[ScOULaris]

Yay! I love design updates!

So far, I'm liking D4Danger's mockups the best. I think that the most important goal of the new frontpage is for it to actually be useful to members as well as an aesthetically pleasing entrance for non-members.

Currently, members have virtually no reason to ever visit the frontpage. They can navigate to every forum from within the main site, using tabs and links. D4D's mockups are a step in the right direction with the "hot threads" listed on the right. Maybe that section could be replaced with a quick-view for your subscribed threads instead, actually.

Another key attribute that the new frontpage must maintain, as some have mentioned in this thread, is a fluid width that makes efficient use of the user's resolution. NeoGAF's full-screen, fluid width has always made it easier on the eyes than pretty much any other forum out there.

[Devolution]

Would it be possible to have a guest page and member page?

[malfcn]

Hide the Users Online, except for Mods. Wouldn't that save some server resources?

[Devolution]

I'd like to see something along the lines of this. I find it useful.

I think the header needs a revamp too but I'm just doing the body.

[wenis]

I'd like to see something along the lines of this. I find it useful. I think the header needs a revamp too but I'm just doing the body.

I like it, but it honestly needs a bit more color... Like, this site has been around for awhile now. We really need something that can show that we'll be around for a lot longer. Especially since (and I'm assuming) this will be a front page that will be up for a long time coming. It's got to be appropriate for now and possibly a bit of future proofing or at least can be easily handled and redesigned to fit the future mold of web design.

[Kabouter]

I'd like to see something along the lines of this. I find it useful. I think the header needs a revamp too but I'm just doing the body.

Love being able to see who quoted you, that would be a really nice thing for the front page. Easier than having to search for your own nickname :P.

[Devolution]

More color.

[Shouta]

So here's a different version with some colour. Hopefully this gets some of the ideas across a little better the text is still pretty bad (what is it with Photoshop and text? am I doing something wrong?) but you get the idea Still just throwing ideas out there. Not really sure what it's suppose to be. edit: I like MRORANGE's above. That is a nice layout. center this gif. bam! homepage.

I find this layout to be the most sensible. It's clean, it emphasizes what's important to the forum, and could easily be adjusted to fit with a variety of styles. It's still lacking a few things but the general concept is pretty good. In particular, I think this would work quite well as if we had a guest version and a member version.

[CrazyDude]

So here's a different version with some colour. Hopefully this gets some of the ideas across a little better the text is still pretty bad (what is it with Photoshop and text? am I doing something wrong?) but you get the idea Still just throwing ideas out there. Not really sure what it's suppose to be. edit: I like MRORANGE's above. That is a nice layout. center this gif. bam! homepage.

Seems like a hassle to get to the main page for each forum and then having to scroll down to get to the different forums. Maybe you won't actually scroll down, but I would rather have the links to each forum higher up. Do we really need links to individual threads we would see anyways by accessing the main page for off topic and gaming? Why not move the links to the individual forums vertically next to where the information for the forum is currently. Make them into a square shape.

I'd like to see something along the lines of this. I find it useful. I think the header needs a revamp too but I'm just doing the body.

This one too. Why not put the links to each forum at the top? Going down to bottom for the the link is psychologically uncomfortable.

[Sentry]

I find this layout to be the most sensible. It's clean, it emphasizes what's important to the forum, and could easily be adjusted to fit with a variety of styles. It's still lacking a few things but the general concept is pretty good. In particular, I think this would work quite well as if we had a guest version and a member version.

Yeah, I personally wouldn't want to have to see a large 'About GAF' blurb if i'm logged in. Also a waste of space. That left hand pane could be replaced with all the personal user info when logged in, for example.

Similar to D4's left sidebar pane and the main pane on the right, showing all the threads active, except move the boards info above that list rather than below.

[Devolution]

This one too. Why not put the links to each forum at the top? Going down to bottom for the the link is psychologically uncomfortable.

Well with a landing page they should be above the fold.

