xkamelx
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Check Those Corners
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Post by xkamelx on Nov 6, 2004 1:15:49 GMT -5
Here is a forum I recently made for my mom, and some of her friends from my city. My goal was not to make it the best looking, or even a hi-tech forum, but my goal was to make it a nice, original, crisp design that was easy on the eyes, and would attract those who are into local politics. Seeing as how the forums first members will be a few middle age women, I also wanted to make it something that they would like to. I have left the welcome guest text, as many of them has never heard of ProBoards before, let alone used one. I wanted to keep things as easy, and basic as possible. Let me know what you think. ccinformer.proboards39.com/index.cgi
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FantasyLover
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Currently cleaning Wolf's toilet with a toothbrush.
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Post by FantasyLover on Nov 6, 2004 1:18:25 GMT -5
hehe, the feminist movement...Proboards style. ;D
But seriously, it isvery nice. Good, simple gradients and soothng colors.
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Post by Favorite15 on Nov 6, 2004 10:29:17 GMT -5
It is a very nice place for women to gather, but I have a theory as to what the logo and background is... the logo of the steeple is related to the name, the cabell county informer , like a court house or county office. and the white textured background relates to the old english style government buildings... or just concrete.
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Post by valderra on Nov 6, 2004 11:48:27 GMT -5
Very nice looking, Myke. I like the clean and simple colour scheme. It´s a little too bright for my liking *puts on her shades* (don´t much like white) but otherwise looks really good.
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xkamelx
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Check Those Corners
Posts: 11,108
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Post by xkamelx on Nov 6, 2004 16:29:59 GMT -5
hehe, the feminist movement...Proboards style. ;D But seriously, it isvery nice. Good, simple gradients and soothng colors. Thanks Fantasy! It is a very nice place for women to gather, but I have a theory as to what the logo and background is... the logo of the steeple is related to the name, the cabell county informer , like a court house or county office. and the white textured background relates to the old english style government buildings... or just concrete. Thanks Favorite! And you're half right, lol. The image in the banner is a photograph of our courthouse, The Cabell County Courthouse. I took it from my city's web site. And as for the texture, it was just a random effect, same with the background, however, I like your theory, and may claim that is the reasoning behind it, lol. Very nice looking, Myke. I like the clean and simple colour scheme. It´s a little too bright for my liking *puts on her shades* (don´t much like white) but otherwise looks really good. Thanks Val. I'm not a fan of the brightness either (hence TR's dark design, lol) but I figured the white would help give it more of a 'government' feeling.
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Post by valderra on Nov 7, 2004 5:03:38 GMT -5
but I figured the white would help give it more of a 'government' feeling. For a government feeling, shouldn´t you be using the colour grey for that, Myke? LOL ;D
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xkamelx
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Post by xkamelx on Nov 7, 2004 18:01:37 GMT -5
For a government feeling, shouldn´t you be using the colour grey for that, Myke? LOL ;D Or Military Green.
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xkamelx
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Post by xkamelx on Nov 11, 2004 9:00:56 GMT -5
Ok, the woman who I made the forum for stopped by yesterday, and had be complety re-do it. She wanted purple and yellow, so I re-did the forum as she asked. What do you guys think?
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FantasyLover
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Post by FantasyLover on Nov 11, 2004 13:10:32 GMT -5
Well Kamel, you have my symphathies for having to make a boards with those colors, but you managed to pull out ok.
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xkamelx
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Post by xkamelx on Nov 12, 2004 13:40:43 GMT -5
You know, I may have her re-think it, because she wants her board to be taken seriously as a source of news (she has many contacts within our city, people from the newspaper, news stations,ect) and I do not think purple and yellow will be taken seriously as a new source.
She will be buying a web domain soon, and I'll be doing her web site, and will try to talk her out of those colors and maybe go back the the blue and white colors instead.
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oblivion
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Post by oblivion on Nov 12, 2004 14:58:06 GMT -5
I like the fairly simple layout. As someone who supports a board that has a number of members in the "bifocal" generation, and a high percentage of women members (about 90% of the active members), I have a couple of thoughts...
You might consider making the default font larger. this will mean that they can't "play" with the font to make huge scrolling "Happy Birthday" marquee posts...but on my board the consensus was that readability trumped fancy marquees.
I like that you are using italics when hovering over a link. This helps people with mouse targeting. My forum members preferred a narrower "text area" on the forum page. I think I settled on about 80% instead of the default 92% after trying out a few. If you increase the font size AND narrow the forum width, it takes a little playing around to find the ideal width.
