If you missed out on my previous posts and tweets, a little recap: along with a few friends, I’ve been designing and building a new, web-based writing tool called WriteMinds. We’re hoping to have a beta up and running by the early part of March, and we just locked down the actual nuts and bolts of how the application will look.
I can’t tell you how excited I am about this. I want to share everything about it, and I will be doing so in time.
In the meantime, friends, can I have your feedback on our homepage design? My talented and wonderful friend/business partner Kevin Panke designed it from my rather sparse wireframe, and it’s meant to get people to do one thing: sign up. At this point in the development process, I’ve obscured what the app looks like (that’s actually a wireframe in there anyway, so…), but imagine that area shows off a revolving show of the coolest features in the app. It may even be a video. Just imagine that it’s the sexiest, quietest writing interface you’ve ever seen. Trust me—it is.
With that said, what are your thoughts?
- Is it clear what you’re supposed to do, as a user?
- Does the copy resonate?
- Are we missing anything?
Comments
This looks beautiful. Well done, Kevin.
And well done, you.
Excited to start using it!
Thanks, Jen. And yeah, Kevin is the shit. He makes things come alive.
As I said on Twitter, this is really looking slick!
Your ideas are always contagious and Kevin’s designs are always inspiring.
Please include me in on the Beta testing. I can’t wait to get my hands on this.
Thanks Brooke!
You’re definitely on the list.
about layout design:
visually 3 arrows is too much for me, too repetitive + it imply different action (email or sign up or get started?)
the “get started” action is effectively unclear :-/ is that mean toward sign up or toward more infos or download the product?
i like that retro-actual look
i instinctively enjoy the huffy/folded/photocopinked background paper
design is simple & effective
about advertising:
i think the name of the product rocks but i am a bit ambivalent about the logo :-/
the “what do you think” link 2x rocks! (customer participation)
the ” WriteMinds is so much better…” paragraph sound too personal for me (French Canadian) and even unprofessional (so much better than Word…)
but the second paragraph below would sell me your product and/or look further
Looking forward to seeing the product in motion.
I’m with Natalie on the arrows.
And is the quote from your mom supposed to have a typo?
In response to the arrows…totally agree with the arrows and already taken care of! Clay has an old concept up. That’s why I changed them. A little too much. Remember this is just a concept. Long way to go!
As for copy…still in the process of writing. That is a designer (me) putting on a copywriters hat and hoping everything comes out sounding better then a 1st grader. Still waiting for the most up-to-date copy deck.
So, semi-down now. I guess FPOs needed to be placed everywhere. Got to love those copywriters (Miranda)!
Miranda –No, the “quote” from the mom is NOT supposed to have a typo. “Mom” was not quoted verbatim, and she would certainly not misspell
Donna, that was a little joke to Clay. Sorry for the misspelled word and saying you wrote it. My bad!
Kevin — I can’t wait for the product. As I blog more and more on this internet-thingy I will really appreciate a nice clean and easy place to write…..
)
(you *do* know Clay well enough to know that he cringes at misspellings…cute little joke
Oh do I. I think I am the worse typer too. I think I have pushed him to his breaking point b/c he doesn’t even saything anymore.
I think this app is going to be something special. I guess that is what happens when smart people team up!
The copy and design are a melange of great form and function. I understood clearly what the product offered and could do for me. Excited to see this bad boy when you guys open up beta.
Thanks, man. Been using the Alpha for a week, and it made me write longer and more cogent text than I’ve ever written.
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