[xintin]

Popular topics of the day off to the right, forum your currently viewing front and center, and on the left either A.) When logged in - Your Content, with posts you have been quoted in, private messages, your stats and I guess subscribed threads further down (?)
------------------------

or B.) When not logged in/registered - A Welcome To/About GAF message and a short explanation to visitors about registering and whatever else.
------------------------

[Sentry]

^That's excellent, the left pane (logged in and not) is perfect. However, the rest could be simplified a lot. Have a single unified thread list rather than several different lists, with board indicator icons on the left.

I'm liking certain elements from each mockup so far, i'll blatantly copy them all tomorrow and try to make a unified/merged version of these different layouts/concepts. But I like where this is going, regardless.

[GG-Duo]

Wow, I really like this.

I think whatever design you guys end up going with, you should make the entire retangular "row" clickable. We need big touch targets for tablet/touch devices.

[Scrow]

i really like the idea of a "Who quoted me" feature

[Johnny Cage In The Shower]

I think the OT is just too broad in topics, can we have like sub categories?

Seriously, I don't want sad, depressing thread titles, mixed with my Football(soccer) or Best Album threads etc.

Would be so nice to have sub categories and people can make threads accordingly, sounds complicated but it shouldn't be, really.

Like a Category could be called "Personal Rant" That will include the Drunk thread and other personal "live Journal" type threads, like a very recent one of SalsaShark listening in on his parents having sex behind the wall. Another Category could just be "Depressing News" and pretty much just that.

I just hate how I click on the OT and it's a frikin maze, a big pile of everything and anything, kind of a turn off, makes me just want to subscribe to selected few and never go back to the |OT again.

[EviLore]

I think the OT is just too broad in topics, can we have like sub categories? Seriously, I don't want sad, depressing thread titles, mixed with my Football(soccer) or Best Album threads etc. Would be so nice to have sub categories and people can make threads accordingly, sounds complicated but it shouldn't be, really. Like a Category could be called "Personal Rant" That will include the Drunk thread and other personal "live Journal" type threads, like a very recent one of SalsaShark listening in on his parents having sex behind the wall. Another Category could just be "Depressing News" and pretty much just that. I just hate how I click on the OT and it's a frikin maze, a big pile of everything and anything, kind of a turn off, makes me just want to subscribe to selected few and never go back to the |OT again.

Nope.

[Johnny Cage In The Shower]

Nope.

Okay :(

[Kyaw]

Some really awesome designs thrown around here. Looking forward to see what others come up with.

[MRORANGE]

Love the scrolling feed of threads, I did say I hated any type of JS/Jquery implementation but this could work very well.

Fantastic as well, should easily work on 1280x800 and upwards.

[Burger]

Here is my quick take.

Notes:

-I did a new placeholder logo. I can't stand the current one and I'm not designing anything with the current one. It's a quick job, and not meant to reflect any serious attempt at redesigning it.

-The two most important items? The links to Gaming Discussion and Off Topic. So they stand out.

-Placeholder blurb. Stolen from somewhere else.

-I stripped out all the VB tables and columns. I don't think they are necessary. You can easily break the separate forums by colour alone. It could possibly use a third colour (like the blue).

-I've placed emphasis on it being a landing for new users. Personally I bookmark the Gaming forum and go from there. I never visit the front page.

-Recent thread activity/Last post? Who needs it? Nobody. It's currently squashed into a column so thin to render it useless anyway. Even if it was prominent like some of the other designs on here, where is the user case for it? People will just visit Gaming/OT where the threads are presented in a better format anyway.

-I've scaled the whole design down about 20% for the ease of viewing on this forum.

-I don't see the point in having "Popular communities", or a magazine style image front end. It's not necessary, most people won't look at it, and it won't get updated.

-Tahiti Gold and Ironsand, on a Porcelain background.

[Nemo]

Shiiit, Burger. Now I want the whole forum to be like that, should've never entered this thread

[Hoo-doo]

I love this, clean and functional.