I've tended to stay away from gradients in an effort to keep my board simple and clean looking. But, the way you used gradients in the category backgrounds has me rethinking...maybe it could improve readability, not distract.
Another thing to think about with this demographic, and forum topic -- seasonal backgrounds. Snowflakes in the winter, butterflies in the spring, beach umbrellas in the summer, pumkins, cornucopia, etc., etc. The backgrounds need to be muted colors and tile nicely. If her county has festivals at certain times of years she may want to change the background to something in keeping with the festival themes.
If she wants to do something like that, it's better to go with a fairly neutral color scheme so that EVERYTHING doesn't have to be changed because of new background graphics. Purple and yellow might not be the best choice.
Hope this helps.
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Post by valderra on Nov 13, 2004 5:14:27 GMT -5
Ok, the woman who I made the forum for stopped by yesterday, The woman, Myke? It´s your mum you are talking about. LOL I happen to like those colours but then I also sometimes use yellow and purple (or hot pink - as some people say) on my board.
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Post by MikeLohmer on Nov 13, 2004 12:52:00 GMT -5
I really hate the banner. But I love thew New/Old Icons. 7/10. Guys will nenver join that forum.
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xkamelx
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Post by xkamelx on Nov 13, 2004 14:58:44 GMT -5
I like the fairly simple layout. As someone who supports a board that has a number of members in the "bifocal" generation, and a high percentage of women members (about 90% of the active members), I have a couple of thoughts... You might consider making the default font larger. this will mean that they can't "play" with the font to make huge scrolling "Happy Birthday" marquee posts...but on my board the consensus was that readability trumped fancy marquees. I like that you are using italics when hovering over a link. This helps people with mouse targeting. My forum members preferred a narrower "text area" on the forum page. I think I settled on about 80% instead of the default 92% after trying out a few. If you increase the font size AND narrow the forum width, it takes a little playing around to find the ideal width. I've tended to stay away from gradients in an effort to keep my board simple and clean looking. But, the way you used gradients in the category backgrounds has me rethinking...maybe it could improve readability, not distract. Another thing to think about with this demographic, and forum topic -- seasonal backgrounds. Snowflakes in the winter, butterflies in the spring, beach umbrellas in the summer, pumkins, cornucopia, etc., etc. The backgrounds need to be muted colors and tile nicely. If her county has festivals at certain times of years she may want to change the background to something in keeping with the festival themes. If she wants to do something like that, it's better to go with a fairly neutral color scheme so that EVERYTHING doesn't have to be changed because of new background graphics. Purple and yellow might not be the best choice. Hope this helps. That's some really good advice oblivion. I plan to work on it a little more tomorrow, and maybe Monday, and will keep those suggestions in mind, and run them by the ladies. Thank you. The woman, Myke? It´s your mum you are talking about. LOL I happen to like those colours but then I also sometimes use yellow and purple (or hot pink - as some people say) on my board. Her friend is the one who owns the forum, and who will buy the website I am going to make for her. They are like a political group of friends who are heavily into local politics. I think the colors look fine, and match pretty good, but am not sure how much of a 'news' forum/site it will lookl ike with those colors. I really hate the banner. But I love thew New/Old Icons. 7/10. Guys will nenver join that forum. That's funny because a few men have already joined it and begun posting. But the colors are subject to change, and the banner fits the forum perfectly, as the image is our courthouse here, the center of our city's political enviornment.
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oblivion
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Post by oblivion on Nov 13, 2004 16:26:36 GMT -5
Men who are interested in the topic won't be put off by a forum that looks "womanly". But if the forum owner anticipates a roughly 50/50 demographic, gender-neutral colors are a plus. Colors that say 'we mean business" or "we care about government" would also probably look more official, though not as interesting. Shades of blue, or blue and gray would probably be the way I'd go, if the forum owner buy's in. Given the topic, and the semi-official nature of the forum (a community resource that the movers and shakers will probably follow if the members are politically active) I think that a "landmark" banner that is reminiscent of official county websites is a good idea, irregardless of the aesthetics. And as architecture the building looks nice...sooo I'd keep it. Good luck! I'll be interested to hear how a community-related forum works. I've thought about launching something similar for my community (in my abundant spare time : Others have gone there first, but are more interested in a platform for their own views than a place for many people to express diverse views.
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