Pretty up the front page!

[iwarrior-poet]

Forked from: Sooo how is everyone liking the new ENWorld?

There just simply isn't enough context info. There aren't any date references, no clear indications which website/companies the links are tied to. It may be quicker, but it is not in the least attractive. A website should be FUN, and the new front page is definitely not fun.

As it stands---I would prefer going back to the old (6 months ago) version of the front page rather than the current form. I was really starting to like the Icon based front page---then---'WhsshhhTT!!!'. Gone. Why?

 

[Mistwell]

I agree. The front page is the first, most important marketing tool that new people see for this site. And it looks like it was made to persuade minimalist programmers to check out the site rather than creative role playing gamers.

ComicBookResources.com recently changed their front page (actually their whole site), and it is kicking so much butt that the competition is actively losing users to CBR purely based on the new look. See:

Comic Book Resources - Daily Comic Book News, Previews, Reviews, Commentary and Message Boards

So lets make this thing look like a professional, INTERESTING site again on the front page!

 

[Michael Morris]

Anyone who has any ideas on this pitch them to Russ and see what he says. Any further design will not be done with or by me - as I have announced in the admin forum I will be leaving once the site is moved to the new servers.

 

[weem]

Anyone who has any ideas on this pitch them to Russ and see what he says

Interesting.

 

[Morrus]

Once we're on the new servers, we can play with the idea of database-driven news. Right now, the priority is to keep the most visited page on the site as light as possible, so that the rest of the site still runs.

 

[weem]

Once we're on the new servers, we can play with the idea of database-driven news. Right now, the priority is to keep the most visited page on the site as light as possible, so that the rest of the site still runs.

Ahh, so you are more open to interpretation for the index page later - interesting. Do you have someone (people) who can help with custom database stuff that could conform to a new design should you get one you like, or do you need to stick with something pre-built? Maybe you have help enough that even using something pre-built you can have it modified accordingly?

I'm curious about the situation as I had been considering putting together a design for consideration, but wasn't sure of the limitations (or if you even cared to see anything) - I do web design/development as a full time job (etc etc etc) - I made my hobby my career you could say, so it's fun for me I just didn't want to play with something only to find out you are limited due to a need to use something pre-built (cheaper, faster, etc).

I actually did some EN World logo stuff loooong ago (I'm sure you have long since forgotten )

 

[Morrus]

One thing I would like to do is put little icons next to each entry indicating the general subject. "D&D", for example. I'm not really sure what icons/subjects I'd want though.