***YOUR SITE, YOUR DESIGN!!***

Dizi · Post by **Dizi** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 22:20

Ok, maybe this should be in the suggestions forum, but I am putting it here as it will get a little more attention.

Now with the design of the site, me and chroelle were talking in the dev forum a while ago about what needs to be on the main page and the downloads page. Using this we bounced some quick paint sketches around until we came up with a sutible layout. This layout is very userfriendly everthing is layed out well and easy to navigate through.

But as this is your site and forum and it will be easier for me to design to peoples ideas of what they like rather then me just saying that this is what it will be like, I am bringing the questions I have to all of you rather then just the select few in the design group, or that can see the dev forum.

So first things first, we have a layout but we need some colours. What sort of colours should be used for the background? the links? the menus? If you have seen a site that you like then why not post it here (as long as it isn't anything that breaks the rules

)

Really all I am wanting is everyones input into this, its one thing to have two or three people in a team doing all the design, but if everyone can get invoved in even the smallest of ways, such as posting a link to a site they like then it will make this job a lot easier for the design team and a little quicker too.

I don't plan on this being the only question I ask you about the design...once the colours are decided and the layout is done I will know what sizes different aspects need to be so I will be asking about banners that are designed by the team, and buttons. Maybe even starting polls to see which ones are liked the most. As I have already said this way everyone can be a part of making this site the best it can be.

So I hope to hear from you soon

Shadowlord · Post by **Shadowlord** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 22:35

The main colour on this site is blue. So isn't it a must that blue is the main color in that section?
But which site I really like is http://www.lancia.de. Doesn't care what's written there. And don't have a look onto the cars (by the way: I like them..

). But the colours are very "friendly" and "warm". Just as an suggestion...

Dizi · Post by **Dizi** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 23:05

Ohh no the main page, this forum everything is going to get a make over so that it stands out from the crowd and adds something new and different rather then being the basic template. This site has just started so there is going to be a lot going on...So the blue can stay or it can go. Don't feel that you are restricted by the clours in here or anywhere else on the site.

Shadowlord · Post by **Shadowlord** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 23:29

Try this site (http://www.derbauer.de/), too. Do a click on media. The whole style of the site is....technical overloaded....But with the colours and everything there it has (for me) that "magical" thing...You know what I mean..
By the way... I you like to have a 3D-Video with the

logo...I've an idea... I like to create such things in good old (and slow) Bryce 3D 5 (and 5.5).

Post by **Chroelle** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 18:40

Well if you can do it with just that picture to start with, then you have my permission (and gratitude).
I have nothing else to input on the video. Other than of course the words that should be in it.

Dizi · Post by **Dizi** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 20:09

I left this for a few days in hope to get a flurry of ideas but I guess not. Well if no one wants to have input into this then it is fine, I don't mind but just remember that this is your place to voice opinions like Shadowlord has done. So if this site ends up being bright pink with yellow spots and green stripes.

Then all you can do is say yak that is awful please change it, and I will reply with no you had your chance to voice your opinions and you didn't then, so the only person you can blame is yourself for not adding your own input.

So if no one else wishes to add their opinions then that is fair enough, but like I said don't just blame me if you don't like it, I am after all giving you this chance to voice an opinion.

Post by **Chroelle** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 20:41

OH... I have a preferation that no pink be involved along with no dots and stripes.

No -seriously let me know if you need a deciding vote on something. Then I will see what I can do to help. But people speak up here. This is your oppurtunity. Well, that or you have to make your own design for us to add later on as an option....

Railwaymodeler · Post by **Railwaymodeler** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 22:11

I am tempted to offer my assistance with designing the site, but schedule is looking booked soon. Having said that, I don't care how the site looks. The graphics matter very little to me, as it is the content as far as the posts that matter more.

I may offer my hand to study navigation though. I tend to be very critical of such whenever I visit a site. We'll see what the schedule looks like in the next week or two first.

Dizi · Post by **Dizi** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 0:57

novigation isn't a real problem, as that has almost been solved and is an on going process at the moment with chroelle myself and the coders. Along with the layout, we decided upon the basics of the navigation, keeping it simple and within groups.

So as you are busy don't worry to much about that, unless you can code in php in whichcase you could always help out with that

But I don't want anyone to feel as if I am asking them to join up for the design team.

All I wish for is for some sites that you like and colours you liked, I know when I was helping DL with the layout of the site that he was going to make a lot of people didn't want it to be dark, they would rather it have been light. So any little hints no matter how big or small.

Remember that the forum colours will also be changed to fit the scheme so its not as if it is just the main parts of the forum. So if you don't wanta bright pink forum then I think you should help out just a little bit and direct to colours you like

Its not like its a hard thing to do...look

http://oldgames.nu/forum
http://forum.blackdiam.net

I am not going to steal their style or even their colours (unless I really really like them) I just want an idea from you as to how you see a freeware site and what colours attract you.

or else this is the only thing that I do design wise for the site...
http://www.geocities.com/dizillusionment/forum.html

because why should all the work have to be done by those who have the skills to do it? why can't those who can look at things and go that looks nice not help out? these are my questions to you...after all this is a forum that some of you are complaining isn't moving fast enough yet her is your chance to give an opinion on how it should look and you have all gone silent why is this? is it because you are those people who complain but when given a simple task that won't take too long to do expect other people to do it? how come you complain so much yet won't do anything to help?

If I don't get some links to sites then i simply stop helping, sorry chroelle but I'm not asking for much here just a few links from a few members and yet so far I have had one response and one I don't care, which is fair enough but if all don't care I don't see the pont in helping out, as whats the point in making a site look good for a community that doesn't care how it looks.

