I hope you enjoy this somewhat simplified, but also more professional, first contact point of Manjaro Linux.
For more information on the motivation and tech of this redesign, you can read the blog post about it:
Please let us know what’s you opinion of this certainly radical shift in design. For comparison you can find the former website for some time still at https://old.manjaro.org.
Kvick, getten ze Spitfires up in ze air und aimen for ze blinkenlights on ze Messerschmitts! Droppen yor bomms on ze Bismarck! Vatschen out for ze Stukas!
Perhaps I am taking some risk by posting my critique. But, in my professional life I do value constructive criticism. So, here goes.
First, the general, at a glance look of the new website design is appealing. The spaciousness ensures it isn’t too busy, confusing, or off-putting. This also allows for additional information to be smartly added. So, at a glance it is nice.
That is about where the good vibe ends for me. If I were wanting a more detailed understanding of Manjaro, where do I go from there?
With this new, clean, and readable design, there is an abundance of real estate for short paragraphs, strategically placed links, and meaningful and relevant imagery. If I were still searching for a Linux distro, I wouldn’t find the information that I need from here. There aren’t any links that, with just one mouse click, would provide the details I need so that I may make an informed choice.
There is a goldmine of meaningful information that, well crafted, would help the uninformed and curious. As it stands, I don’t think that the current content of the website provides enough information.
The Forum link to Downloads needs to be re-linked.
A nice simple 404 appears currently.
I presume this should be the URL:
https://manjaro.org/products/download/x86
This minimalistic mentality in web design has existed for some time; the approach is even taught to a great extent at colleges, universities, etc.
As a business site, the focus is on showcasing and sales; that’s the reality that a site such as this reflects.
However, I’ve seen much worse in the wild; we all have, haven’t we?. The Manjaro design at least has the potential to add more information; to grow with future needs.
The cards on the Download page might be better as links to (more detailed) pages for each Manjaro flavour; at the moment they only serve as download links; the cards could satisfy both.
While interesting, the design, content, and purpose of a website should be for the benefit of those visiting, not adherence to a particular design philosophy.
That depends. The company I work for provides information exploring the capabilities and services that they offer. This is accomplished with what you referred to as a minimalistic design, but that still provides information that is well organized and accessible from the home page.
Yes, that is the point I was driving. The look and feel are good, the approach of not bombarding visitors with TMI right away, I think is good. I chose not to comment at all about any specific design elements, rather just the information void.
While I agree, in essence, any commercial site not only has to benefit those visiting, but must also be effective in producing sales.
However, there was no suggestion of adhering to any particular design philosophy; but simply to say this minimalistic approach exists, and is well embedded as a defacto standard in web design teaching programs.
It’s nice when a site delivers content in a well presented, practical manner, with minimal information to attract some initial interest, and then more in depth information only a click-or-two away…
Too often, that desired information doesn’t exist.
Perhaps a More information or Read more invitation leads to a Sign-in page, or a vaguely relevant promotion; but not the information wanted. I recall seeing some sites with skeleton descriptions actually repeated, and paraphrased; several times; evidently to bolster content.
Some sites are thankfully better than others in this regard, though I maintain information should be both available and accessible, with a minimum of interaction.
I’m sure most would agree that’s a reasonable expectation.
I notice the options are taken off the front page, which is interesting and clean - very nice.
I like the concise and clear explanation of the ‘cascading stability’ and the colour scheme is less ‘Manjaro’ but more professional.
I do think the first page link should read “Downloads” because it doesn’t initiate a download, rather link to the page with direct Download links - just a small native speaker style nit-picky grammar thing.
I’m curious if there should be a more prominent entrance to the forum - as I notice that Reddit is still rather more popular, whilst being far less optimal for the task of managing support.
Refreshing and professional. 
