When you turn your computer on this Monday, February 5, you will see a new Ahadada site. While the graphic design is different the content remains largely the same. What is different, and will be different, is the primary navigation and functionality of the site.

The purpose of this redesign is twofold: First, to update the Web site to a more contemporary graphic style and to serve as an interim step in advance of a comprehensive redesign, which is scheduled to roll out over the coming weeks; and second, just as importantly, to provide a more accessible Web site to all of our users, including those with disabilities and those who use alternative display devices.

The redesign is the result of a lot of hard work here at Ahadada. Jesse and I have been discussing these changes for months, exchanging ideas, trying new designs, simplifying content and making navigation more straightforward.

Now we need your help.

In part through this blog, we will chart the process of the redesign, as the full-scale redesign takes place. We welcome your comments and suggestions in response to our work and hope you will use the blog for this purpose. Moreover, the blog will of course chart our efforts with Ahadada as we bring other, offline projects to fruition.

Notable Changes

The most obvious change is, of course, the home page. The cluttered home page (that maze of links as some of you have called it!) has now been replaced with a more text-oriented layout.

The new design also will allow us to provide more news items and other dynamic content on the home page, which the previous design made difficult. This new design retains the fixed-width style of the previous version, although now centered, for continuity.

Colors used in the design were changed to increase readability for sensitive-eyed and sight-impaired individuals. The new color palette is fresher, more contemporary and better expresses who we are!

The Author pages were reorganized to eliminate duplicate and unnecessary links and facilitate improved user navigation.

We look forward to hearing your feedback about this new design, and throughout the process of our comprehensive rebuilding plan. Please feel free to visit the blog and offer comments, or email us through the contact page.

While we transition to the new design, some pages and links temporarily may be unavailable. Thank you for your patience and we apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause. We appreciate your support.