I made some very minor changes to the front page of BME and BME/extreme. Mostly it’s just making the text a little bigger, taking off unused elements, and expanding ones that are being used a bit more. There’s nothing particularly dramatic about it, but if the “latest updates” ticker breaks anyone’s browser, please let me know. The members page is more heavy updated as an index, but since it was just a list of small-text updates before, I hope that’s a good thing.
Suggestions (if possible, with a mock-up or example) are very much appreciated!
I’m going to try and dedicate a day every week or two to clean up an element of the site, with galleries being next on my list (most of that work is already done)…
Comments
200 responses to “Minor BME updates”
Just a thought:
Do you remember HULK HOGAN? His music “Real American”
This is just metaphoric but…BME The way it was/is. was his intro “Real American” people go crazy for it music/and Hogan.
If you change it: it’ll be like changing that theme song…people will still like it, as well as your TRUE fans…buuuuut it’s just not the same. Don’t change man.
Just a thought:
Do you remember HULK HOGAN? His music “Real American”
This is just metaphoric but…BME The way it was/is. was his intro “Real American” people go crazy for it music/and Hogan.
If you change it: it’ll be like changing that theme song…people will still like it, as well as your TRUE fans…buuuuut it’s just not the same. Don’t change man.
It looks really messy.
It looks really messy.
I personally think it is good, easy to see where everything is and looks great!
I personally think it is good, easy to see where everything is and looks great!
I liked the way BME looked before this “new” look. It just doesn’t look as good – too busy looking and that changing picture ticker is annoying.
I mean it’s the same content – but the look isn’t all that great.
I liked the way BME looked before this “new” look. It just doesn’t look as good – too busy looking and that changing picture ticker is annoying.
I mean it’s the same content – but the look isn’t all that great.
Guess I should clarify: I miss seeing a few “recently recommended” experiences on the front page. I thought that getting your story linked on that page was a great reward for writing something that got featured…
Guess I should clarify: I miss seeing a few “recently recommended” experiences on the front page. I thought that getting your story linked on that page was a great reward for writing something that got featured…
I’m going to toss my hat in here…I wanted to dig the new layout and I really don’t like it. The first thing I though was “god there is so much STUFF on this page!”. As another poster said this does nothing to add to making the content special. I think the old layout did a really good job of seperating the content into visually different areas so it made navigating to those areas much easier to do(and on the eyes). I think on the gallery side of things it works better because the notion of an index is more appropriate for images, but this is just too much-and the rotating image block is annoying after a time. like having banner ads that constantly move and suck up processing space. also they’re very visually distacting(I think after the main image, you want the viewers eye to be able to move around the page, not have their eyes pulled to something that flashes or changes a lot. Also because some of the grids where the pictures populate are not edge to edge so it becomes a blob of graphic rather than nicely delineated images. Too much visual bleed.
Then you have a large bank of text right in the middle-and that seems like a lot to sift through from a start page. Perhaps for experienced readers who know how to look for what they want, but not from outside or first time readers. You’ve lots of different text, sizes, alignments…its kind of all over the place. From a graphic design standpoint, it doesn’t look very harmonious and lacks flow-but you have a ton of content to provide gateways to…so I’d take another crack at it. You’re open to suggested layouts….I might try making one just to see if I can actually do any better with so much info. plus people said there even stuff missing? Hmmmmm. where should we send examples to? and since I would ask this of a client-is there anything you purposely want to stay away from-are you using CSS anywhere that you have to stick closely to?
I’m going to toss my hat in here…I wanted to dig the new layout and I really don’t like it. The first thing I though was “god there is so much STUFF on this page!”. As another poster said this does nothing to add to making the content special. I think the old layout did a really good job of seperating the content into visually different areas so it made navigating to those areas much easier to do(and on the eyes). I think on the gallery side of things it works better because the notion of an index is more appropriate for images, but this is just too much-and the rotating image block is annoying after a time. like having banner ads that constantly move and suck up processing space. also they’re very visually distacting(I think after the main image, you want the viewers eye to be able to move around the page, not have their eyes pulled to something that flashes or changes a lot. Also because some of the grids where the pictures populate are not edge to edge so it becomes a blob of graphic rather than nicely delineated images. Too much visual bleed.
