New site layout

Zephyr · Post by **Zephyr** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 8:45 pm

Here are two experimental layouts for a new version of Tamriel Rebuilt website/forums.

Please remember, that this is a layout test, not a graphics test! If you have comments about the graphical side, those are welcome as well, especially if you can illustrate your ideas. But most importantly, please try to comment on the layouts.

The layouts work properly on Firefox, Opera and IE7. I'm working on IE6 support for layout #1.

Layout #1: Fixed navigation on left-hand side, always on display, some navigation on right-hand side

http://tamriel-rebuilt.org/layout/trlay2.html

Layout #2: Traditional navigation on left-hand side

http://tamriel-rebuilt.org/layout/trlay3.html

Please post your ideas!

Lutemoth · Post by **Lutemoth** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 8:56 pm

I like the first layout, it feels more efficient as composition goes. I have a 1024x768 screen so it allows my attention to face both at the same time much faster than the second layout.

Considering the general both have, I enjoy it a lot! It contains a lot more interactivity than the current one, and aught to give visitors an idea of what going on as TR members have

Nalin · Post by **Nalin** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 9:14 pm

Both look much more user friendly that the current website - at least to newcomers who aren't familiar with how to find exactly what it is they're looking for.

The second layout was my initial preference purely because of the way it slaps a big simple breakdown right in the middle of the page...very efficient. In my opinion efficiency wasn't/isn't really a strong point of this site, which is maybe why i leant towards the second layout initially - i think we'd get more joining if things were a little more user friendly...Which both are.

The first looks a little nicer though - plenty of space for a nice big image on the front page too

Looks are very important - especially to new-comers.

Both look very promising though - and with graphics they'll look so much better!

Nanu · Post by **Nanu** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 9:34 pm

I enjoyed #1 as it was easy to find what I needed. Anything you can chop off or put in a menu would be better left there, I think.

Morden · Post by **Morden** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 9:35 pm

The first thing that struck me is the Progress Bar sitting front and center. Displaying the completion of TR in a percentage format is horribly inaccurate, and we've been discouraging the practice for a couple years now. Not only because our current site isn't updated, but because this project is too complex and open-ended to measure in such a simplified format. For what it means to people, we're almost safer simply listing what we do have finished, what Beta we're on, and how you can download it.

I do however enjoy the screenshot gallery which is visible from the main page.

Lady Nerevar · Post by **Lady Nerevar** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 9:38 pm

i like version 2 more. however, i dont like the percent bar. i would like the 2 bars to be the same width too... its kinda wierd the way it is. also, i dont understand the home, MW, and OB boxes at top. arent those the same as the bar to the left? (i find it Superfluous)

as per graphics, i like the scrolls the current site has, but they need an update. here is a realy quich sketch.

[url=http://img239.imageshack.us/my.php?image=untitled1xk8.jpg][img]http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/2531/untitled1xk8.th.jpg[/img][/url]

NEENJA · Post by **NEENJA** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 12:56 am

I like number one, the navigation on the left feels less unwieldy without the extra stuff there. I also like the idea of including wizards.

As for progress, perhaps we could include a grid that describes in what stage we are in for each map, be it interior dev, quests, beta, or final release. 'Course, that may get kinda big for the front page, so I dunno.

--the NEENJA

angelus6 · Post by **angelus6** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 2:24 am

argh... i don't like either! personally, i like TR just the way it is: simple, straight-forward, easily helpfull and of course pretty

Macar · Post by **Macar** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 3:22 am

Angelus, The problem is that it isnt straightforward or pretty. Information is either hidden or nowhere to be found. And the look is dated. Of course, these redesigns where about format- so the fact that they arent pretty is irrelavent.

I like 2- 1 seemed too baren to me. 2 seems more alive.

Post by **ko2fan** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 4:12 am

They both look good in Safari 2.0.4 as well.

--
garfield

Morden · Post by **Morden** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 4:55 am

I really like the format #1 the best. I'm running a widescreen laptop at a res of 1680x1050, and everything fits on the page perfectly. The space is used very well. It's all at your finger tips. With the 2nd layout, the whole right half of the page is blank, and I have to scroll down to see the rest of the left sidebar.

Ayedail · Post by **Ayedail** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 6:06 am

i do think they are nice but i prefer the one we have now,attleast, for the forums. maybe you can give some things a new color or design but the system is good enough as it is now.

Morgoth Bauglir · Post by **Morgoth Bauglir** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 10:35 am

I like the second one, I've got a very small screen so the bigger screen is a good thing.
I shouldn't change much about it, perhaps the copyright stuff down at the site should be a bit smaller?

And I LOVE the support for IE7 (finally)

CleverClothe · Post by **CleverClothe** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 12:24 am

I like Layout 1 best.

Also, definitely get rid of the progress section. Make it a separate page accessable by an obvious menu item.

