Site Design

[Shivertongue he/him]

I'm gonna sticky this to the top, so people can find it easier later on.

This is just a thread where you, dear member, can comment on the graphics of 17th Shard. Is something too distracting? Let me know. Is something not loading properly, or is there an ugly black mark on on the banner that I never noticed before? Let me know. Have any questions about the design or graphics themselves? Ask away.

Have any ideas for improving the design yourself? Wow, you've got some nerve there, budd- I mean, put them here and if I like 'em, you might find it or a variation added into a future redesign or reworking. Who knows, if we become much larger, I might recruit a small "design team" from the members here. In which case you'd get a nifty shirt.

Or maybe you just want to tell me how awesome/horrible the graphics are. I hope it's the former. Despite how we may act, designers have fragile egos. However, feedback and constructive criticism is always appreciated. And if you have any, this is the place for it.

~ Will, your Humble Graphics Monkey

[Eerongal he/him]

While i wouldn't say the graphics are terrible, i will offer this bit of criticism. With the color scheme (various colors of blue-on-blue) it really gives the site an old "1990's geocities" feel, which, if you ask me, is not such a great thing. It just doesn't make the site "pop" so to speak. My suggestion is to maybe try a blue-on-white color motif or something along these lines?

[Shivertongue he/him]

Well, what you are referring to there isn't the graphics at all, but the colourscheme of the forums. The Shades of blue were picked to use the colouring of the Shard in the logo. We did experiment with other colouring, including what you suggest with blue-on-white, with the idea of making the whole site flow. This has an added effect of reducing "pop", however..

Not rejecting the idea, though. I would like to experiment a bit more with the colourscheme at some point. If enough people join in with your desire to alter the colouring, said experimentation will likely move to the top of my task list.

[Eerongal he/him]

Well, what you are referring to there isn't the graphics at all, but the colourscheme of the forums. The Shades of blue were picked to use the colouring of the Shard in the logo. We did experiment with other colouring, including what you suggest with blue-on-white, with the idea of making the whole site flow. This has an added effect of reducing "pop", however..

Not rejecting the idea, though. I would like to experiment a bit more with the colourscheme at some point. If enough people join in with your desire to alter the colouring, said experimentation will likely move to the top of my task list.

Yeah, i'm aware its not graphics, but it is very much so consistent with the idea of site design. I mean, it's not so ugly you're going to scare off people, but it just makes it look kinda....basic. Ya know?

[Yelenia she/her]

To piggyback on Shivertongue's coments:

Coming back from Dragon Con, that older feel was one of the main comments folks seemed to have about the site. The basic feel of it actually had a person or two wondering if the site was live yet.

Having 'oh pretty' pop wouldn't hurt.

[Shivertongue he/him]

To piggyback on Shivertongue's coments:

Coming back from Dragon Con, that older feel was one of the main comments folks seemed to have about the site. The basic feel of it actually had a person or two wondering if the site was live yet.

Having 'oh pretty' pop wouldn't hurt.

This site, you mean? People were talking about it at DragonCon? Cool.

Technically, the main page of the site isn't "live" yet. That's merely a static page we have up until the actual front page is finished and uploaded (which should be very soon). I'll do some experimenting with the colours, talk with the rest of the staff, and see if we can give it that pop you guys want.

Personally, I think it pops already, but that's me - and keep in mind, I am partially colourblind.

[KChan she/her]

Yeah, it'd be hard to make the logo "pop" more than it already does without turning it into an animated gif, I think. And I will shoot myself in the foot before casting my vote for an animated gif for a logo.

[Shivertongue he/him]

I'll impale myself on a Shardblade before I make a gif period...

[Eerongal he/him]

I'll impale myself on a Shardblade before I make a gif period...

But..but! We could throw on all the scrolling marquees, the flash tag, and background music and all that good website stuff!!

[KChan she/her]

And all the text has to be changed to Comic Sans! We can't forget the Comic Sans.

Excuse me while I go try to bleach that mental image out of my head.

[Shivertongue he/him]

Comic Sans and Papyrus. And they have to alternate.

*throws himself into a pit of Inquisitors to atone*

[Eerongal he/him]

Comic Sans and Papyrus. And they have to alternate.

*throws himself into a pit of Inquisitors to atone*

There ya go. Now we're starting to have what sounds like a REAL website!

[Silus - Shard of Flame he/him]

I'm not getting the font references, sorry.

I agree, the site does give off an old-timey kind of vibe.  Or as much as one as you can get on a modern computer.

There's this cool little icon next to the name of the page in my tabs.  It's green and white.  That would be a color scheme I could get behind.

Is it weird that you said "pit of Inquisitors" and my imagination goes first to Daniel and the lion's den and then to Reavers?

[Eerongal he/him]

I'm not getting the font references, sorry.

I agree, the site does give off an old-timey kind of vibe.  Or as much as one as you can get on a modern computer.

There's this cool little icon next to the name of the page in my tabs.  It's green and white.  That would be a color scheme I could get behind.

Is it weird that you said "pit of Inquisitors" and my imagination goes first to Daniel and the lion's den and then to Reavers?

this should help. Papyrus is in a similar sort of situation, as in both of these fonts are very commonly the bane of many people.

[Shivertongue he/him]

I'm not getting the font references, sorry.

