Big Is In

After noticing some very enjoyable trends in design recently, I got to thinking about how following the fashion trend, this time around anyway, might just help professional bloggers.

I'll just point out the things I've noticed, add my thoughts and how it could help, and feel free to add you thoughts too.

BIG IS IN!

I have mentioned this in an earlier post, and after reading Garrett Dimon's view on this I'm just more enthused.

Not only do I quite like the clean look but I think the prospects of getting ads and affiliate referral highlights to stand out have never been better, you can have big and bold as well as the commercial look.

Above or below the fold?

A radical thought, instead of getting as much content as possible "above the fold", is the below the fold, largely uncharted territory?.

The blog design trend seems to be leaning toward have a single, or two column look with a narrow main column ~ with more than one or two placing extra navigation, e.g. categories, blogrolls et.. at the bottom. That could just work for ads too!

This look leaves a lot of whitespace at the side (which would be the left if you study your Google "heat map"), which if you then add into that todays trend of large colorful buttons.. could be a powerful mix.

From way back when (OK a only a few years in web) it was always considered important to get as much content above the fold as possible so that users didn't need to scroll to have a choice as to what to click on.

However, is this still a valid assumption. I ask because I'm watching a small child and an inexperienced (web user) other, both automatically reach for the scrollbar (well the small child can use the scroll wheel!). I think we have got over the phobia of scrollbars, they're there and what's more I think they are used to the point where it's actually strange if there isn't one. It's human nature we're nosy, and always looking for the "what else is here". This is somewhat backed up by the Google Heatmap ~ why is that area above the footer so hot?

So, thought of the day, if the users are already at the bottom of the page (and click happy once they get there?) why not use the left and bottom down there, and all that additional whitespace that might be down there too. I'm not suggesting filling up every area of whitespace you can still have plenty space surrounding the buttons, just don't box them in, keep it big, bold and brash!.