I didn't say I would help for praise, I did it because I can do it but I didn't want to do it alone. Yes there are two people on the design team and yes there is chroelle and the coders who are helping out with the layout and such. But if you don't care why should they? if you complain that its not moving fast enough yet are not willing to help then you have nothing you can complain about as you are not helping out...

Is what I am saying harsh? no its true, there are so many bending over backwards to help get this site off the ground and thats great, but there are those that are complaining about it not going fast enough and all they have done is complain that it isn't going fast enough, or that it will never work. Whats the point in me trying to do something that no one seems to care about. Its not like I am asking you all to kill yourself for the site, just simply post a damn link to a site or forum that you like the look of, that seems welcoming. Just so I can get some ideas so that the colours can get set so that the design team can start creating the buttons and banners and titles and links and smilies and logos and all the other little things that need to be done but cannot be done until the colour scheme is decided upon.

Yes a small task I know but one that will help the design team start off with the rest of the designing that needs to be done as stated above.

SO here it is put simply, until I get some links of some members to sites and forums they like the colours and feel of I am not doing anymore work. Because why should I put myself out as much as I have been today and a couple of days last week when no one but those who have posted in here (and eMTe who posted in aa different thread) seems to care?

Zandrav Ibistenn · Post by **Zandrav Ibistenn** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 2:22

Actually I don't think colours are very important as long as they're not repulsive, because you'll quickly adapt to a certain colour setting.
Colours should be calm and not offend your senses. I would prefer a light blue such as now, a dark red or a grayish tone. Definitely not anything irascible like bright yellow or pink.
This forum looks nice colourwise: http://forums.civfanatics.com/

The design should be simple and straightforward, not overly elaborate, because that would also likely make the site confusing.

The CWF logo at the top is particularly important since it's the first thing new users will see. It should stand out, either via design, different colours or both. Perhaps a background would help? Since it's a themed site (concerning names of ranks and subfora) this background could be themed accordingly.
The navigation below should stand out more distinctly - perhaps existing as differently coloured buttons arching near (possibly partially overlapping) the logo.

And since it's a themed site, wouldn't it be quaint with little symbols on the various fora? Like a small drawing of a marketplace next to the name, a mailbox next to the suggestionbox etc.?

Post by **Chroelle** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 18:13

http://www.imagitek.com/bcs.html
A fun little thing to get inspiration from. Try it out. It might help you decide what you would like.
Also see this one:
http://www.free-webmaster-tools.com/colorpicker.htm

http://www.sharksforum.com/
I like this one myself, but generally I like some metallic looks that hasn't gone overboard. I also gives good opportunity to make animations look in place.

http://connect-webdesign.dk/Downloads/Index.htm
I also like this one but only the border blue piece. If we could do something with this, I would be happy

Also Zandy I posted a thread months ago on this subject in feedback I think. There was no real response. I think we should have icons. This makes the individual forums seem a bit more differentiated.

Railwaymodeler · Post by **Railwaymodeler** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 18:57

@Dizi,

As far as OG colors, the one I really didin't like was the DOS style color set.

Icons would be nice, but be mindful of overcrowding the forums with them for our dialup users, of course. (You'd be surprised how many websites have so many icons that it takes forever to load a page, even on DSL)

Prideth · Post by **Prideth** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 7:30

I like dark colours, but know many people don't, so won't suggest it. However what about a silver grey background with gold and dark red borders, accents and headers. That sort of thing.

Can't point you to a site, because I don't know of one off hand that uses those colours, but they should look good together and be a compromise between light and dark. You can get the general idea by looking at one of my forums and imagining the blues as dark red and the bolded font in gold.

Reclamation

Post by **Chroelle** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 9:00

If we keep the red in a glossy/bright and shiny color I think it could look really great. Not sure about the gold though...Afraid it might fade into the back, so it is harder to read...
I think we should be considerate to the fact that a lot of people still use dial-up and try to make the mainpage as dial-up friendly as possible (though not on the cost of quality).
All in all I like the suggestion.

eMTe · Post by **eMTe** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 11:07

Well, here's the link to a very neat site, I already posted it, but cant find where atm.

http://www.freeware-download.com/

It's an example of the colour set that I would like to see - bright and warm. Dont like the fonts though - I think red is a little bit harder to read than black.

Also, I wouldnt want background to be darker than fonts - my eyes suffer everytime I start to browse such sites (Blackdiam is the example).

Dont have time to read previous posts, sorry... So, if anything was already decided just treat it as the one of votes, not too important one...

Shadowlord · Post by **Shadowlord** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 22:31

Chroelle wrote:Well if you can do it with just that picture to start with, then you have my permission (and gratitude).
I have nothing else to input on the video. Other than of course the words that should be in it.

Back to this site again.. Sorry, was hard at work for a few days.
Okay... I'll do something... Takes some time...

Maz · Post by **Maz** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 23:50

http://www.crownandcutlass.com/downloads/

I do like the menu on the left.
All of it.
Fonts, base color and special on mouse over effects. Othervice I feel the yellowish background is irritating, as well as wasting half of the page to margins (at least with my resolution).

Shadowlord · Post by **Shadowlord** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 0:31

I agree to fadedmind that the menu on the site is very nice!

eMTe · Post by **eMTe** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 0:50

Stylish... I like it.

Dont know if you noticed this danger... If we decide to name the site "crazy world of freeware" or sth like that we cant make stylish layout - this would be funny and this kind of funniness wouldnt be too good for us if you understand me...

So, the stylish layout needs stylish name...and the other way around...

Post by **Chroelle** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 19:16

I must say that I agree. On both counts. I am more and more willing to cut out the CWF abreviation. We could always continue that domain on the side, so that we can use both names.

The design that FM linked to is VERY NICE. I like the softness of the whole thing, but this might give us a problem with looking too soft and cosy, when we might want to add some techy stuff.... Do we want techy stuff? oh... IMO