I agree, the site does give off an old-timey kind of vibe.  Or as much as one as you can get on a modern computer.

There's this cool little icon next to the name of the page in my tabs.  It's green and white.  That would be a color scheme I could get behind.

Is it weird that you said "pit of Inquisitors" and my imagination goes first to Daniel and the lion's den and then to Reavers?

Comic Sans and Papyrus are among the most reviled fonts in web and graphic design.

See, I just don't see the olde-timey vibe... what, specifically, are you referring to when you say that?

The favicon? Hmm... green gradient and white. I'll experiment, but my instincts scream "eyerape".

Nah, that ain't weird at all. What would be weird would be if you wanted to jump in with them.

[KChan she/her]

Specifically, I'm wondering if people are asking about the main site or the forums. If it's the main site, allow me to end this debate once and for all:

The current front page is not the final website. It is a temporary splash page until the completed site can be implemented.

If it's about the forums, carry on. I personally don't see how they could look any more un-Geocities, though.

[Shivertongue he/him]

Specifically, I'm wondering if people are asking about the main site or the forums. If it's the main site, allow me to end this debate once and for all:

The current front page is not the final website. It is a temporary splash page until the completed site can be implemented.

If it's about the forums, carry on. I personally don't see how they could look any more un-Geocities, though.

Yes, if this is indeed the case, I think I mentioned that the front page is not the final front page. The actual front page will be coming soon, and is a lot more impressive than the static page currently up right now.

[Silus - Shard of Flame he/him]

I'm kinda referring to both.  As has been said, it looks kinda mid-nineties.

[Shivertongue he/him]

Well, as stated more than a few times now, the front page is not THE front page. It's a placeholder.

As for the forums.... I'm sorry, I do not see it at all. What, specifically, gives it that look or feel?

[KChan she/her]

I agree. The forum design is pretty sleek and modern. Honestly, the lighter color scheme gives it a more professional feel than all those dark, tech-themed skins you see floating around.

[Shivertongue he/him]

The skin was designed to be as un-distracting as possible. Polished and professional, easy on the eyes. We tested several dozen (on my own, several hundred) colour combinations to find the one we thought fit the site best.

Keep in mind, I'm not discounting the things people are saying. I'm making note of each and every one, even those I don't think agree with. One of the first rules of design is that you will never please everyone.

Edit: On the subject of skins, I'm wondering if the boards would support personal skins. I have plans to make some, but won't really bother if it's not possible.

[Eerongal he/him]

The skin was designed to be as un-distracting as possible. Polished and professional, easy on the eyes. We tested several dozen (on my own, several hundred) colour combinations to find the one we thought fit the site best.

Keep in mind, I'm not discounting the things people are saying. I'm making note of each and every one, even those I don't think agree with. One of the first rules of design is that you will never please everyone.

Edit: On the subject of skins, I'm wondering if the boards would support personal skins. I have plans to make some, but won't really bother if it's not possible.

Well, my issue is the monotone of a single color of various shades. That's my biggest issue. It makes the entire site look very drab. I understand wanting to make the pages easy on the eyes, and not distracting, but there's a difference between doing that and making it unappealing.

First of all, the colors are actually rather cold (as in the color sense). When designing a web page, usually, making your site vibrant and attractive can help hold people's interests, so using warm colors is very helpful.

Also, tasteful use of contrasting colors can really help with the site visually.

As far as it stands now, to me, it looks very uninteresting and boring. To me, that really doesn't matter in the long run, however, if the site doesn't look appealing to new comers, this could be a big problem. Monochromatic themes have largely been shown to be off-putting on a site.

That's not a to say a monochromatic theme can't be good looking, however, i think that this one isn't that good. It gives it an older, worn, less-shiny sort of feel, now what i mean?

It's kinda hard to explain why i find it giving it the look it does, however, i'm doing my best to put it down in words in a way that would at least seem helpful

Well, as stated more than a few times now, the front page is not THE front page. It's a placeholder.

So about this front page....  ;D

[Silus - Shard of Flame he/him]

Listen to Eerongal, he knows what he's talking about so much more than I do.

[Eerongal he/him]

Listen to Eerongal, he knows what he's talking about so much more than I do.

I wouldn't say that. I'm by no means an interior decorator or anything. Heck, i'm not even a website designer. I know what i know from web browsing, and reading articles on the subject, and limited personal web design experience (i may be a programmer by trade, but my experience with web design is in passing at best)

Mostly I'm just trying to put into words as best i can what i see as problems with the design.

[KChan she/her]

Well, my issue is the monotone of a single color of various shades. That's my biggest issue. It makes the entire site look very drab. I understand wanting to make the pages easy on the eyes, and not distracting, but there's a difference between doing that and making it unappealing.

First of all, the colors are actually rather cold (as in the color sense). When designing a web page, usually, making your site vibrant and attractive can help hold people's interests, so using warm colors is very helpful.

Also, tasteful use of contrasting colors can really help with the site visually.

Contrasting colors can be nice in moderation, but are visually distracting for something that's supposed to serve as a backdrop for information, such as text on a website. There's plenty of contrast between the various shades used on the site currently, and cooler colors are easier on the eyes.

"Bright and vibrant" color schemes used to "hold interest" is a design philosophy suited for a preschool. I should know; I taught preschool. A streamlined, elegant color scheme is best for an adult website designed for communication.