A version of the "Subway" layout, an experiment in radically pushing forward the search box, which is the most important feature of the site as well as the only feature that appears on level 2 pages as well. At client request I made the search box the entire width of the layout. I also lifted it from the surface of the page with a drop shadow and gave it a signature color which would always signal "search" to the user, wherever s/he is on the site.

Initial "Floating world" layout, and first appearance of the final typeface chosen for the wordmark portion of the logo.

Initial "Subway" layout plus "Arrows" logo. I conceived of this layout and logo simultaneously. I wanted to capture some of the frenetic activity and mind-boggling diversity of the blogosphere. I got attached to the idea of subway images -- a subway being a tool that lots of different people use to travel to other places, as well as being a place that is connected and yet not connected to the world aboveground -- much like this site relative to the blogosphere.

"Subway" layout #2 plus "Arrows" logo. Compared to the layout at left, the banner is signficantly reduced in size and more content is packed onto the page. Both the number of colors and number of distinct typefaces is reduced. There is now less of a "wall" between the two columns of content because the left column is not intended to be a traditional left-hand navigation bar.

Layout experiment #1 plus "Talking" logo. I personally prefer restrained color palettes so this is what I always push first. I am always amazed how much information can be packed onto a page if the designer proceeds carefully and patiently, as though building a stone wall out of many different sizes of naturally occurring rocks.

Business cards, full color and monochrome versions, showing the final logo as approved by the client.