Why do you need a redesign?
Before you write the first bit of HTML you should know that answer.
Don't just redesign for redesign's sake.
What are the goals of redesigning? You can't really identify what
the problems are with your existing site until you know what you're
trying to accomplish.
Usability testing the old site should be the first step in any
redesign.
Identify what the strengths and weaknesses are of your current site,
try to keep the strengths, but fix the weaknesses.
Jacob Nielson has said:
"The old design is probably not all that bad:
it certainly
has some elements that users really love and it would
be a shame
to lose good features in the move to a new design."
"It is not enough to simply say 'this site sucks': you
need to know why it is bad. The chance of a successful new design
goes up dramatically once you know what to avoid and why users
have trouble on your old site."
"The main reason to conduct a usability test of your old
site is to set approriate goals and direction for the new design."
(see the handout for more details.)
