The New ‘Outlaw Design Blog’ Exclusive Sneak Peak & a Fantastic Giveaway to Celebrate!
Today we have an exclusive sneak preview of the fantastic redesign of Outlaw Design Blog. Danny Outlaw shares his new ideas for the site and why he decided to make the change.
I personally think the redesign is fantastic, as always there are some things I would change but most of it is personal preference. I love his attention to detail in these previews, especially the background design and comments along with the icon details in the sidebar. I’ve always enjoyed the content on Danny’s blog and from what I can see, it’s about to get even better!
Why did you start Outlaw Design Blog?
I started Outlaw Design Blog because I wanted to share my skills, opinions, and thoughts on the business of design. While a traditional blog helps do this, it is only one of the many tools out there for sharing such things. Now that the web and its users are more accustom to finding information in a variety of formats, I decided it was time to raise the standards and start offering information in a variety of multimedia formats.
It is really this interest in multimedia sharing that really sparked the fire for the re-launch.
When Outlaw Design Blog was just a thought, the idea was to create a “super blog” that was a combination of Freelance Switch, PSD tuts, and Smashing Magazine. I never really came close to create such a blog in the past, but this relaunch should change all that.
What inspired such a huge relaunch?
To put it simply, I always a bit unhappy with past versions of Outlaw Design Blog. While the designs them self weren’t bad, I just didnt feel they helped me contribute to the community as much as I wanted to.
What cool features can we expect to see in the relaunch?
One feature that will play a large part of the new Outlaw Design Blog is one that I have already started playing with a bit and that is video. I am planning on making video a part of as many posts as possible in the future. Everyone learns in their own way; some people learn better by reading, other by hearing or seeing. For this reason, I want to add video, text, and possibly audio for every post that can handle it. After the relaunch, and as my video editing skills improve, the videos should become a little more professional looking and less like home videos.
Aside from regular videos for posts, I am working on doing a semi-regular video with David Leggett from Tutorial9 which should be awesome.
Another feature that I am really excited about is the Outlaw Design Podcast. I am working with Andrew Lindstrom from the Well Medicated Blog to create a podcast with a few other panel members including David from Tutorial9. The podcast will be monthly and cover a variety of topics the freelance creative should appreciate.
Anything else you’d like to share?
I have also been building up a collection of high quality stuff to give away. You can expect to see everything from hi-res textures to premium Wordpress themes. I have been working on building up a collection of Photoshop Tutorials. So you can expect to see anywhere from 2 to 4 Photoshop tutorials a month. I am also working one finding some developers to work with to create some top notch web tutorials for designers.
This new design also has an entire section dedicated to review of products and software that creatives are interested in. On these types of posts, readers will be able to read my review, write thier own, and read others review of the product. There will also be a link to purchase the product, as well as compare prices on it.
We are as excited about this relaunch as Outlaw Design Blog, and because of that we wanted to give back to the creative community for all their support!
Click here to see a full size preview of the design.
The Giveaway:
- 1 Full year of Hosting with WP Web Host
- 3 Copies of Tweesage
- 2 Accounts to Six Central App
- 1 Things App license for both the Mac and iPhone
- 1 3 Month membership to Layoutspack.com
- 1 6 month credit to Foxy Cart
- 1 Free subscription to Jump Cart
- 1 Month Free to the TimeSvr Personal Service
- 3 copies of the Ideal Icon pack and one full bundle of all RapidWeaver themes
The Rules:
- Tell us what you think about the redesign in the comments below. *Required
- If you have a Twitter account, please do share the sneak peek with your fellow creatives! (Not required of course).
- Winners will be chosen on the official launch of the new Outlaw Design Blog.
UPDATED
Congrats to the winners! Everyone will be contacted via email.
