Site Redesign Brainstorm - 2026-11-13

Context

This branch of the ClojureCLR.Next project repository drives the Github Pages I use for blogging about the ClojureCLR.Next project. It has become larger than I initially anticipated. Also, in addition to blogs about the ClojureCLR.Next, I have extended the topics covered to include the mainline ClojureCLR project.

The current site is done as a completely vanilla Jekyll setup with the minima theme, relying on the default layouts and styles provided by the theme. Among other things, this means that the front page is just a reverse chronological list of blog posts. There are no topical lists to help the user focus on specific areas of interest. And it has gotten quite long, with over 50 posts published to date.

Goals for a Site Redesign

My primary goal is to improve the usability and organization of the site, making it easier for visitors to find and engage with content related to both the ClojureCLR.Next and mainline ClojureCLR projects.

A much less significant goal is to modernize the visual design and improve the overall aesthetic appeal of the site. If the overall look and feel stayed the same, I would be okay with that. However, it is okay to give some consideration to updating the design to make it more visually appealing and contemporary.

Potential Improvements

Introduce topical lists or categories to help users focus on specific areas of interest.
Improve navigation to make it easier for visitors to find content related to both ClojureCLR.Next and mainline ClojureCLR.
Consider updating the visual design to make the site more visually appealing and contemporary.
Enhance search functionality to allow users to quickly locate relevant posts.

Requirements

First and foremost, all existing content must be preserved and remain accessible under their current URLs. There are public links to many of the posts, and these must continue to work without any broken links. If any changes to URLs are necessary, proper redirects must be implemented to maintain link integrity.
The site must support categorization and tagging of posts to facilitate topical navigation.
It is permissible to update the metadata on existing posts to accommodate categorization, tagging, and other organizational improvements.
Navigation should be intuitive and allow easy access to both ClojureCLR.Next and mainline ClojureCLR content.

Secondary Requirements

The visual design should be modern and aesthetically pleasing, while maintaining readability and usability.
Search functionality must be robust and allow users to quickly find relevant content.
The site should be responsive and accessible on various devices and screen sizes.
Performance should be optimized to ensure fast loading times and a smooth user experience.
Accessibility standards should be met to make the site usable for visitors with disabilities.

The final word

Functionality trumps aesthetics. While a modern and visually appealing design is desirable, it should never come at the expense of usability, accessibility, or the preservation of existing content.