and ideas too.

#1 Some sites may need to have additional navigation needs, what should 
they do?
  - Matt's suggestion: Maybe use the left side navigation from here as 
inspiration: 
http://www.canonical.com/enterprise-services/ubuntu-advantage/landscape (ubuntu 
colors of course)

#2 What if a site has wide content, what should be done?
  - Matt's opinion: make it full width (no left/right padding) or make 
the theme fluid width or both (personally, I don't like sites with 
really wide content)

#3 What sites should not use this theme?
  - Matt's opinion: Sites that are not part of the Ubuntu community 
and/or don't want to feel connected to the Ubuntu ecosystem.

OK, there's a bunch of details, now share your thoughts and ideas and 
questions.

-- 
Matthew Nuzum
newz2000 on freenode, skype, linkedin, identi.ca <http://identi.ca> and 
twitter

"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." -Benjamin Franklin

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