Subject:
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Re: New homepage for LUGNET part 3
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.admin.suggestions
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Date:
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Thu, 14 Dec 2006 06:03:58 GMT
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Viewed:
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6116 times
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Hi, Rene.
Firstly, thanks for all the work you are putting into this. I did not get a
chance to comment on the previous draft
(Draft #1), but I’ve now got the latest draft (Draft #2), Draft #1, and the
current LUGENT front pages up side-by-side so I can give you my thoughts.
Overall, I find the Draft #1 to be most
aesthetically pleasing in terms of color and layout. I did agree with the small
criticism that there is too much empty (wasted) space at the top of the page on
that draft, so I was pleased to see this addressed in Draft #2, and I do think
that adding the static Welcome message to that area was a good solution. But in
all other regards, I find Draft #1 to be easier on the eyes than Draft #2.
Now let’s talk about the middle column. I agree that the middle column is a
good place to put occasionally-changing information that the LUGNET admins
consider of general significance to all LUGNET visitors such as the info about
upcoming fests.
I think this is fairly well implemented on the current LUGNET front page
(leaving aesthetic issues aside). The only somewhat confusing issue is that
this occasionally-changing information is followed by the “Where minds connect”
and “Fun things to see and do” sections which are entirely static.
In Draft #1, I liked the look of the middle section very much. The dark blue
text over the light blue background was quite pleasant. The problem here is
that having the Welcome message at the top gives the visitor the idea that
everything in this middle column is static content. This was somewhat mitigated
by the Brickworld 2007 info having a date in the headline itself and a date on
which it was posted in parentheses, but I think you want a clearer separation
between static and changing content, so that’s why I approve of putting the
welcome message in the top section of the page. I also approved of moving the
Top Stories section back to its position in the left column as it is in the
current front page.
On Draft #2, aesthetically I dislike the dark borders and white on black text
of the middle column. But the larger problem is that it’s unclear to the
visitor what sort of content is being presented here. They way each story is
boxed and dated makes it look like these are dynamically generated Top Stories
(or something like that). Perhaps what is needed here is a section heading for
this middle column. Something to let people know that what follows is
occasionally-updated information hand-selected by the LUGNET admins. That’s not
a very snappy title, so perhaps we can come up with something succinct.
In Draft #2 it also looks a little weird to have the top border of the first
middle column box higher than the border at the top of the left and right
columns. I liked the look of Draft #1 much more in this regard.
As for the Welcome message itself, I would suggest shortening the text back to
something like it is on the current front page and also not having the text
stretch beyond the middle column. This would be easier to read and free up some
space in the upper right corner of the page. That upper right corner is already
a bit empty, so what I suggest is that we clear enough room to put the Search
LUGNET thing there.
I kind of like the magnifying glass icon you used in Draft #1. I suggest seeing
if you can fit the Search LUGNET in the dark blue part of that upper right
corner with the icon. OI am very pleased that the default search has been
changed to “News” instead of “Set Reference”. I generally do about 100 news
searches for every time I do a Set Reference search, so it was pretty annoying
to have to use the pull down menu each time.
Moving the Search LUGNET to the top right corner would also allow everything in
the right column to move up a little. I really like the dynamically updated
Latest MOC image, and it would be nice to see that at the top of the right
column.
Concerning the LUGNET logo in the upper left corner, I like Draft #1’s version
the best in terms of size and colors, though I would suggest centering it over
the left column as you did in Draft #2. (I’m just not so enthused about it
being made smaller and put in a box.)
I agree with DaveE that it’s never been all that clear what the difference is
between “Register for free” and “Become a member”. It might be good to just
have one prominent link on the front page that covers both of these (and perhaps
links to a page explaining the difference). Such a link does seem important
enough to be given more prominence than it gets in Draft #2 (though Draft #1
seems to devote too much space to it). I suggest adding an icon for it to the
row of icons across the top of the page. Perhaps call it simply “Join In” or
“Membership” or something appropriate, giving it a tooltip text that explains it
a little more.
I kind of like the “Newsgroup Shortcuts” on the current LUGNET front page. Not
only are they handy quick links to read those groups, I think the list gives
newcomers an idea of the different popular topics of discussion here on LUGNET.
OK, that’s all my comments for now. I know it most be maddening trying to
please so many different people. Your efforts are greatly appreciated though!
-Brendan
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: New homepage for LUGNET part 3
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| (...) Ja, me too, but obviously eye friendly distances are threatened with extinction :-) (...) You're right. Maybe "Editorial News"? (...) There's something wrong with my CSS, but I wasn't able to figure it out. The next draft will be without (...) (18 years ago, 15-Dec-06, to lugnet.admin.suggestions, FTX)
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