Preview of new forum layout / design screenshots

As promised, here are some preview screenshots of the new forum version I'm working on. The format will change quite a lot so I'll try and explain my thinking behind the changes.

First of all, the list of topics ... this is from the 'Active Topics' so it shows the folder that each topic is in (although they are all from Friends I just noticed). You will be able to view topics at a folder level and all levels below it (and we may have more sub-folders to organise things). This means that you will be able to look at everything posted in the 'WatchTower Society' section or just the contents of a specific sub-folder. All views will let you sort by the date the topic started or by the last reply (ala active topics) at any level.

I've tried to make the topic titles the primary thing to focus on and they are a lot bigger and easier to read. The view / post count will probably change and also contain icons to indicate locked topics, topics with videos or other content etc... The other thing you'll notice are the avatars play a bigger part in the topic listing views and are resized & rounded (facebook style) automatically. My thinking is that it helps you see topics started by people you like (or don't like) and likewise, the list of the latest 6 posters will help to see at a glance who's been taking part in the conversation. Eventually the aim is that as people post then views will auto update and animate the addition of the new avatar (I have the plans for this done but the implementation will come later).

There are 3 different variations to handle posters without an avatar ...

1. Displaying a Silhouette:

2. Displaying an Identicon (this is a pattern based on the posters IP Address):

3. Displaying a MonsterId (this is a cartoon-monster based on the posters IP Address):

Once you get to the topic itself I'm hoping it will be much nicer to read, with better fonts, cleaner layout and line spacing and generally less clutter (and fewer ads which I think I made a bit of a pigs-ear of!). I can't decide yet if the initial post will be a different color to the others (and maybe that posters replies then the same color throughout the topic) but it will look something like this. Note the avatars are still resized to fit the layout and may eventually incorporate the same 'blank avatar' options above for consistency. Avatars will be based on a much larger profile image that you will be able to have.

Start of topic:

Other posts in same topic:

I already have the basic forum working with the new layout and database structure and it's very fast even though it's displaying more information (e.g. the last 6 posters on a topic).

I'll probably make another post in a few days to show the new sign-in / registration which will allow you to use other accounts to sign-in (Facebook, Google, AOL, Yahoo and a host of others). In the meantime, I'd welcome any feedback or critiques, both good and bad, as all this is still very much 'work in progress'.

The plan is to setup a copy of the new site before switching over so that people will be able to try it for real of course.

Oh BTW, if you are reading this on the 'fixed' layout then it may be easier to see if you click the fluid layout button (top-right of the screen under 'Options')

Looking good.....Can't wait

Mama like

Sweet!

BTS

Nice

Yiz

Papa like! 

Nice!

Neat-o!!!

Looks great.

I notice that individual post #s are not displayed as they are now.....it is handy to have that information to refer to a specific post in a thread since links point to pages and not to individual posts.  Will that be included?

Sorry for the offtopic..... But I love the way Hooberus and Hamilcarr got punked on that thread........

Looks busy.

It's much easier to read, and really pretty!

I notice that individual post #s are not displayed as they are now.....it is handy to have that information to refer to a specific post in a thread since links point to pages and not to individual posts.  Will that be included?

If I understand you correctly then yes ... you will be able to link to a topic, a page of a topic or a particular post within a page of a topic (via a # HTML bookmark).

Looks busy.

The static shots does look a bit busy but once you use it for real I think it makes more sense ... I've found that after clicking around on the site for a while (while working on it) that I'm a bit disappointed when I come to the current live site because it isn't telling me as much (e.g. "ooh look, so and so responded to that topic ... I always like to read their posts")

Some things will be forum-configurable (i.e. a forum setting that applies to everyone) but others may be a per-user option (so if you only want to see the single latest post and think that is cleaner than that could be an option).

I've found that after clicking around on the site for a while (while working on it) that I'm a bit disappointed when I come to the current live site because it isn't telling me as much (e.g. "ooh look, so and so responded to that topic ... I always like to read their posts")

Same here. It would be nice to see more of what a thread offers without having to click into it. Nice work.

I'm a little computer challenged and older and slow to learn new things...I'll try to adjust as I always have.

Looks good Simon, but as with 'Blondie' I am also a little slower getting used to new things, I am only just getting used to this now in the 8th month!!  Don't make it too hard for me, else I will get my cousin in Calgary on to you

Thanks for ALL your hard work.

fokyc

Thanks for your hard work, these look like great changes.

spiff!

Looks great!