Designing Blog Post Layouts for Presenting Website Redesign Before-and-After Reviews
Start With a Side-by-Side Hero Comparison
A website redesign review only works when readers can see the change. Open the post with a two-column hero block: the old design on the left, the new design on the right, and a short caption under each. Use a class such as comparison-grid-desigxd to control the layout, and let the images scale down gracefully on mobile so the pair stacks vertically.
Above the images, write one sentence that states the goal of the redesign, for example faster navigation or a clearer checkout. This gives the reader a lens before they study the pixels, and it keeps the rest of the article focused on reasoning rather than nostalgia.
Explain the Reasoning Behind Each Major Change
After the hero, break the review into numbered sections, one per change. Each section should follow the same rhythm: show the old element, show the new element, then explain why the switch happened. A numbered list works well for this sequence because it signals order and progress.
- Identify the problem in the old design.
- Describe the new solution in plain language.
- State the measurable or visual outcome.
Keep the explanation honest. If a change was driven by analytics, say so. If it was a hunch that later proved right, say that too. Readers trust reviews that admit uncertainty, and that trust is what makes a before-and-after post useful instead of decorative.
Use Pull Quotes to Highlight Design Principles
Between sections, insert a short quotation that captures the principle behind the change. It can be your own line or a relevant comment from the redesign brief.
Good redesign reviews do not just show what changed; they show what the change was for.
Place the blockquote in a bordered box using quote-box-desigxd, and keep it under twenty words. A pull quote gives the eye a rest and reinforces the article's argument without repeating the body text.
Add a Summary Table of Old vs New
Near the end, add a table that condenses every major change into one scannable view. A header row should name the area, the old approach, the new approach, and the reason.
| Area | Old design | New design | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navigation | Dropdown menus | Sticky bar | Fewer clicks |
| Typography | Small serif | Larger sans | Mobile readability |
Tables like this are especially useful for clients who skim, and they make the post easier to revisit later. End with a short bullet list of lessons learned so the article closes with practical takeaways rather than a summary of images.
- Show the change before explaining it.
- Tie every change to a goal.
- Keep the comparison scannable.
Close With Lessons, Not Just Screenshots
A before-and-after review becomes a real article when the final section answers one question: what should another designer take away from this project? Finish every sentence, close every tag, and let the last paragraph point readers toward their own next redesign.
