Webbed feat
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So unlike the Institute of Recruiters, the CIPD actually managed to launch a website yesterday. All I can say is…. 1-0 to the old skool……
Is it any good?
Well first impressions of the home page are that a four-year old has imbibed a value pack of Fuzzy Felt downed 2 litres of coke and allowed nature to take its course on an unsuspecting screen. It ain’t pretty, it ain’t engaging and quite frankly my 8-year-old could design better. Too many random black blocks and lettering and things that scream in your face. It makes me want to shut it down before it takes control of my brain and forces my eyeballs to bleed…..
But….BUT (that is a big but….girls….you know I’m looking at you!) I’m not a shallow man, to be shallow you need to have depth and I have none. I had a dig around and you know what? It isn’t bad.
The old site….well frankly it was designed by an OCD Accountant on beta blockers with a penchant for self asphyxiation and dressing as a baby. It wasn’t good in more than three ways and it wasn’t the public representation of a modern, forward thinking institution but more akin to the reluctant “going through the motions” actions of a long married couple on their anniversary night.
The new site opens up more content to non-members. This is a good thing and will be something that will attract members and not deter them. If I can get that for free….can you imagine what I can get as a member? The organisation of the information has moved from confused, drunken Alzheimer’s patient to slightly scatty but beloved Aunt.
And this is a step in the right direction in many ways. The site may not be perfect, but it is better. The digital marketing team are engaging with people like me (and like you) to try to put across their message through collaboration and not indoctrination. And quite frankly if I had to look at that old s(h)ite for much longer I might have started to swear, get aggressive and pick fights with random people.
And you really don’t want that do you?
So where am I on this? Well 3 out of 5 increasing to 4 on the basis that I’m in HR and I can’t count and the fact that there is an intent to make things better. Compared to Think Stink, this is a major step forward.
Ladybird steps CIPD, Ladybird steps…..but putting one foot in front of the other is the start of a journey and your openness and willingness to engage deserves a (seated) round of applause.
My Hell is Other People 
Somewhere around paragraph nine – you gave us a 4 out of 5!! And you called it a ‘Webbed feat’. So that’s appreciated – thanks Theo HRD!
I’ll give you the usual reminder that ‘design is very subjective’, and btw many well known artists cite the humble Fuzzy Felt as a source of deep inspiration.
However apart from that I’ll say nothing more than it may be new, but it’s still evolving, so we’ll continue to enhance the site where we can, based on user feedback.
All the best
Johanna, CIPD Digital Team
It’s a little bit ‘busy’ and I’d have liked to have seen the phrase “Advancing HR globally”, if that’s to be their motto, as a regular in situ strapline underneath the CIPD logo rather than splattered across the top of the homepage in maroon. Not least as you’re straight away hit with the platitude “For you. For your Organisation” which stands out more than the bit about advancing HR globally. Thinking about it, are they advancing HR globally, or would the for you, for your organisation line sit better as the strapline, or neither? Not sure either about that image on the home page that looks like someone has bought some coloured paper and made a screwed up ball out of it.
I won’t even attempt to review the rest of the content as from the menu bar alone I can see there is a ton of it, and then some.
The only thing I have to say is this comment “I’m not a shallow man, to be shallow you need to have depth and I have none” cracks me up. I love it and I’m going to use it later.
I know you say Ladybird steps, but I actually think the CIPD has come a long way with its new site and with its use of social media over the last months. Compared to other professional institutions of which I am a member, and to other bodies who aspire to do “stuff” in this space, I have to say I am pretty impressed.
@Johanna Ratcliffe – Thanks for taking the time to comment Johanna. I love Fuzzy felt….but I don’t like those black blocks as you know. I really think this is much improved, so well done to you and all the team.
@Aloncalcia – C0me on man….surely you have nothing better to do! 🙂
@Adowling – I have copyright……
@Christine Livingstone – I agree…..completely, but I think there is still a long way to gor for many bodies.
@ChristineLivingstone thanks, & glad you like the site
@thehrd thanks, the team have been following the blog and comments on twitter etc. V reassuring to see the positive feedback!
@Aloncalcia, it’s origami, but don’t read too much into it!!
All the best Johanna