Also, if there's anything I despise about modern website design it's using huge modern fonts with bad kerning and sizing/bolding all over the place. It kills the readability and I think it looks like garbage.

Basically, fuck anything that looks like metro.

[Link]

Have a single unified thread list rather than several different lists, with board indicator icons on the left.

God, no. I don't need Gaming threads crapping up OT.

[Kirby102]

I'm liking D4's design and Burger's too. Nerfgun's is good since it's adaptable to what we have now.

Just a suggestion, is it possible to get something like a Real Time Live Feed? http://forums.overclockers.com.au/vaispy.php

The concept is interesting, but I think it might go too quickly due to the post movement of the whole forum. Maybe have it being filtered like the available option of having subbed threads only with categories? (ie. Gaming and OT)

The only problem is this when E3 or some big event happens and the live feed just goes crazy, but you can turn that off... if that's possible.

Other than that, I'm looking forward to the redesign :D

[robotnjik]

Here is my quick take.

I like this one. Simple, clean and bold.

[Kabouter]

Popular topics of the day off to the right, forum your currently viewing front and center, and on the left either A.) When logged in - Your Content, with posts you have been quoted in, private messages, your stats and I guess subscribed threads further down (?) ------------------------ or B.) When not logged in/registered - A Welcome To/About GAF message and a short explanation to visitors about registering and whatever else. ------------------------

These are great, best yet so far imo in terms of finding a balance between appearance and functionality.

[jett]

Here is my quick take. Notes: -I did a new placeholder logo. I can't stand the current one and I'm not designing anything with the current one. It's a quick job, and not meant to reflect any serious attempt at redesigning it. -The two most important items? The links to Gaming Discussion and Off Topic. So they stand out. -Placeholder blurb. Stolen from somewhere else. -I stripped out all the VB tables and columns. I don't think they are necessary. You can easily break the separate forums by colour alone. It could possibly use a third colour (like the blue). -I've placed emphasis on it being a landing for new users. Personally I bookmark the Gaming forum and go from there. I never visit the front page. -Recent thread activity/Last post? Who needs it? Nobody. It's currently squashed into a column so thin to render it useless anyway. Even if it was prominent like some of the other designs on here, where is the user case for it? People will just visit Gaming/OT where the threads are presented in a better format anyway. -I've scaled the whole design down about 20% for the ease of viewing on this forum. -I don't see the point in having "Popular communities", or a magazine style image front end. It's not necessary, most people won't look at it, and it won't get updated. -Tahiti Gold and Ironsand, on a Porcelain background.

This is really nice, love your remade neogaf logo.

[Kyaw]

Love this. If you could make the text more readable (more spacing in between characters), that would be nice.

[HTuran]

Placeholder blurb. Stolen from somewhere else.

Heh.

Very nice.

[Tunesmith]

Here is my quick take. Notes: -I did a new placeholder logo. I can't stand the current one and I'm not designing anything with the current one. It's a quick job, and not meant to reflect any serious attempt at redesigning it. -The two most important items? The links to Gaming Discussion and Off Topic. So they stand out. -Placeholder blurb. Stolen from somewhere else. -I stripped out all the VB tables and columns. I don't think they are necessary. You can easily break the separate forums by colour alone. It could possibly use a third colour (like the blue). -I've placed emphasis on it being a landing for new users. Personally I bookmark the Gaming forum and go from there. I never visit the front page. -Recent thread activity/Last post? Who needs it? Nobody. It's currently squashed into a column so thin to render it useless anyway. Even if it was prominent like some of the other designs on here, where is the user case for it? People will just visit Gaming/OT where the threads are presented in a better format anyway. -I've scaled the whole design down about 20% for the ease of viewing on this forum. -I don't see the point in having "Popular communities", or a magazine style image front end. It's not necessary, most people won't look at it, and it won't get updated. -Tahiti Gold and Ironsand, on a Porcelain background.

