Redesign TalkGraphics!

You may spend quite a bit of time here, so why not design it how you want? http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

As you may know, I've been working on a way to migrate TalkGraphics to a new messageboard system. This is becuase the performance and level of service from our current providers has been been poor and lacks flexibility.

I am pleased to say that this is coming closer to reality, and it hopefully won't be too long until these forums are run on vBulletin and are hosted by ourselves. This means faster, better and no disk space restrictions (and that means no trouble with attachments anymore!).

New design
To go with this move, it'd be really nice to redesign TalkGraphics, to give it a fresh lick of paint and to move away from what will be the standard v-Bulletin look.

To that end, this is an open competition to design a heading/title design for the top of the page. Feel free to do what you want, but key requirements are:
<UL TYPE=SQUARE>
<LI>That it is something that isn't too large (in terms of download size, or 'real estate') and at the very least contains the word "TalkGraphics.com". You can change the page colors if you wish.
<LI>You don't mind giving us your original artwork files, and then using them to redecorate TalkGraphics, and that we may adapt them to fit the needs of the messageboard design.
<LI>That, if we choose your design, when we're customizing the rest of the message you won't mind if we talk to you, get your opinions on colors etc.
<LI>It's a design that you, as a user of TalkGraphics, won't mind looking at each day![/list]
To give you an idea of what vBulletin looks like as standard, this is their site's messageboard:
http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/

The only difference is that our version will be unfixed width.

The winner
We will probably hold a poll to gauge people on what they like; after all, these are your forums. This is the main reason for this competition, so that you can design the place you frequent.

However, as an additional incentive the winner will receive the entire Xara product suite.

If you have any questions, let let me know. Otheriwse, I hope you enjoy the challenge!

Good god - about time as well - the colours on this site and logo suck big style and I hate how slow it is as well - when is the deadline for this as I'll definitely give it a go!

Ahh, deadline. I'll say May 30, provisionally.

I'd like to request that people submitting designs think "clean and uncluttered".

(I won't be submitting because I'm not an interface designer and I'll be out of town throughout the submission period. I'm sure you're all sighing with relief.http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)

Hi Antony,

Why not consider the board software that Peter and Risto used for Pixelparity.org?? It's latest incarnation made it VERY fast. Why not contact Risto or Peter and ask them for the address to take a look see. I'm sure Peter would be happy to give you a run down on what he thought of the software. I've not been on many boards that run that fast, even on my 56k dial up!!

All the best and good luck!

Quote:

---

Originally posted by RAMWolff:
Why not consider the board software that Peter and Risto used for Pixelparity.org??

---

But please not the same host! I don't visit often, but most times that I try, the site is down. Just checked that I had the right URL, ironically the first result of a Google search is a talkgraphics.com posting saying that pixelparity.org is down again http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Daniel

PixelParity closed down in March - it is no longer running.

Amanda

I'm sorry Daniel, I should have said the former forums site know as Pixelparity.org.

Yea, it's GONE Gone gone!!

But the forum software was really nice compared to the TG forum software any day of the week. Peter would shut it down every night for a few seconds to do some sort of maintenance and then sometimes there would be a glitch. Then something happened either to the server it was on or something happened where we were off line for like 2 weeks or so and that's when things went south!! Really a shame. The last forum software update Peter applied really sped things up super fast even for my 56K dial up connection!!

I'm sure Antony will do what he thinks is best and it will be good! http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

All the best

The software used on Pixelparity was YABB. And the reason it ran with lightning speed was not only the code itself, Peter kept it all in tip-top shape.

The two week downtime on PP happened was because the host re-configured the server - without letting anyone know. Peter also happened to be on vacation at the time.

However, rest assured that the board that Antony is working on (vBulletin) is every bit as good. http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

RAMWolff, I have spent considerable time resourcing a new board, and then working with that company to get their filters up to date to be able to import attachments. That's very important. We are down that path now, the software bought, the time is invested and going to another system on a whim would serve no purpose. As Risto said, vBulletin is good.

This topic is about a design for the forums, so please, let's all keep to that. http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/smile.gif But if no one bites, I'll just do a design myself. http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif Save yourself from my design skills...

I apologize from going off topic as it was not so off topic but a suggestion. If all is straightened out then that's fine.

I don't have any suggestions for the look and feel of the board as that's a personal opinion that most would not like. As long as the boards funtion well and are not so inundated with too much flashing this and that, things work as expected and no long refresh times then I'm happy!

All the best and good luck! http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

I will see if I can doodle an idea or so... 30th is not a lot of time... We are not doing this full time you know. I will give it a good shot tho...

I can leave it longer John, but I think migrating and getting attachments back is quite important.

Does anyone else want more time? If so, I can see about extending it. That date was, after all, very much plucked out of the air.

How can we get the drafts to you? Post them here?

OK, the obvious questions for me are...

1) Branding... Xara forums would be better placed within the Xara web site... Yes/No?

I suggest this for the new user's to Xara, those who have just downloaded said product(s) and are looking for specific info... most software companies have the forums as a integrated or themed part of the parent site...

TalkGraphics on the other hand is somewhat unique in how this is included within the layout of a general graphics board...

KISS is usually the better approach, and thus I feel that this branding issue needs to be addressed before any further conciderations can be made regarding layout designs.