Then you have a large bank of text right in the middle-and that seems like a lot to sift through from a start page. Perhaps for experienced readers who know how to look for what they want, but not from outside or first time readers. You’ve lots of different text, sizes, alignments…its kind of all over the place. From a graphic design standpoint, it doesn’t look very harmonious and lacks flow-but you have a ton of content to provide gateways to…so I’d take another crack at it. You’re open to suggested layouts….I might try making one just to see if I can actually do any better with so much info. plus people said there even stuff missing? Hmmmmm. where should we send examples to? and since I would ask this of a client-is there anything you purposely want to stay away from-are you using CSS anywhere that you have to stick closely to?
I’d say less is more when it comes to webdesign.
I’d go for a nice row of well designed buttons on one side (which side doesn’t matter too much). That way everything is really easy to find because all the navigation is in one place.
I’d then go with one big glossy cover photo. Instead of looking at tons of small pictures.
I’d say less is more when it comes to webdesign.
I’d go for a nice row of well designed buttons on one side (which side doesn’t matter too much). That way everything is really easy to find because all the navigation is in one place.
I’d then go with one big glossy cover photo. Instead of looking at tons of small pictures.
The ticker was part of it, but I think the larger font and lots of pictures make it look cluttered. Before it was clean and simple. Plus the plain black/red text on a white background bothers me because most of the time it looks really unprofessional to me. Like a default setting that someone didn’t know how to change.
The ticker was part of it, but I think the larger font and lots of pictures make it look cluttered. Before it was clean and simple. Plus the plain black/red text on a white background bothers me because most of the time it looks really unprofessional to me. Like a default setting that someone didn’t know how to change.
Being back the polls!
Being back the polls!
Bring*
Bring*
It looks so cheap and amateur. Please change it back.
I agree with others who said if this was as the site looked when I first discovered it, I would move right on and not take a second look.
Hate the new layout. When I first saw it I thought that something had happened to your server and it had reverted to a much older layout until things could be fixed.
Now it is so..bare and unimpressive.
Also there is no focal point anymore. My eyes don’t know where to stay as various thumbnail photos and highlighted font are dueling for my attention. Its very uncohesive.
It looks so cheap and amateur. Please change it back.
I agree with others who said if this was as the site looked when I first discovered it, I would move right on and not take a second look.
Hate the new layout. When I first saw it I thought that something had happened to your server and it had reverted to a much older layout until things could be fixed.
Now it is so..bare and unimpressive.
Also there is no focal point anymore. My eyes don’t know where to stay as various thumbnail photos and highlighted font are dueling for my attention. Its very uncohesive.
On second thought……
Seeing the old layout made me miss its fluidity and easiness to navigate. I think it’s because of the experiences, news, and story thumbs… I think these elements should be integrated into whatever the new layout may be. While I like the image and modblog graphics of the old one…they made the site run much slower.
It’s really nice to see the user feedback being appreciated an acted upon. It looks like this community is really patching up and it’s really nice to see that.
Thanks for all the dedication 🙂
On second thought……
Seeing the old layout made me miss its fluidity and easiness to navigate. I think it’s because of the experiences, news, and story thumbs… I think these elements should be integrated into whatever the new layout may be. While I like the image and modblog graphics of the old one…they made the site run much slower.
It’s really nice to see the user feedback being appreciated an acted upon. It looks like this community is really patching up and it’s really nice to see that.
Thanks for all the dedication 🙂
What happened?
What happened?
Everything’s back now?
Maybe keep the old layout and change the colors and add some of the new features (if possible)? I think you had some really good ideas with the change.
Everything’s back now?
Maybe keep the old layout and change the colors and add some of the new features (if possible)? I think you had some really good ideas with the change.
I’m very glad to see the old layout back, I find it easier to navigate and also that the modbog link is easier to see (in my opinion, or maybe it’s just habit).