Love the feel that this evokes, playful and clean. With some minor text tweaks that's killer.
Placeholder logo wins too tbh

[fisheyes]

I have no skills to do a proper mockup whatsoever, but based on what I (and it seems others) have liked in this thread, and then a few of my own ideas, what about something like this?:

Each of the three headings (My neoGAF, Gaming, Off-Topic) would be expandable / collapsible. New users would see a sign up information box in place of 'My neoGAF', but would see the other two sections the same.

[Enco]

Nice one Burger.

Not a fan of the fonts but the simple style is great.

[Jintor]

Glorious, Burger. Desiring an entire-forum redesign now lol

[Nerfgun]

I like Burger's a lot.

I realize I may have been a little too slavish to the original in my first go, might go a bit further afield the next round. Not really sure what parts are impossible to move around.

The thing about fluid widths – they are fucking terrible for readability. I understand the desire for them. But there is a reason newsprint is in tight columns and not running straight across the entire width of the page. Now, I agree that the capability can be kept, but this is why I lean towards. 2/3rds split with a sidebar for user stuff (homepage) and thread topic listing while looking at an existing thread. It will eat up some of that vast space.

Ok will post another later on. I might steal Burgers neogaf logo. wasn't sure if that was sacrosanct or not. :)

[MrBig]

Burger's is just a restructuring of what is already there, why would I ever go to it instead of the actual forums?

There needs to be a reason to look at the front page, preferably something the user actually cares about, which means making it personal. Why would someone who doesn't care about sports or minecraft want that blasted in their face with huge icons?
Display subscriptions, recent posts that quoted you, and new topics. No need to show the recently posted in topics, as all you have to do is click the forum and they're all there, while all the new topics with few posts are easily lost without them being advertised.

It would also be nice if the main site adopted an option for the dark version the mobile site has, and that the front page took it in to account.

And the mobile site itself would need to be taken into account for the page design too, no?

[jett]

Burger's is just a restructuring of what is already there, why would I ever go to it instead of the actual forums? There needs to be a reason to look at the front page, preferably something the user actually cares about, which means making it personal. Why would someone who doesn't care about sports or minecraft want that blasted in their face with huge icons? Display subscriptions, recent posts that quoted you, and new topics. No need to show the recently posted in topics, as all you have to do is click the forum and they're all there, while all the new topics with few posts are easily lost without them being advertised. It would also be nice if the main site adopted an option for the dark version the mobile site has, and that the front page took it in to account. And the mobile site itself would need to be taken into account for the page design too, no?

Nobody that frequents the forum is ever going to go the front page. This is about welcoming new visitors, and simply having a more attractive front page. At least that's what I assume.

[MrBig]

Nobody that frequents the forum is ever going to go the front page. This is about welcoming new visitors, and simply having a more attractive front page. At least that's what I assume.

That's what I thought the point of this was, giving the people that have no reason to go to the front page as it stands a reason to go there. If you make a it a personal portal that gives an overview of the stuff a user actually cares about, like how subscriptions are now, people would have a reason to go to it.

People who aren't logged in would just be displayed some informative message and general forum stats.

[Kabouter]

Nobody that frequents the forum is ever going to go the front page. This is about welcoming new visitors, and simply having a more attractive front page. At least that's what I assume.

Wouldn't it make more sense to have two front pages, one for those logged in and one for those not logged in? With the one for logged in people displaying the personal things he describes, and the one for those not logged in displaying stuff more relevant to them/encouragement for them to register.

[jett]

That's what I thought the point of this was, giving the people that have no reason to go to the front page as it stands a reason to go there. If you make a it a personal portal that gives an overview of the stuff a user actually cares about, like how subscriptions are now, people would have a reason to go to it. People who aren't logged in would just be displayed some informative message and general forum stats.

Wouldn't it make more sense to have two front pages, one for those logged in and one for those not logged in? With the one for logged in people displaying the personal things he describes, and the one for those not logged in displaying stuff more relevant to them/encouragement for them to register.

That'd be clever. It'd have to be highly functional to replace my visits to my subscriptions page. Guess it could have extra information like most visited thread of the day, most replied to thread, or currently most active, that sort of thing.

