On an unfamiliar blog, readers often start with the name, a few recent headlines and a short introduction to the author. Those details help them decide whether there is something here for them.
Designing a homepage starts with that brief moment of discovery.
Keep articles within reach
An article list should be easy to find. A title, an excerpt and a date usually provide enough information to choose what to read, while a cover helps distinguish one topic from another.
On a larger screen, a wide article column and a narrower sidebar establish a natural order. The sidebar adds context without competing with the words.
Give every section one job
- Navigation explains what kinds of content are available.
- A banner introduces something worth noticing.
- The article list provides clear reading choices.
- The sidebar adds background and another direction to explore.
When two sections do the same job, try removing one before giving either of them more visual emphasis.
Reconsider priorities on a phone
A phone does not have room for both a full article column and a sidebar. Shrinking the desktop arrangement makes the text crowded, so the mobile version returns to one column and places navigation in an expandable menu.
The arrangement can change across screens. What should remain clear is the relationship between the pieces of content.
Clarity comes from making important things easy to find.