Comment Thread Redesign
I tooled around with a redesign for the new comment threads after watching the new boards fluctuate like crazy. See below:
- Changed the header section to prioritize the title, author, and notification of newness
- Metadata like points, post date, and join date are still featured in the top but offset in size and color
- The text is easier to read as the lines are a little tighter with more space between paragraphs.
- Threading is easier to follow as the comment box has a background and border.
- Despite adding more info than the current design, it takes up less space on the screen.
Thoughts?
August 13th, 2010 at 1:42 AM ^
SO much better
August 13th, 2010 at 3:04 PM ^
August 14th, 2010 at 1:15 AM ^
I'm just Photoshopping. I have no control over what Brian does with the actual boards.
August 13th, 2010 at 1:47 AM ^
Font size could be a little bigger on the title. Points font is too small. Often I will cruise a post and read only the high and low pointed posts.
I could get use to anything in the end.
August 13th, 2010 at 1:50 AM ^
Hmm... Refresh it, I bumped up all the header fonts one size.
August 13th, 2010 at 2:05 AM ^
could you please get Curtis Grant to commit.
I'll just keep refreshing until I get my answer.
August 13th, 2010 at 1:58 AM ^
I'd prefer the field to be white and the font bugs me (the current one is fine), but at this point I'm just being a bitch about it.
Come to think of it though, I like the now current style more than what was originally rolled out. But I prefer the header of what you've shown above. So, my druthers would be to replace the current header with what you show in the OP, and put a box around the current field. Done.
Thanks for taking the time to react to user feedback.
August 13th, 2010 at 2:00 AM ^
Whitened the field but kept the border. Not sure I like it as much... I think the gray made it easier to follow a thread because of the stepped indentations against the white background.
As for the font... Trebuchet is used everywhere else, but now that you mention it I do notice some different ones on the sidebar headers. It's 2am here but I'll see what I can do over the weekend!
August 13th, 2010 at 1:56 AM ^
Brian I love this blog, but I'm not fan of this redesign. I'm not sure how the old system worked on your end, but I really thought it was perfect DESIGN wise. Just a humble suggestion. Can always get used to the new design, but i think you had it great before.
August 13th, 2010 at 7:17 AM ^
Agree. I loved the old design and don't think the change was needed. IMO the new format is hard to read; so much so that I will spend less time on this site. This is just my opinion so no need to neg me to death.
August 13th, 2010 at 8:40 AM ^
I also think it is hard to read, the white is too bright, hurts my eyes.
August 13th, 2010 at 2:09 AM ^
Whatever you choose will be fine, but Jeremy B, whatever you do, please don't change the font. It's very pleasing on the eyes. Thanks.
August 13th, 2010 at 2:57 AM ^
August 13th, 2010 at 3:00 AM ^
Agree, I'd like to see total mgopoints displayed too
August 13th, 2010 at 2:59 AM ^
Jeremy B the ammendments you made in the picture above are MUCH better than the current look of things.
I agree with funkmob-starchild though, please keep the current font.
Also, can you please put the usernames and avatars back on the left side of posts?
With them on the right side as they currently are, I feel like I'm on bizarr-o Internet.
August 13th, 2010 at 3:15 AM ^
one aspect I liked but am not seeing now is whether or not someone is "online" or "offline".....I miss that!
August 13th, 2010 at 3:26 AM ^
Another suggestion...
On the main board page, can we get rid of the red "updated" thing? When I glance over the page, that series of red "updated"s is really in your face and jarring. The icons at the left of each thread are enough to indicate whether there are new posts in a thread.
August 13th, 2010 at 8:31 AM ^
What's the point to having "updated" and listing how many "new" posts there are? Just keep the "new" post count, nix the "updated".
August 13th, 2010 at 3:46 AM ^
I like the new design a lot. I'm not a fan of this new point system though.
August 13th, 2010 at 7:03 AM ^
Those imaginary posters have great avatars. First-class.
August 13th, 2010 at 7:14 AM ^
I like the new design above.
However, I would like to see the poster's avatar/name on the LEFT, rather than on the right. It doesn't make sense to have to look all the way to the right of the page in order to find out who said something.
August 13th, 2010 at 7:30 AM ^
I agree. Avatars would be better on the left. Also, I like the barely visible box outline but would make it one shade darker so it can actually be seen.
August 13th, 2010 at 7:47 AM ^
Header is better because it includes info that seems to belong in the header (e.g., date and time of post, points) instead of sort of floating along the bottom. Additionally, although the "no box" look is cleaner and sleeker, the boxes around each comment are helpful when trying to quickly separate comments and track who is responding to whom. Design matters, but it should improve function not detract from it IMO.
August 13th, 2010 at 8:08 AM ^
Your design looks good. I agree with others that the avatar would work better on the left. Having it on the right causes unnecessary left to right scanning
August 13th, 2010 at 8:19 AM ^
Gimme the old system too.
And water is created all the time. It's not an element. Hydrogen and oxygen aren't created, but water is created all the time.
August 13th, 2010 at 8:51 AM ^
Electrolysis on water won't be discovered for another -210 years! Also, fuel cells aren't on the market yet ... you're messing with the space-time continum!
If I wake up tomorrow and find out that my pet dog is now my pet minature stegosaurus, I'm thanking you!
August 13th, 2010 at 8:20 AM ^
The new set up if fine, like others have said, i could get used to anything. As for the mgopoints... any time we vote on another persons thread, we lose a point? Not that I care of course..
August 13th, 2010 at 8:33 AM ^
That is a nice improvement, change is inevitable, but that is change I can live with.
August 13th, 2010 at 9:24 AM ^
First, thanks for the attempt, it is an improvement. Next, my suggestions: I think the point totals are in the wrong place and make the border on the left too cluttered. I'd suggest moving the point total under the screen name in the border, and then move the join date and put it under the avatar. Lose the word "joined" and just simply have the date under the avatar--people know what it means. To me that would open the left side of the border up nicely and improve the design.
August 13th, 2010 at 9:53 AM ^
Um, where are the points?
In the header there are arrows then points - it would appear they are points for that specific post.
But that's it. No user point totals?
August 13th, 2010 at 10:16 AM ^
This has got my vote - and by vote, I mean metaphorical vote because I'm scared of losing so many points that I won't be able to post any more.
August 13th, 2010 at 10:43 AM ^
August 13th, 2010 at 2:29 PM ^
I like the borders, but the header box is too busy.
On the demise of Mgopoints, new points are created in the system by posting, so there is no necessary demise.
August 13th, 2010 at 3:09 PM ^
Looks fantastic
August 13th, 2010 at 3:27 PM ^
This would make it a helluva lot easier to go back to some of these big threads.
August 13th, 2010 at 3:36 PM ^
I like that better. My only nitpick is that I'd prefer the username to be on the left.
August 14th, 2010 at 5:38 PM ^
ever actually say why the names/avatars got put onto the right hand side?