'Sneaky preview of the new MSE masthead –what do you think of m'pic?' blog discussion

horsechestnut

Same as most of the other people, don't like the folded arms; the current close-up head and shoulders pose is much more friendly.
Why do you need to change it? If it isn't broken then don't fix it!

The_One_Who

I also don't like the folded arms. Light coloured shirt on a light background doesn't really work for me. You blend in with it too much.

Another point I'd say is to do your shirt up by another button. Open collar is fine, but maybe I'm just being picky.

JOHN1982

I wondered where I'd seen that design before ...

Reaper

I think it should be a more "Martin like" pose - waving your arms around :wave:

Kayfabe

Thumbs down for the pic for me.

Everything about MSE is about discussion, assistance, advice, and co-operation - and folded arms just doesn't say that.

If I'm perfectly honest, while I'm glad you cleaned up the site itself, I have no problems with the current masthead at all.

ukmaggie45

Don't like the what appears to be pink shirt! :eek:

Don't like the white background much either.

What's wrong with keeping your nice smiling face at the top the way it is now? The rest of it might work OK then?

And I think the "done in a bedroom style" makes the website more informal, more friendly and less "scary professional money person". Please keep it!

Through suggestions on your forums I saved enough IHT when my parents died that have been able to buy new (to us) house and renovate it. Would hate if anyone else in my position felt the site looked Too Posh to Use.

Best wishes from freezing Liverpool, Maggie

ns777ns

I like it! Looks more professional without being corporate like!

meher

It is a nice picture but an immobile pose. It should look a little lively instead, imo, and that's why the picture in the email tips page is so cute and nice. The shirt should've had stripes, it would've lent a personality unique to the moneysavingexpert. But what's featurless is the layout. Looks like a rushed job of cutting and pasting a picture on top of the banner.






With the second one, may be viewers could set their own skin colors for the site if you offer the option. It would also be easier to settle with the change, it isn't overwhelingly different but the first one is distinctive. Like someone has poined out, the newer version looks like a copycat of moneysupermarket even though this site did sport this format some time ago.

the layout of the tag line, cutting costs, fighting corner needs to be aligned with the moneysavingexper.com

fuddle

The mast head is fab!

My thoughts on the picture of Martin are:

The shirt colour is too bland, spoils the fab work of the mast head. (I like the white of the background)
Martin is leaning to the left slightly which looks awkward next to the crisp clean lines of the fab masthead.
Arms folded is a no no for me and don't particularly think seeing the watch is professional really. I love the blog photo of Martin but think it is too friendly for the mast head and can see what the arms folded is trying to portray but doesn't quite get the correct message out there I feel. Need something in the middle really. Maybe not so much of an upper body shot?

Definitely change the shirt colour - maybe a dark grey to 'go with' the upper part of the header?

Hope my feedback is taken in the context it was meant - constructive friendly criticism for a site I think is fab!

EchoLocation

Much cleaner. Much tidier. Much better. I hate the current bland green gradient.

Have you considered that people suffering from colour-blindness may have issues with some of the different navigation tab colours?

The picture/pose is fine, it's authoritative - he's an expert, people are just over-analysing.