Change the layout
There is a lot of information that your trying to put on one page, so I can understand the difficulty, but the layout is a little difficult to follow. Maybe move the stats, I don't think it's as important or interesting as the pictures. You could make the 'explore this word' more prominent and have everything else more spaced out down the page instead of squashed together.
Thanks for your feedback! And yes, we DO have a lot to show, so we’ll be experimenting with different layouts and view options.
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nign commented
I just tried out the site and love what you're doing, but "change the layout" is also my first reaction upon using it, and the more I test it the stronger I feel about this.
Stats, tweets and tags are unlikely to be the top priority of what most are looking for, yet their placements suggest more prominence and utility than they deserve. On the other hand, the often-used pronunciation tool is stuffed in an obscure corner along with the ad panel, where seriously irrelevant things usually go.
There is a design principle/ tool called "grid design," which is very helpful with designing pages that need to hold a wide variety of information, exactly the kind wordnik pages are. It's very easy to learn. I suggest your web designer look into it.
Another thing that irks me is the logo font. it's really beyond standard Web 2.0 fare and honestly worse than characterless. Given what this site is about, I think a font that conveys a sense of erudition or some kind of literary spirit (what fonts are most often associated with Beatnik book design?) but doesn't look old-fashioned would be better for the job.
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Phil commented
I personally love the layout as it is, but I'm open to the idea of alternative layouts. I know some sites offer alternative layouts and color schemes for their registered users. I reckon that may be a nifty way to add variety. Perhaps a customizable layout, kind of like how iGoogle is set up, where you can move, add or omit some elements. That way, while I personally love the historical statistics of the words, those who feel it superfluous can deemphasize it or do away with it altogether.