Worklist change @ 2026-10-23T21:57:20Z (1792792640604)

Summary: 1 proposed

Items proposed

• site-visual-identity-refresh (proposed, ``)
  • Before: The site currently uses Quarto’s sandstone theme with very light custom styling: a primary-color navbar, default Bootstrap/Quarto page structure, and a small global heading text shadow. The result is legible and conventionally academic, but it does not strongly express the “Semantic Werks” identity or Neil’s mix of software engineering research, public writing, and personal voice. The homepage is content-rich but visually flat: the portrait, territory acknowledgement, academic role, links, climate image, and Mastodon feed appear mostly as default document flow. The navigation labels are clear for institutional readers, but the overall presentation could do more to signal an idiosyncratic independent scholar while remaining credible to university, grant, industry, and corporate visitors.
  • After: Refresh the site presentation in a restrained but distinctive direction: - Build a custom visual identity in styles.scss: refined typography, a less default color system, clearer heading hierarchy, improved spacing, better link treatment, and a polished navbar that still feels serious. - Give the homepage a more intentional first impression in index.qmd: preserve the substantive content, but arrange it so Neil’s role, research/writing links, portrait, and key actions are easier to scan. - Add a few idiosyncratic details tied to the site’s existing “Semantic Werks” character: subtle editorial styling, distinctive section treatments, and carefully chosen visual accents rather than a generic startup/portfolio look. - Keep the tone acceptable for conservative academic and corporate audiences: no gimmicky animations, no loud color overload, no marketing hero copy, and no changes that obscure publications, teaching, or contact paths. - Render the site with Quarto and review the generated result for layout regressions on the homepage and common content pages.