- Full year of Hosting with WP Web Host (1) “jojo toth”
- Copy of Tweesage (3) “Sonny Gill”, “smashill”, “ericzoo”
- Account to Six Central App (2) ”Elliot”, “Vin Thomas”
- Things App license for both the Mac and iPhone (1) “Chris Barnett”
- 3 Month membership to Layoutspack.com (1) “Sarah | @MadysonDesigns”
- 6 month credit to Foxy Cart (1) “Astrid and Rene”
- Free subscription to Jump Cart (1) “Branden”
- 1 Month Free to the TimeSvr Personal Service (1) “Steve Robillard”
- Ideal Icon pack (3) “Alex Coomans”, “Aki”, “Glenn”
- (1) full bundle of all RapidWeaver themes “Pablo Lara”
Grab the Feed
Love the new design, it totally goes with there image. Looking at what they had before, IMHO its a great improvement. The front page makeover definitely is easier to read now and calls to important parts of the site.
Excited about the podcast! Would like to hear about that launch when it happens.
(Find me on twitter at: @Visthetic)
LOve the new design. Very trendy.
The attention to detail is excellent. Reall spot on!
I just feel the logo is a little… underwhelming.
Sean McArthur´s last blog post..Tables vs CSS? Really?
This site looks AMAZING so far. I love the dark earthy colors and the hand-drawn look of some of the elements. Love it!
@vintom or @vinthomas
I love the redesign! The social media icons are really cool! The bullet holes are awesome touches too!
What I love most about the new design is the use of color in every detail. Also, wonderful visual layout of features and content. Very well done!
Twitter: @cbachelder
its vewy purtty.
a few suggestions
- the header it too large
- the logo is just a typeface, might i suggest a wanted poster style logo.
- there is no ‘read more’ link. i read somewhere that its counter intuitive not to have one.
- twitter needs an the tweet icon. :D
I hope i win teh contest! nice job. looking forward to the new site. subscribing…
Just cant help saying “wow” to this new design. It’s simple, clean & effective. I love the new background very much, it lets you focus more on the contents. Also not forgetting the eye catching sidebar ( subscribe rss,podcast etc). Overall, i can say its a successful redesign!
Aki´s last blog post..Wallpaper Freebies: 10 Typography Wallpapers for Your iPhone & iPodTouch
I love the play between the new design and the outlaw domain name
Hey everyone!
Thanks for the comments. Yes, the logo sucks. It is only atemporary. A new one is in the works!
Still some exciting stuff to reveal on 4/20
Danny Outlaw´s last blog post..Discussion: How Are You Making Money These Days?
The idea of the design is really cool.
I really dig:
The background, the gunshots in it and the footer.
Sidebar & posts look ok and fit the overall design.
The header background is really neat.
I don’t dig at all:
The overall header! I don’t like the hat & gun (somehow looks cheap) and the logo needs some work, but you admitted that already :)
I would consider downsizing the whole header image about 30-50px, it uses loads of space for nothing but the looks. Unless you put something there you are giving your folding line without a use, we all hate scrolling ;). But hey, that’s just me :)
Keep it up, looks promising!
This is a great new design, & it’s quite creative. I’m inspired to create something fun & interesting from seeing this. Well done.
Looking good, can’t wait for the full site.
Amazing design!
I love the attention to detail, cartoony and realistic.
I might suggest moving the Subscribe section up a notch, or maybe add a rss icon in the header?
Glenn´s last blog post..P4070028
I like this design a lot, it’s clean and very well done, I reaaly like the twitter friends section. I think the logo it’s not the right choice and I prefer gradient background instead of real one (no more wood background, please!), I’m really interested in your podcast and review of application. Good job, I will follow surely
Love the new design. Good stuff! Great selection of colours that you’ve used.
I’m enjoying the new design. I noticed a bit of tutorial9 look in there with the tabs. Love the smoking holes as they add some mystery to it to me. It’s almost like you want to know what is going on behind the scenes at Outlaw Design. I like how you integrated the “wood” look but managed to make it feel totally different then what you’d see on other sites. The colors compliment each other very well and I overall enjoy the site a lot.
CC: I noticed a white line down near the bottom and a piece of plant sticking out behind the footer. It looked somewhat out of place. Anyone else notice this?
