Would You Like To See The Answerbank Redesign?

[AB Editor]

Hello!

As you know, we're working on redesigning the site so that it works on every device - i.e. it works on mobile, tablet and your laptop/desktop PC.

We're also taking the opportunity to tidy up some stuff, like reducing the number of categories, swapping the sizes of adverts to more commonly used sizes (this should mean the ads get better).

To make sure everyone feels as consulted as possible, I'd like to show you where the designs are currently settled. If you have any good ideas for the layout, design, colours, fonts etc, please provide your feedback here.

What I would really like to know is, do you understand it, just by looking at it?

I'll post different versions of the homepage first, with a small description. You should be able to click the images to make them pop open in a new browser tab.

The thread will be closed while I sort out these images as answers, and will reopen shortly afterwards.

Homepage: Desktop // Tablet // Mobile

Homepage & Menu: Desktop // Tablet // Mobile

Question Pages: Desktop // Tablet // Mobile

OTHER NEW DESKTOP PAGES:

New Desktop Search

New My Profile

New Category Page

New Article Page

[hc4361]

Danny, you can't be that much of a technophobe. You learned to navigate this site and I'm sure you use other websites just as well.
The only problem I can see is where on earth can you ask for help if you have problems with the new site? Can you think of anywhere?

:D

[Quoi]

Scorpiojo,
'It cannot be moved to the left. It has to stay were it is.
The thinking, and I agree with it, is that it does not need to beopen and displayed all the time. That wastes screen space. A simple tap or click will make it visible only when you need it'.....

It doesn't matter what you want - its going to be this way.
regards ABeussr

[dannyk13]

Hc.Obviously I will give it a try and hope I don't find too much to dislike.I would also hope that some sort of guide would be included.

[hc4361]

All be well, danny.

[Gromit]

Ab Editor.

This is worth a read before you make any font decisions.

https://www.myfonts.com/fonts/bitstream/tiresias/

[Gromit]

// It doesn't matter what you want - its going to be this way.
regards ABeussr //

Their site, their money, their decissions.

[AB Editor]

Thank you for unpacking this Gromit.

[AB Editor]

Quoi - why so negative? I'm putting these out here now for consultation and discussion. If you have opinions about the site designs, share them.

[AB Editor]

I'm just going to close the thread shortly to get three more designs sets, for the questions pages, uploaded for you all.

I'll add quick links to the main question too, for speedier reference.

[AB Editor]

This could be the question page (like the one we're on) for desktop browsers:

[AB Editor]

And this could be the tablet version:

[AB Editor]

And this could be what you see on your smartphone:

[AB Editor]

Thread reopened.

I'll add links to all the images in the original post for those who want to refer back to them.

[AB Editor]

Quick(er) links at the top in the original question.

[Quoi]

I am not entirely negative - I know things will change. The new look does actually modernise a dated looking site and is quite pleasing after getting familiar with.

There was a little exchange there with scorpio and gromit which to me revealed an underlying mentally which i didn't like much.

I have provided software for years on the basis that the USER is all important and design is not driven by making it easier for the developer.

So an attempt to get a site which fits all platforms is sounding a little bit like the euro project itself.

My words wont make a difference as gromit says... your money etc stuff the users really wants even if it a little bit similar to what they like already.

[Lie-in King]

As has been said, we'll get used to it.

I would ask you *not* to change from Verdana, at least for the Q & A text. Gromit is right, Garamond is dreadful.

Gromit - I believe Tiresias never had an italic set, has that changed?

[AB Editor]

Fair enough Quoi. Responsive web design is the prevailing standard for the web. You'd be hard pressed to find someone who pushes against it working in the industry today?

It is intended to provide something the user wants, which is to be able to use the site any device - fitting with the needs of those devices. We've tried to avoid that fisher-price effect you see when someone designs in this style but mobile first. We are trying to make each version as good as it could be for that device and the contexts which those devices are used in.

[Mamyalynne]

I'm not very technical at all but am sure I'd get used to a new look site - I am almost exclusively a desktop user.

I will reiterate what has been said about using a good clear font that is easy to read and has few if any ambiguities.

[Arksided]

I like the format as it is on PC, however as there is a football tournament going on at the moment, not sure if you've heard about it... you do change the AB logo to accommodate Cricket Rugby etc... I'm guessing AB towers is in Scotland ;-)

[jno]

I agree with Gromit that the mobile version looks remarkably tall and skinny, though as I don't use it, it's not my call.

A slightly less cramped font would be welcome: at present "dam" and "darn" are indistinguishable*. Also a widget that automatically changes "teh" to "the"; though I suppose John Conteh would object.

* That's DAM and DARN, in case you're wondering.