Site redesign

[Marie 73]

I am in the pre-alpha stages of a new site layout, however I am thinking that for the first time in a few years of doing an actual site overhaul. I'm looking specifically at the front page which hasn't changed much since 2001. Any thoughts? And yes Jan, I plan on looking at the menu so suggest something else!

[Kaitlin 22]

I was going to ask what you were going to do with the menu but you answered my question! *so unhelpful*

 

 

It's... nice when it matches the forum! *helps*

[Vertex 23]

It'd be need if the whole site relied on the forum back-end. Can it do CMS like that? Then matching designs wouldn't be an issue since there would only be one. Sometimes less is better.

[jan 14]

Did Niklas just volunteer to build you something? ;-)

 

Well, how about just matching the forum design to the home page?

[Marie 73]

Well the goal is to always have the site and forum match, so is there anything a bit more specific?

[Kaitlin 22]

I suggest that Niklas builds that thing he was going to build. Also, now that the forum can do more maybe move some content over this way and just link to faqs instead of having stuff there. *makes work* Also, I like grey, purple, green, and blue. But not too blue because that doesn't look as great on comps. A steel blue or something muted. idk! And I like static images on pages but that might not be too modern... a little '03!

 

/Suggestion!Kate

[jan 14]

I meant that specifically to make the home page look exactly like the forum. As in, same header, menu, colours, etc. There's enough content to have a content area and a menu. Or perhaps there could be a way to keep feeds from the latest forum posts in a sidebar too.

[Marie 73]

I do want the site + forum more streamlined, but I don't know about exactly the same simply because certain forum navigation options don't really need to be present on the front page, but I would like the main site to have a bar thingamajig to better match. The more you people talk the more it looks like I need IP.Content (too bad I'm a cheap ass). It's also sounding like a three column layout.

 

This is also starting to sound like a lot of actual work.

[Kaitlin 22]

*gets helpful distractions ready*

[jan 14]

*sigh* yeah, actual work can be annoying. That's why I've put off redoing my site for 3 years.

[Vertex 23]

Niklas did not! Did not did not did not. Not not not not not. NOT. Not that I wouldn't like to do something. On a hypothetical plane, at least. But I'm pretty sure both Kitt and Bug has volunteered by posting so in this thread. So. *runs*

[Sam 19]

I won't make demands about the future site layout but maybe you could just add back a pillow friend theme?

[AshSnow 0]

Changing the front page of the site would be kool. Since your right..it hasn't changed much. And every day seems pretty...static.

 

Maybe on the front center piece, or have another column on the right hand side, show the most recent forum post/most active one's?

 

Something like this: http://www.animetake.com/

As you can see in the center middle there are constant new post. But if that is too much just do what they do for their forum, on the right hand side where it says: "Latest Discussion Forum Topics", something like that may be a nice touch?

 

I have no idea how much work that would be though.

[Marie 73]

I'm thinking I'll need to invest in IP.Content. It's only $50 and it can pull all sorts of info from the forum core. I sound like I'm talking to myself.

[Sam 19]

We should have a forum donation drive! Or a New Front Page Drive!

 

Doesn't Jan make webdesigns? She can help with the styling. I don't know what Vertex can do.