Changes are not always good

I have given Xpress' new layout an open mind, but I am still lost.

In the old style, things stuck out and were easy to find and enjoyable to read. Now everything is kind of generic bland and hard to find. You can't deny it.

Take, for example, the Sept. 4 issue. You could not even find the “News of the Weird” on page 29, as the index listed it. Why do people insist on changing something that is working just fine?

The enjoyment of reading Mountain Xpress has waned due to the cold, uninviting blandness of the new layout.

This is a diverse community, and you were too. Changes are not always good.

— David Smith
Marshall
Xpress Publisher Jeff Fobes responds: We're glad that you are so fond of our old design. It definitely showcased the work of various Xpress designers over the past few years.

Ultimately though, our goal is to provide our readers with a cohesively designed paper that’s navigable, readable and with a pleasing aesthetic. We hope we've met those goals for the majority of our readership.

For example, one of the new design’s key attributes are its consistent headers at the top of each page that make it easy to see what section of the paper you're in.

As to your difficulty in finding News of the Weird in our Sept. 4 issue: That wasn't a design flaw. The feature was cut that week for lack of space and, unfortunately, we failed to update the table of contents to reflect the cut.

Even if you do find the new design generic and bland — we hope you find the weekly content anything but.

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

About Webmaster
Mountain Xpress Webmaster Follow me @MXWebTeam

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.