Gorgeous clean design! Looking forward to seeing it live!
Sonny Gill´s last blog post..Truly Humbled
Looking good! I’d like to see a few more real elements mixed in with the illustration, say a real cowboy hat hanging there instead of the illustrated one.
Shout out to Rob Palmer of branded07 (http://www.branded07.com/) for all the illustrations and “better part of the design” (quoted from interview on wefunction.com) to make this site really good looking. I’m sad that he didn’t get mentioned in this sneak peak.
Overall it’s a great redesign and I can’t wait to see it in all its glory.
kyle steed´s last blog post..the house of steed
Fantastic looking design. Big improvement on the old one. Great color and detail. Some might say wood backgrounds are a bit overused, but this one looks great; it fits your theme, especially with the illustrations overlaid and the bullet holes.
Colorful than old design, look more professional and creative than old design and new design really clean.
I don’t know… I like it and I don’t like it too
I certainly like it more then the current design (and finally I know whats going to happen on 4/20:) ) but I feel there is still a place for improvement
I like the “being different” design feel and look
I like the attention to details
I like the illustrations
I personally wouldn’t use that green colors
Logo as others say needs improvement
I also don’t like the font of main navigation, it overall uses to much different fonts IMHO
Good luck Danny, I know it is hard to satisfy everyone, but if you are satisfied, GO with it!!!
jojo toth´s last blog post..31 Color Resources Every Designer Should Know
I was awed looking at the thumbnails, however, I agree with Jojo above that it doesn’t quite feel right.
Perhaps, its the section heading. One too many typeface?
Also, the lack of white space in the content area. It doesn’t gel with the wonderful header.
It is cool nevertheless. Looking forward to it :)
Definitely not what I was expecting for the re-design. But, it is looking very promising! Great stuff to look forward to. I have been seeing more and more of Danny’s guest posts around and can’t get enough of them. Can’t wait until ODB is up and running again!
I like your mixture of styles they work well
I love the redesign. It’s got a really unique look that fits in with the blog name but is still really clean and polished. Great job!
Looks like it has a lot of elements in common with Tutorial9. Similar layout, sections, highlights in rounded tabs, latests posts carrousel.
T9 is better though, since the header is smaller/more focused and the featured content is within the *scroll* area.
Outlaw has a nice color scheme.
cant wait to see the full upgrade.i just wanna say congrats in advance to Danny.
Ronald Bien | Naldz Graphics´s last blog post..45+ Excellent Examples of using Character Illustrations in Web Design
Really nice work. Lot’s of clarity and easy to read.
A blog that doesn’t look so much like a blog, more like a blogsite. Love it! It’s purty AND functional, what more can you ask for?
really amazing design, I love the western style and your eye to detail
Bernd Artmüller´s last blog post..Tutorial: Create a Windows 7 Aero Effect
Lookin good man I’m a big fan of outlaw design blog and fuel your creativity!
Sell Art Online´s last blog post..3 Tips on How to Sell Your Art
I like the new features but prefer the older design , the new design seems to just push everything down waaaay too much.
rohin´s last blog post..WaterColor Reloaded
It’s pretty, it really is. And I wish I had graphic design skills that good. But I just can’t do it. On my little macbook screen the content doesn’t start until I scroll down one full screen size. On an individual blog post I have to scroll down even further since it starts with a block ad on top.
Such a pretty design… but it seems that design took priority to functionality. :/
Bugsy´s last blog post..Moving to Lansing
Nice..but not entirely original.
Seems to have drawn much inspiration from http://www.nineliondesign.com/
Its great in both design and function :D But I’m still trying to get used to that fixed Podcast bar at bottom.
Johnson Koh´s last blog post..Pixel Art Mania I – The Artists
very cool design even though the theme is the same used at tutorial9 the design makes it stand and it separates it from other websites using that theme… by the way dose anyone know what is the name or who produced the theme used at tutorial9, Outlaw bolg colorburned blogs?