[Live Free or Die]

I've been out of running a message board for awhile now but, shouldn't upgrading to the latest version of VB give you some type of front page template? I know Invision Board has that type of setup http://community.invisionpower.com/

[Phoenician_Viking]

I really like the idea of who quoted me on the front page.

[Burger]

Burger's is just a restructuring of what is already there, why would I ever go to it instead of the actual forums? There needs to be a reason to look at the front page, preferably something the user actually cares about, which means making it personal. Why would someone who doesn't care about sports or minecraft want that blasted in their face with huge icons? Display subscriptions, recent posts that quoted you, and new topics. No need to show the recently posted in topics, as all you have to do is click the forum and they're all there, while all the new topics with few posts are easily lost without them being advertised. It would also be nice if the main site adopted an option for the dark version the mobile site has, and that the front page took it in to account. And the mobile site itself would need to be taken into account for the page design too, no?

That was the brief. Take the front page, make it more attractive.

There is little reason to view the front page for existing users. I doubt AVS forum regulars use theirs much either. It's even less functional when you really only have 2 forums, so in that way GAF is a bit unique. This is the exact reason I don't see the point in having "Recent Posts" on the front page. It would be different every few minutes.

I don't know what features and extras vBulletin has, so I tried to work with what the front page has. The links to Gaming and OT are clearly the most important links there, but are not currently treated as such. It sounds like there are people who want some sort of dynamic user portal, I'm not convinced people will even use that. It's also a much bigger project than the one mentioned in the OP, and isn't really used in any of the examples given.

The message I tried to convey in my design was that a new user could come along and immediately see that this was a forum, and there are two parts (evidenced by the big numbers to the right). As mentioned in the brief, I also wanted it to be clear that you could Apply for membership. It's clearer in its intentions than "Register".

[MrBig]

Perhaps it should be cleared up: what exactly is the problem with the current front page and why does it need to be solved?

Currently we're seeing a bunch of different things but not a unified goal of what we're looking for in the design.

[Vire]

Perhaps it should be cleared up: what exactly is the problem with the current front page and why does it need to be solved? Currently we're seeing a bunch of different things but not a unified goal of what we're looking for in the design.

I think it's good to get a variety of ideas. This is still in the concept stage, so it's going to take a little while. Just be patient...

You need to give ideas time to foster first before deciding on one and expounding on that.

[PantherLotus]

Burger's wins both for introduction and usability, as well as obviously being a forum, unlike the magazine style I suggested earlier. It's really quite QUITE good. The logo is better, the big bold front page is better, and the look and feel seems perfect.

I'd seriously work on the kerning, but other than that, damn man. Take over, NOW.

[Divvy]

Yeah I like Burger's a lot too. Just need to fix some text issues (feels a bit to big) but otherwise it looks great.

You spelled Believe wrong though!

[Burger]

Burger's wins both for introduction and usability, as well as obviously being a forum, unlike the magazine style I suggested earlier. It's really quite QUITE good. The logo is better, the big bold front page is better, and the look and feel seems perfect. I'd seriously work on the kerning, but other than that, damn man. Take over, NOW.

Wow, thanks!

Kerning looks a bit tight, I agree, it looks better at 100% though. I was working mostly at around 200% and you tend to loose some perspective...

You spelled Believe wrong though!

Shit!

[Squall5042]

Won't the whole board need a redesign if the front page is given a facelift?

It will be a startling change to click from some of these concept front pages to the current design.

[Sentry]

God, no. I don't need Gaming threads crapping up OT.

Only for the home page. This is a gaming forum after all, and someone visiting the site for the first time should feel that representation.

Wouldn't it make more sense to have two front pages, one for those logged in and one for those not logged in? With the one for logged in people displaying the personal things he describes, and the one for those not logged in displaying stuff more relevant to them/encouragement for them to register.

Exactly. I like Burger's design but as MrBig said, it's basically a sexier looking version of what we already have.