I’m very glad to see the old layout back, I find it easier to navigate and also that the modbog link is easier to see (in my opinion, or maybe it’s just habit).
I suppose if you wanted people to draw up layouts you could hold a contest or something for it? Then everyone would vote on their favourite one and the one with the most votes wins?
I suppose if you wanted people to draw up layouts you could hold a contest or something for it? Then everyone would vote on their favourite one and the one with the most votes wins?
wtf, Why is it back to the old BME layout?
wtf, Why is it back to the old BME layout?
Comparing the old layout to the prototype of the new one, I now realize that what I didn’t like in the new one was the picture ‘ticker’. I do like the thumbnail images for each of the categories in the new Hard/Extreme cover, though, and would suggest replicating that design instead – even though it would inevitably make the page longer.
Comparing the old layout to the prototype of the new one, I now realize that what I didn’t like in the new one was the picture ‘ticker’. I do like the thumbnail images for each of the categories in the new Hard/Extreme cover, though, and would suggest replicating that design instead – even though it would inevitably make the page longer.
I really really liked the last one… it’s been home for me for like three years and when I clicked it to go onto Modblog and it was all different it was really odd.
I really really liked the last one… it’s been home for me for like three years and when I clicked it to go onto Modblog and it was all different it was really odd.
A new lay-out is still a good idea.
I did like the new colours better then the old ones.
A new lay-out is still a good idea.
I did like the new colours better then the old ones.
Glad to see the old BME layout back today! In my personal opinion, it’s ordered, neat and easy to navigate as everything has its place. It looks professional (as someone said, “polished”) and ultimately does more justice to the content than the prototype layouts tested earlier. When people come across this page, they will immediately see the work and effort put into comprising this website, as it serves as a fit housing for its content. I really believe that the old layout just needs to be re-vamped a little with some of the suggestions offered here. I don’t think it needs to be discarded completely at all. Its lovely 🙂
Glad to see the old BME layout back today! In my personal opinion, it’s ordered, neat and easy to navigate as everything has its place. It looks professional (as someone said, “polished”) and ultimately does more justice to the content than the prototype layouts tested earlier. When people come across this page, they will immediately see the work and effort put into comprising this website, as it serves as a fit housing for its content. I really believe that the old layout just needs to be re-vamped a little with some of the suggestions offered here. I don’t think it needs to be discarded completely at all. Its lovely 🙂
i want to see the new redesigned page back. i especially liked the “hot on modblog” feature.
i want to see the new redesigned page back. i especially liked the “hot on modblog” feature.
I definitely think that someone like “Hot on Modblog” could be intergrated into the old layout though. That’s something I’d also like to see in a re-vamp 🙂
I definitely think that someone like “Hot on Modblog” could be intergrated into the old layout though. That’s something I’d also like to see in a re-vamp 🙂
I missed the new layout on the front page, it looks the same as ever. However, I do NOT like the new extreme/hard entry point. That’s where I do most of my surfing of BME from, and it’s practically impossible for me to parse now. I much prefer the old text-only style. Furthermore, one of my favorite categories is utterly confusing: There’s a corsetry section, and a corsetry section? The second needs to be labeled as MALE corsetry. I like that some of the more hidden areas – facial sculpting, circumcision – are now more prominent, but PLEASE put it back to the text-only style!
I missed the new layout on the front page, it looks the same as ever. However, I do NOT like the new extreme/hard entry point. That’s where I do most of my surfing of BME from, and it’s practically impossible for me to parse now. I much prefer the old text-only style. Furthermore, one of my favorite categories is utterly confusing: There’s a corsetry section, and a corsetry section? The second needs to be labeled as MALE corsetry. I like that some of the more hidden areas – facial sculpting, circumcision – are now more prominent, but PLEASE put it back to the text-only style!
Meredith – Ah, thank you — you’re right — that’s a string parsing error actually. I’ll get that fixed. I’ll also put the text bar down the site — Don suggested the same thing.
Meredith – Ah, thank you — you’re right — that’s a string parsing error actually. I’ll get that fixed. I’ll also put the text bar down the site — Don suggested the same thing.