Perhaps some of the longer standing members will object to this, suggesting all is well, and there is no need to seperate the branding issues, be it so, however this really is a no brainer... as good a time as any, for Xara to step forward and stand on it's own branding...

If the good folks at Xara see to also build TalkGraphics, a wonderful graphics community for any and all, then by all means, we have been blessed.

But yea, business before pleasure is the first order of the day here... Portalize Xara Business together in one easy to navigate site, support forums included.

2)Will there be skins options for the viewer? Yea, ok, this request might seem hoky, but really, this could lead to a lot of good fun for all members looking to work this design deal here, and, keep the motion always going forward, and, it is much easier on the ole eyes when you can set thing up the way you like em...

anyways, just my couple of sense worth http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

Let us make our forum like the software that we use, "Quick" and "Easy to Use". But the most important value to place on the site that it is reliable, nothing else matters.

Eventually we will get accustom to how it looks, which is not important, but the ability to upload easily without linking to another site is the prime inportance. The number of forums that I ignore because i can not spontainiously upload the drawing that I would like to show is far to numerious to mention. Someone said KISS that is the best answer!

Hi Anthony,
Threw this together to get things going. Thanks for all your hard work on getting talkgraphics hosted on new messageboard.

Talkgraphics Design Submission 1 - Orange & Blue Theme

Talkgraphics Design Submission 2 - Orange & Gray Theme

Well AntonyF,

How can we show ya our doodles?

hehe, good question http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Yea, the more I visit the Xara Group parent site the more I see these things portalized within... very appealing portal it would be... http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

gidgit,

Branding wise we want TalkGraphics to remain a neutral site. So neutral branding, no obvious sign of Xara, it will have non-Xara products etc.

Zee, thank you for the first entry. http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

As to how to present the designs... hmm. I forgot we can't do attachments. D'oh! If you can host them on your own website and link to them like Zee did (either link to an image showing the layout, the Xar file or an actual page). OR, email it to antonyf AT xara.com and I will upload it and link it in.

Thanks!

Anthony,
So, if I understand you correctly we should NOT include any reference to XARA in our design submissions. Is that correct?

Okay, antonyf...

Da check is in da mail...

John's images added by Antony:

http://www.xara.com/img/talkgraphics/template1.jpg

http://www.xara.com/img/talkgraphics/template2.jpg

Zee, that is correct. However don't worry that your design has it. It certainly won't be decided by that sort of thing. We just need to see a core design that works well, then we can talk with the 'chosen one' afterwards to tailor anything.

Hi Anthony,
I removed the Xara advertising references from my design, enhanced it a bit and re-linked my previous post to the new version. Good luck on getting talkgraphics migrated to new message board.
Zee

Antony,

You might want to consider a board with almost neutrals colours, at least on the space where images are displayed (as here on Talkgraphics right now).

Bright colours in general (and especially in the background) of the board will effect/interfer with the colours of posted images.

My 2 cents worth.

Personally... I would rather keep the two shades of grey we alternate with now... It works... and as we used to say in the service...

"If it works... don't F0ck with it..." http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

John,

When I was in the service, we always said: "it works... But with a little bit of creative thinking we can make it faster, smarter and more accurate - so we may sleep in longer in the morning..." http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

What does everyone else think about neutral 'at least' in the post area - where pictures are served up?

"it works... But with a little bit of creative thinking we can make it faster, smarter and more accurate - so we may sleep in longer in the morning..." - Risto

No wonder we had so many more toys to play with... You musta' broke all of yours... http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

waht is more neutral than gray?

Risto, I agree with muted colors. But I'd prefer to see the gray go as it's so "default". I think more white, or muted shades of a particular color would go well.

I agree also, I think the green and orange theme is kinda dull at this point with the gray and light gray posting panels.

How about considering a muted violet. I use this color for my "3D objects" better known as my windows and menus http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

My muted violet color: #d1c6d7

A lighter version is:#ece4ef

A green that's easy on the eyes is: #bdcfbc

An orange that' easy on the eyes is: #ffba8a


My design beliefs are, with exceptions, stick to the secondary colors as they are more attractive to most people. Again this is what I've found out there in the hair industry. Most of the nicer looking salons are done in wood (those are your muted oranges or brown) with green and violet accents and plants too!! Black DOES play in to it as it is an industry standard. http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

So when I was putting my first desktop together, low those many many years ago now, I found that sticking to the secondary colors were easiest on my eyes and still works for me today!!

Then you could create new grays for the posting panels based on either green, orange or the purple hues! Or look in to your neutral, warm and cool grays and see which looks best with the new color scheme, you would be surprised how different those 3 gray tones are!!

That's my input! I'm sure it will look and function just fine when your all done with it Antony! http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

All the best

Antony quote: "Muted".
--- Yes, thank you! That was the word I was looking for.

Hi everyone,

I'm going to be off work until next week. If you do email me anything, I won't put your designs up until then. But please, design away. http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

I'm also going to extend the deadline until June 7th.

Having a go at the logo...

http://www.vectorgraphic.co.uk/talkg...kgraphics1.gif

Anthony, The one thing I'd like to see on the next setup is an ability to respond directly to a specific post. Rather than down the line. Is this something that is a part of the next software?

wW, only ubb.threads offers a threaded option as far as I'm aware, and we're not moving to it I'm afraid. It's been my experience that people rarely use the threaded option, so I think it will actually disappear with the death of ubb.threads.