2005 / November 6th/ The last 10%
Many people take the last 10% of a redesign for granted. They underestimate the details, and figure it’s better to get out 90% today than 100% tomorrow. Wrong.
The last 10% of warpspire.com’s latest redesign took the better part of two months. It damn near killed me. I wanted to burst from the covers, and shout from the mountain tops the glory that is, my redesign. But instead I did not. I sat on a near complete version of Warpsprire for nearly two months. Two. Whole. Months.
But I was determined. I set a clear list of goals for myself many months ago before starting this redesign. Without these goals met, there would be no reason for the redesign other than pretty looks - and that’s not all I was going for. I demand perfection from my work, and couldn’t let out something that wasn’t perfect in my eyes. No way. Not this time.
So what was that 10%?
For me, I had a few things on my plate that blocked me from launching warpspire, version 4½ or so.
- Smooth push live: I did three test runs of pushing warpspire live before the actual push. I hate when websites go down for several hours because of “unexpected difficulties.” BS - test your push first.
- Absolute compatability in IE: There were a few problems with the negative margins I have all around this site. I don’t accept giving up on IE - it’s simply another hurdle in the web production process.
- Pre-written content - I didn’t want to launch then suddenly have content publishing drop off. I prepped about 2-3 articles fully written before launching the site (thank you WordPress for your draft feature!). I recommend this for everyone when re-launching a site.
These goals really killed me because the rest of the site was done. Templates were in. Designs tweaked. But no launch - no, not yet. But - it’s a good thing. It gave me time to go through and re-read some of my older articles, correct spelling mistakes and take out a few features here and there (remember - Less.) Plus, that last 10% really means something to me - and I hope - to all three of my readers. Without that last 10% complete, I wouldn’t have my redesign. I would have yet another unfinished piece of business lying around the web, and that’s just something I don’t need.
Last time I (really) redesigned warpspire I pushed it live before it was complete. I launched with 90% assuming I’d finish the last 10%. But beacuse it was live, I suddenly lost the motivation to finish it. I felt no reason, and it pretty much stayed that way the entire time it was live. I don’t want any more sections “under construction.” Either take the section down, or publish it. Simple.
The other good news
The other reason you should always hold off longer than you planned on for launching a site is a complete QA pass. While working on that last 10% I browsed the site nearly every night. I kept editing entries. Fixed spelling errors. Corrected alignment - you name it, I tweaked it. I believe this is an essential part of a redesign. Now I can be assured my site is up to my own expectations.
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November 7th | #
Looks like it was worth it…your design is amazing, as is its functionality.
November 7th | #
You have hit the nail on the head Kyle. I did the exact opposite. I launched with about 70% (more like 50%) complete just because I had finished some of it, but not all. But I desperately wanted something out there since I didnt have anything out there in the first place.
And now Im sitting with the dilemma “Dont worry, Ill get to it… some day”
So ill definitely take your advice next time round. Finish the last 10%
November 7th | #
Your right. I have a really bad habbit of pushing out new versions of my site sooner then I should. I think most web folks suffer from the same thing. I think that we all just get so excitted and want to show people what we really can do and get ride of the rubbish currenly running on the site?
I’m getting like it again this time around. I’m working on some new designs and already want to take the old one down and hide it. I’m pretty this this will never change.
November 7th | #
I’m going to take your advice on this one because I’ve messed up so many times in the past. My redesign is coming along nicely, and I really want to show everyone, but maybe I’ll wait. Or maybe I’ll find a few people to show it to so they can test it, but not to the whole community yet. I’ve completely stopped using my old blog because of its incompleteness. It made me not want to play with it anymore. Stupid broken toy… Lol.
November 8th | #
Excellent design, I really like it. I’m also going to take your advice on this. I’ve been meaning to get my site up and running (well first i’ll have to design it) in order to present my portfolio. I’m ashamed to say that i’ve been working on other peoples websites for four years now and I haven’t even got my own!
I’ll definately use your method though. Thanks for your advice! ;)
November 8th | #
Hi, I surfed in via the WP support forums. Your design is incredibly appealing, and you have a good amount of interesting content. Bravo!
xo,
C
December 11th | #
The last 20% of your project takes 80% of the time.
December 12th | #
[...] ur own. View other entries in Featured articles. Kyle Neath comments on The last 10% of a redesign process and how many either do not focus enough on it or they [...]
December 12th | #
Great article. I’ve been guilty of this myself. I too have decided to do the last 10% after launch and then I never ended up doing it for the exact reason you state. Thanks for the spat on the wrist!
December 12th | #
“Many people take the last 10% of a redesign for advantage”
Did you mean “… for granted”?
December 12th | #
Yep :) Thanks.
December 12th | #
This concept applies to any product.
Insert incredibly fitting analogy about premature ejaculation here.
December 13th | #
I completely agree with you. Often times in an attempt to appease a client, meet a deadline or show the world what you’ve been working on, the last bit of detail is overlooked. This can lead to more problems to deal with after launch than if you would have taken the time to troubleshoot and finalize the site before launch.
No matter how many sites you build, it always pays to take the time at the end to tighten up what’s necessary. Chances are the last 10% of what you ignore will be the first 90% of what you have to fix.
Great article and great looking site!
December 14th | #
Site looks great! It was worth the wait…
December 14th | #
The last 10% of warpspire.com?s latest redesign took the better part of two months.
Yeah, I can see the same time frame for my site, though I have a good 30% left to go, so I guess that will be six months, then ;-)
The finer details can be fun, but time consuming!
December 14th | #
[...] can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Learn from me. Learn from others. Don’t self impose deadlines. Never set unrealistic deadlines [...]
December 16th | #
The first 10% is just as tough for me.
For me, site designs/redesigns are like running. It takes a huge amount of will to just get me out of bed and start. I know I need to do it. I know it will make me feel good when its done, yet I DREAD the thought of it (strange because I really enjoy running and designing).
Once I get into it and I’m going its exhilarating and I become intensely focused. Eventually the fatigue sets in. I start to talk myself into doing 4.5 miles instead of 5… cause 4.5 is pretty good, and who will ever know?
Most of the details omitted in the last 10% of my site redesign are ones that only I will ever know about. But I still remember every one of them.
Nice job on your site, great piece.
December 17th | #
Wow, I was just about to start working on a redesign for my site.
Something a tad more flexible. After reading this I’m sure as hell taking a lot more care in what I do now.
Great article, Kyle.
December 27th | #
[...] arn to calm down and not get impatient with projects. Warspire has a good article on this, the last 10 percent. There will be no such thing as ‘good enough’ in 2006. [...]
January 19th | #
[...] This article about the last 10% is exactly what I’m experienceing developing ShopIt. The small things take the longest to finish. They also the most painstaking. Things like comment validation, finding links that have yet to be styled, content and blurb (Like the about page, RSS page that still have to be written), bugs, graphics etc. By the sounds of it, it only is 25% complete. But quite the contrary. Its more like 85%. Perseverance Jason, perseverance. [...]
July 1st | #
[...] Kyle Neath comments on The last 10% of a redesign process and how many either do not focus enough on it or they leave it out all together. [...]