Thoughts on the CSS-Tricks Redesign

http://www.css-tricks.com
http://www.css-tricks.com/lodge/
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/150422311/screencasting-a-complete-redesign

There have been several people talking about the css-tricks.com redesign today. Most of the comments are along these lines:

• "The css-tricks redesign is so bad." (no further explanation)
• "He made almost $90,000." (followed by snide/jealous/rage comments)
• "He should've given us the best website ever for what the project made." (mostly people without their own site of any kind)

Here's my take:

The original goal was $3,500. That was quickly surpassed in a few days. No one was complaining then.

A month later, the project is funded by 2,187 backers, to the tune of $89,698.

The /lodge page states that you get 150 videos (15min/each) which amounts to 40 hours of screencasts. Most people backed the $25 level, which entitles you to 6 months access to the members area and all the screencasts.

Let's compare with another example, The Shape of Design by Frank Chimero: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fchimero/the-shape-of-design

$27,000 goal. 2,109 backers. $112,159 total funding.

Ok, so what's the difference? There is none.

No one expected Frank to double the amount of pages/illustrations in his book once he reached 4x the original goal amount. Similarly, it's unfair to expect Chris Coyier transform his original scope to "the best website in the world," relative to the amount of people who felt secure in spending $25 to learn how an industry leader approaches a redesign.

Bottom line: Don't expect someone to change their plan mid-stream because they ended up getting more funding than expected. The success of a project, in terms of the creator's profit margin, shouldn't affect your decision to support it. You should support a project because it's providing something worth the amount you are willing to pay.