The long awaited re-design of K10K is go!

February 21, 2000 8:22 PM

The long awaited re-design of K10K is go!
posted by tomcosgrave (9 comments total)

sweeeet. It looks more flexible than their old tight framed format, but I'm surprised they still stuck with the tiny text and gray grids. We'll see if it holds up over time, issue after issue.
posted by mathowie at 8:39 PM on February 21, 2000

It looks great but my old 15" 800x600 monitor can't handle it. Scroll bars everywhere. :/
I like the brighter look, and the use of those minipops which add a wink to the severe design.
posted by prolific at 1:19 AM on February 22, 2000

token from K here. Glad you liked it (surprised it actually worked for you as the server has been down most of the day :-( ) We stuck to small text because we like the feel of it, and we still find it readable - the grid is new, we used to have loads of interlace lines and stuff... now we moved on to griddy fluff in an attempt to brighten up the thing... It has been difficult getting the mix right... keeping the site "tight" and modular (as in expandable) and yet soft and teddy-bearish... We introduced the little characters cause they are a very handy tool; extremely flexible and I personally find them incredibly sweet... Well I don't know if this design can hold water for super long, but we have been looking at it for 6 months now, every day, and we still like it. Hope you do. Thanks for taking the time!
posted by token at 8:42 AM on February 22, 2000

It's interesting that you mention "tight and fluffy" as aspects of design. I'm a huge slave to grid-style design, and I struggle like hell to get things to look more organic. It's a hump I just can't seem to get over no matter how hard I try...at least that's how it seems to me.

The only question is: which teeny tiny font did you use?
posted by jkottke at 8:59 AM on February 22, 2000

my only gripe: script that gives my back button problems. I had take special action to get back here!
posted by anitar at 11:06 AM on February 22, 2000

Speaking of an interface chained to grid-style design (which isn't necessarily a bad thing), an interesting link: the US Geological Survey has a comprehensive essay by Italian designer Massimo Vignelli. Complete with examples of the "rules" for creating corporate identities!

Note the date.
posted by legibility at 3:32 PM on February 22, 2000

Jason: it's a font called 5dots (or fivedots?)... no idea where to get it, unfortunately. :(
posted by cheaily at 5:01 AM on February 23, 2000

5dots is the name they cite in their FAQ under the section called The Artwork.
posted by nikzhowz at 7:20 AM on February 23, 2000