The section should list exterior/interior cells completed (preferably with maps, but simple tables work) and NPCs/quests made. The progress section should also have all the necessary links to find out how to contribute to various areas.

As an additional feature, it might be nice to have a small section to showcase recently completed work.

Oh, the "sections" area at the top center wastes too much space and is redundant (see left menu).

lb003g0676 · Post by **lb003g0676** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 12:31 am

I like Layout 2 more. The toolbars on either side feel too claustrophobic. And they squish up all the information in between. But otehr than the aesthetics of it... in any otehr respect they are both awesome. And to be honest the toolbra on the right on Layout 2 does looks immensely useful, gah the profile bit with Showcase options and Claims options looks awesome!

Post by **Swiftoak** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 3:59 am

I actually like Lady N's concept. It's simplistic. With graphics, it would look awesome.

Macar · Post by **Macar** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 5:51 am

ah... I see now.

I was looking at this with my GF's computer- her monitor is 800x600- in #1 it was cutting things off- it put the left toolbar on it's own line.

So- I actualy like 1 now as well.

[edit] actualy, it's not the resolution- there is just something wrong- because I turned it up and it still dosent show them on oposite sides... is it because it's IE 6?

Starcrunch · Post by **Starcrunch** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 7:06 am

It has to do with IE6. If you look at it (#1) in Firefox or (persumably) IE7 it will look fine.

I'm really fine with either but not very fond of the progress bars for reasons pointed out by Morden. They both appear to be functional, and as long as no annoying flash crap is put in that prohibits rapid navigation either will look great.

-Starcrunch

jackston · Post by **jackston** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 11:52 am

To be honest I prefer the current site....sorry

-Saddistic_Angel- · Post by **-Saddistic_Angel-** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 12:44 pm

I prefer the first one.
And, having Firefox, the sites' scroll bars don't matter.

Dexter · Post by **Dexter** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 1:34 pm

I prefer the first one. Having the profile feature visible at the top right and not at the bottom of the left margin is a nice way of keeping things simple. I agree with Morden and others about the progress bar, however. We'd be best off just not having one.

Stalker · Post by **Stalker** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 1:43 pm

I personally prefer the second one because profile beings not a very useful thing it is bites a huge slice off useful area where we can put news for example. And I agree with the rest on the progress bar issue.

Oh and about IE6 support. What for ? IE7 comes as an update by Windows Update now. So as long as you are a regular non-techy user (and those are the only ones using IE. And masochists of course) - you already have IE7.

Post by **Haplo** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 6:41 pm

I guess if I have to vote, I'd choose number 1.

By that I mean 2.

Serric · Post by **Serric** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 10:28 am

I prefer layout1, the fixed menu on the left is much more helpful. I also agree with Morden that the progress bar is a bad idea, it'll just be too inaccurate.

Looking good Zeph...

Thrignar Fraxix · Post by **Thrignar Fraxix** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 10:54 am

I agree that a progress bar is bad. perhaps we could have something showing who holds records in certain modding fields (I.E. most interiors, most exteriors, etc.)

BTW: I like 2, as it doesn't have that rectangle on the right hand side and it seems more organized. (something about that rectangle and the way it doesn't extend all the way down the page annoys me...)

theviking · Post by **theviking** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 3:13 pm

I like the second one more, as you have more room for screenshots and pictures. If there is only one bar with links, the page can be wider and there can be bigger pictures. It's also easier to find things if all things are displayed to the left.

Morgoth · Post by **Morgoth** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 3:23 pm

I love the second one as well. Nice and symetrical. I think one would be cool, if the toolbar wasn't floating around out there. I like it bordering the screen. Also, the screenshots and art section is much nicer in the second.

Nichevo · Post by **Nichevo** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 4:52 pm

I prefer layout #1, but then I have a widescreen and want to cram as much as possible horizontally. ItÃ‚Â´d be cool to have the box on the right in a separate window or the option to hide it, or something along the lines of that. That way you can use it from anywhere.

Zephyr · Post by **Zephyr** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 9:59 am

Thanks for all of your comments. Personally, I really liked layout #1 better because of the fixed menu, but having the menu there really makes it much more difficult to design other pages for the layout: for example, fitting the forums view to the display area with those boxes on the right-hand side would be much more difficult than it would need to be.

Of course, it would be possible to simply hide those boxes from view in some screens but it's much better to keep the layout the same all the time instead of changing it on some pages.

Sorry about the progress bar. It's not really a part of the *layout* though, it's just something that we used to fill the front page with to make it seem like a real website.

In short: layout #2 will be chosen because of technical reasons and because it was popular enough among you as well.

If someone really wants to start making real graphics for this layout, any offers are welcome.

Lady Nerevar · Post by **Lady Nerevar** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 7:34 pm

If someone really wants to start making real graphics for this layout, any offers are welcome.

im definatly interested, but i dont know if i can actualy get anythng done