Playing Around With Racketboy Site Design

Post by **The Apprentice** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 7:09 pm

You're saying like a more buisiness orientated front page for regulars to get information immediatly, right? That would be awesome, and having the proposed front page there for visitors as default would kill two birds with one stone.

Post by **GSZX1337** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 12:20 am

racketboy wrote:As you can see, there is still some blank space around the middle, but I can't really think of anything beneficial to fill it.
I've decided I don't really like listing the new forum posts on the front page -- not especially useful, IMO.

I'd put the recent forums posts there. It's a good place filler, it's convenient, and it shows new visitors what we're talking about.

And I don't forsee ever using Flash -- I'm all HTML, CSS, and a touch a javascript.

Don't use Flash. IMO, it makes sites look kind of gaudy and it takes longer to load for mostly no reason (I hate being on a slow connection and going to say, http://metallica.com and having to wait 20 seconds just for a navigation bar that could easily be done in JavaScript).

Post by **nickfil** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 7:40 pm

just my humble opinion, but i would cut the black. To me it says 1996 website. In fact, i wasn't sure if this site was still active when i first found it.

Just a thought- you might want to take the opportunity to redesign the main site's color and look as well. Here is something i whipped up in about 20 minutes.

I didn't have access to anything high rez as far as logos and stuff like that goes, so it is a little hard to see in this version. I probably would've made it darker. Same with the nav text. Function is good. I just wanted to convey my idea of a color and look overhaul.

Post by **GSZX1337** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 4:35 pm

nickfil wrote:just my humble opinion, but i would cut the black. To me it says 1996 website. In fact, i wasn't sure if this site was still active when i first found it.

Just a thought- you might want to take the opportunity to redesign the main site's color and look as well. Here is something i whipped up in about 20 minutes.

I didn't have access to anything high rez as far as logos and stuff like that goes, so it is a little hard to see in this version. I probably would've made it darker. Same with the nav text. Function is good. I just wanted to convey my idea of a color and look overhaul.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3079/270 ... 6e4c_o.jpg

Did you code that and take a screenshot or did you just make an image? If you coded it, how did you make that background?

just my humble opinion, but i would cut the black. To me it says 1996 website.

Well, this is a retro game site. I think a site design like 1996 would look alright.

Post by **nickfil** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 4:54 pm

i photoshoped it. I'm more of an artist and less of a coder.
I've made a few sites in the past, but always ended up taking forever with the code just using the trial and error method. I can kinda do it, but not nearly as well as friends of mine can. Luckily they can't photoshop as well as i can. I think the last site i made was my own back in 2004 to promote myself post college. http://studentpages.scad.edu/~nfilar20/ Clearly- its been a while.

But something like this should be fairly easy to do. If i was doing it i would make a background image that centers and fills the browser. Make a 3 rowed table or something like that- first row blank, second filled with the image of a navbar and use image hotspots for it, third is the content. Pop an iframe in for the content and you are good to go.

I'm sure there is an easier way to do it. Probably a more efficient way too. Like i said, not really a coder.

Post by **racketboy** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 7:56 pm

While I may do some small touches to add polish, I'm still planning on keeping it minimalistic.
I don't want to slap any gaming images on the main design.
Also, it's pretty much standard to have the logo in the top left corner...

I also don't want to have to change the design every time something become tendy/untrendy.
Changing designs takes time/money that I'd rather spend on additional features and content.

The front page layout is pretty minor compared to complete design adjustments that have to be made on Wordpress, phpbb, and all the static pages on the site.

Post by **nickfil** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:03 pm

racketboy wrote:While I may do some small touches to add polish, I'm still planning on keeping it minimalistic.
I don't want to slap any gaming images on the main design.
Also, it's pretty much standard to have the logo in the top left corner...

I also don't want to have to change the design every time something become tendy/untrendy.
Changing designs takes time/money that I'd rather spend on additional features and content.

cool man- do what you gotta do.
Trends aside- i think just changing the black backround color to gray would do wonders. Its quick and easy.

Post by **racketboy** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:19 pm

nickfil wrote:
racketboy wrote:While I may do some small touches to add polish, I'm still planning on keeping it minimalistic.
I don't want to slap any gaming images on the main design.
Also, it's pretty much standard to have the logo in the top left corner...

I also don't want to have to change the design every time something become tendy/untrendy.
Changing designs takes time/money that I'd rather spend on additional features and content.
cool man- do what you gotta do.
Trends aside- i think just changing the black backround color to gray would do wonders. Its quick and easy.

Hmmm --- I'll consider grey...