What is CanJS? / Hero

[moschel]

The new homepage makes no mention of what CanJS actually is/does. If you look at any other major JS project, that question is answered immediately:

http://jquery.com/ http://backbonejs.org/ http://knockoutjs.com/ etc

I showed this to my brother, who does a bunch of JS development now, and that was his first reaction. We all know CanJS too well, so none of us noticed this.

I think we need to add a sentence or two answering that, probably in the bottom of the gray header.

[tomgreever]

The design is that the headline should accomplish this. My preference would be to not add an additional line of text, but instead use the headline space to answer that question. The tagline has morphed so much over time. I think it currently doesn't provide much value.

[tomgreever]

And I think having the words "JavaScript framework" in the headline is the main thing that will communicate this. So the idea is the headline identifies what it is: "The JavaScript Framework that rocks your face off" and then the three circles provide more specifics/features: Powerful, Fast, Flexible.

[justinbmeyer]

A headline does not always say what something is. High performance delivered, think different, do more write less (jQuery).

Let's add a subheading under the hero text.

Sent from my iPhone

On May 9, 2013, at 7:20 AM, Tom Greever notifications@github.com wrote:

And I think having the words "JavaScript framework" in the headline is the main thing that will communicate this. So the idea is the headline identifies what it is: "The JavaScript Framework that rocks your face off" and then the three circles provide more specifics/features: Powerful, Fast, Flexible.

— Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub.

[tomgreever]

I think it depends on if we're talking about a headline or a tagline. My intention was that it was a place for a headline or headlines(s) that would engage the visitor and communicate what CanJS is. Move them from A to B. It sounds like you're talking about an overall tagline for CanJS: something that remains more static and attached to the brand, regardless of the campaign or headline being used. We can use either in that space. It sounds like you'd like that to be the tagline.

Often, though, the tagline is the followup to the headline rather than the tagline being first. "The MacBook Pro is the best computer ever. > Think Different."

[justinbmeyer]

Todos:

• Hero text finalized.

[imjoshdean]

Removed from this milestone, meeting between @justinbmeyer @dispatchrabbi and @tomgreever to figure out.

[tomgreever]

To follow up on this, my recommendation is to come up with a few headlines to use and also an overall tagline that would remain more static. Typically, headlines change depending on the campaign, audience, etc... but the tag would remain fairly consistent unless there is re-branding. The headline is the set-up and the tag is the punchline. A tagline becomes the catchphrase for a brand, whereas the headline engages the user and ultimately delivers the tag. Taglines can also be used as effective headlines on their own. It is common for lesser-known brands to use their tag as a headline to build brand awareness.

Whether or not either needs to explicitly communicate what CanJS is ("JS framework") will depend on branding objectives and current place in the market. Since our place in the market is probably that a lot of people don't know what it is, it's prudent to assume that our headlines should do their best to communicate what it is. Once a brand has crossed the threshold of familiarity with their audience, it's easier to create messages that are effective without explicitly spelling out what it is... That said...

1. We could rotate multiple headlines on the homepage, while listing the tagline below it.
2. We discussed using 3 short bullet points underneath the headline. (IMO, this competes with the 3 circles.)
3. We could use a tagline only, if we find one that satisfies the need to communicate what it is.

Headlines

• A JavaScript framework for the future, available now.
• Everything you've ever wanted from a Javascript framework.
• The best thing to happen to JavaScript since the browser.
• The Javascript pocket knife made to build a skyscraper.

I could come up with a gazillion of these (and have). The point is that we can use multiple messages like this to set-up the tag:

Taglines

• Build better apps faster
• Build better JavaScript faster
• Better JavaScript, Faster.
• Turn Want Into Can
• Where Want Becomes Can

So by combining them on the homepage, we get something like this:

A JavaScript framework for the future, available now.

Build better apps faster

[tomgreever]

I should add: if one of the challenges with headlines/tags is that we don't have a short paragraph description of what CanJS is (like JQuery does), the design can be altered to accommodate that. We're obviously not tied into the concept of Headline + Tagline + 3 Bullets, Sentences. I'd rather agree on the right content first and then re-design, as needed. So maybe we need a short one paragraph answering the question: What Is CanJS? // This might make pairing a headline or tag easier.

[justinbmeyer]

Yeah, I think we need to accommodate that.

[tomgreever]

Here's a pass at redesigning the homepage to accommodate a paragraph of copy. Please don't obsess too much over the content; it is easily changed... although I did my best to write something coherent. Plenty to play with, as far as the design... but maybe this will get our wheels spinning again. I might swap the 3 things and the paragraph, make the hero area (dark background) shorter... see how it looks... anyway...

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3843531/Canjs-Redesign-Hero-v2.jpg

Thoughts? Feedback?

[tomgreever]

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3843531/Canjs-Redesign-Hero-v3.jpg

Some of the spacing is not very precise. Just trying to mock it up quickly.

[justinbmeyer]

I love you. I wish I could whip up shit like that.

Justin Meyer 847-924-6039

On Tue, Jul 30, 2013 at 12:42 PM, Tom Greever notifications@github.comwrote:

Here's a pass at redesigning the homepage to accommodate a paragraph of copy. Please don't obsess too much over the content; it is easily changed... although I did my best to write something coherent. Plenty to play with, as far as the design... but maybe this will get our wheels spinning again. I might swap the 3 things and the paragraph, make the hero area (dark background) shorter... see how it looks... anyway...

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3843531/Canjs-Redesign-Hero-v2.jpg

[image: canjs-redesign-hero-v2]https://f.cloud.github.com/assets/326843/880615/0486fa30-f93f-11e2-8748-582d04e4c707.jpg

Thoughts? Feedback?

— Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHubhttps://github.com/bitovi/canjs.com/issues/58#issuecomment-21808619 .

[tomgreever]

Sorry dude, I've got the corner on whipped shit in this operation. Bam!

Which do you like better? I think I like the layout of the second one better where the paragraph is below the 3 things...

[tomgreever]

Ok, I'm going to work on the HTML/CSS with the copy as written in the image, unless I hear otherwise. Thanks.

[tomgreever]

New hero design for review here: http://canjs.com/index2.html

[moschel]

Really really like this. IMO this is a huge improvement over whats up there simply because it answers what canjs is right away. I vote for rolling this out.

[ccummings]

+1

[justinbmeyer]

Agreed. Lets do it.

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 7, 2013, at 5:08 PM, Brian Moschel notifications@github.com wrote:

Really really like this. IMO this is a huge improvement over whats up there simply because it answers what canjs is right away. I vote for rolling this out.

— Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub.

[tomgreever]

Deployed.