Sneak Preview of the new MSE Blog Discussion

IvanOpinion

First impression is that it is a bit garrish with poorly scalable content ... but will wait until the final product is released and have another look. I would also say that 'disability access' on the layout shown could be quite messy and possibly confusing for the person (have you tried firing it through a browser like 'Lynx' to see how it looks/sounds).

Is the final site being underpinned with proper content management .. if so surely a more traditional template would be better .. sometimes 'less' is 'more'

Ivan

rc55

For all the value of the site I must admit I think the design & usability is rather terrible throughout. I know I risk coming across as a snob, but I have been doing web design for a number of years now and consider myself fairly knowledgable in the subject.

In general, the site is incredibly garish, and additions appear to be bolted on in such away that each additional element is hastily designed and placed in a confusing attempt to gain attention. With two many of these distractions, most users will be sent down one path and potentially forgetting another useful path, not noticing it or disregarding it completely.

I understand the site is undergoing a redesign and the mockups are early days, however already I'm seeing the same mistakes being made from a usability perspective. Some of the mistakes are very terrible indeed, like having clusters of links all over the pages, tucked away in pulldown menus, or placed anywhere around the edges of the pages. There doesn't seem to be a consistant method of navigating the site apart from the links on the left.

From a design perspective, the sheer variance of colours used in navigational elements skews any kind of context for anyone navigating. Is a burgundy background link more or less important than the green, orange or blue one? How come I can't access the Q&A from there, is it not relevant? What is the context of this menu, is it to do with the topics of the site, or the forums? Is there any way I can tell whether something is clickable without hovering my mouse over it?

At the top of the page - do you have to choose a search, quick jump and enter a query and press Go? This is just the start. You'd have to take a few minutes to work around the pages to figure out exactly what was going on and get familiar - but this might put people off.

I've started work on a mockup of a redesign, just as an idea.

Would you be open to my suggestions if I post them?

MSE_Martin

rc55 its kind of you to consider a redesign.

Actually Im rather surprised you can comment on the navigation path from the homepage. The navigation path for the new site has been worked through seperately and hasn't been detailed here and you only have a basic setting.

There are many priorities which are set out for the use of the site which are incorporated into the new design and navigational structure. Whilst I think its kind of you to offer a redesign, i think its probably best left

martin

Gyarados

I think it would be nice to make the search box at the top easier to find, I have had trouble with finding it at times. cheers

Edinburghlass_2

Simcity1984 wrote:

I think it would be nice to make the search box at the top easier to find, I have had trouble with finding it at times. cheers

Did you look at the new lay out and do you realise its for the Main site and not the forums as the search box is quite clear at the top right hand side on the new layout

As regards the forums there are search buttons for each thread, board and the whole forum at once. Admitedly it does have faults but there are plenty of search buttons

Ghost

Blimey! Talk about dedication to duty, I see Martin's post was made at 2:25 AM today. Now, that's a man with a mission! :A

monkeydust_2

whist the effort is appreciated would have to agree with other comments - to cluttered and bold - but them I am of the "google" mindframe - keeping things simple,clean but offering high-value add tech. features..

Spudette

Erm, I do not like it at all. Far too corporate! Im only 19 and use the internet regularly but i find it not very user friendly. Too busy as well I dont know what to look at or even where to look.

Sorry Martin, your an innovator and I have a lot of respect for you but i have to be honest I prefer the old site!

scheming_gypsy

congratulations Spudette. You managed to drag up the thread about last years site change to complain about this years.

Jo6673

Doh!!!!!
Just goes to show some people dont read threads before posting on them!!!
:rotfl: