The thing Labourhome always had going for it was its sheer crapness. Only the true down to earth grass roots, distant from the glamour and lavish PR (and lifestyles) of the parliamentary party could love the old Labourhome website.
The question becomes why did they redesign?
Clearly they’ve been under pressure from Labour list (thanks to the extreme publicity seeking shennanigans of their greasy former editor) and felt the need to keep up to date… but I ask you, what were they thinking?
Labourhome claims to be a site for grassroots Labour supporters. It’s meant to re-engage them.
Here’s the new logo:
Pleasant enough. There’s the tag-line… ‘back to the roots.’ So, go on, try to guess what sort of picture would go with this message?
Go on, have a guess. Maybe some workers in a factory? Maybe a single mum? Something to do with being a worker and being working class or something like that, yeah? Yeah?
Not quite. The image they’ve chosen is this:
That’s right. The image that represents the Grassroots of the Labour Party is this building, the Houses of Parliament.
Good luck with the relaunch, guys.
UPDATE: Okay, thinking about it, I’m on very thin ice here. I’m not exactly a Pro Designer myself. If Labourhome doods want to come slag off the design for this blog (or for Liberal Vision actually) then they should feel free.
For what it’s worth, and just cos I’ve got the excuse to talk about it, the ‘theme’ for this site’s design is the blueprint motif in the banner. Blueprints are great things. They remind you of engineering, of plans, of precision, and of potential. They’re instructions for something much bigger and better. That’s why I picked blueprints. 
UPDATE UPDATE! Well, turns out the design’s a work in progress and they’re going to have another look. Special round of applause for heroically good tempered Andie Fairlie.
Andie said...
21 May 09 at 10:59 pm
Hey Charlotte, I designed this theme earlier today in a couple of hours and really appreciate your criticisms. The reason for the change, as far as I’m aware, was that there was a problem with the old content management system they were using.
I really like your idea of having a family instead of the houses of parliament… I’ll implement this as soon as possible.
Thanks so much for your comments, this design is literally no more than 4 hours old and is going to be a work in progress based on the ideas from people like yourself.
Charlotte Gore said...
21 May 09 at 11:01 pm
Oh well, can’t argue with that.
alex hilton said...
21 May 09 at 11:34 pm
I’m really sorry Charlotte but one of the greatest achievement of the Labour movement was getting the working class into parliament, something quite unpopular with the liberals at that time.
Of course, after 100 years, I’m not associating you with the attitudes of your predecessors.
Charlotte Gore said...
21 May 09 at 11:36 pm
Ah that’s an interesting way of looking at it.
James D said...
22 May 09 at 12:07 am
Re: update. Not so thin. You represent only yourself.
Mark Reckons said...
22 May 09 at 12:16 am
I thought it looked OK. The old one was very clunky so I certainly think it’s an improvement.
Constantly Furious said...
22 May 09 at 7:32 am
On ‘thin water’?
Charlotte Gore said...
22 May 09 at 7:48 am
Is it just me or am I getting worse? Thin Water?? I used to have standards!!!
MatGB said...
28 May 09 at 1:09 pm
So the electoral alliance between the Liberal party and many Labour groups didn’t happen then Alex?
Are you re-writing history on a grander scale than Hazel Blears now?