Graphic Design Contests

**ghiavolu** · 12-17-2006, 06:07 PM

Ok, i have a question TIM : do you want a totally different approach , smthg original, or you just want a normal skin like every website has, like http://www.webdesignbox.ro ?
I think i`m gonna be too in this contest , even did something, but is far from being ready to be shown... just that i don`t have the time, being busy with a redesign here ...
Best of luck to all!

**Republikin** · 12-17-2006, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghiavolu

Ok, i have a question TIM : do you want a totally different approach , smthg original, or you just want a normal skin like every website has, like http://www.webdesignbox.ro ?
I think i`m gonna be too in this contest , even did something, but is far from being ready to be shown... just that i don`t have the time, being busy with a redesign here ...
Best of luck to all!

I think he is looking for something new and original however the question then becomes, how do you update the look and feel of a basic forum layout that is common amongst all forums, to something more Web 2.0?

You certainly can't simplify the layout, it is what it is and it is very busy. You can't really make it all about the text and less about the design because on a forum there are so many options that they have to go somewhere and they all have a design element. About the only thing I could think of doing was adding the color lime green which that website Tim linked too eluded too as the "official color of web 2.0".

I think the biggest change will only happen when vBulletin (or some other forum software) learns how to drastically change the way information in a forum is presented. Until that day, I feel as though a design change will be a little like putting makeup on an elephant hoping that will make it look like Shania Twain.

**sh.lolz** · 12-17-2006, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Republikin

I think he is looking for something new and original however the question then becomes, how do you update the look and feel of a basic forum layout that is common amongst all forums, to something more Web 2.0?

You certainly can't simplify the layout, it is what it is and it is very busy. You can't really make it all about the text and less about the design because on a forum there are so many options that they have to go somewhere and they all have a design element. About the only thing I could think of doing was adding the color lime green which that website Tim linked too eluded too as the "official color of web 2.0".

I think the biggest change will only happen when vBulletin (or some other forum software) learns how to drastically change the way information in a forum is presented. Until that day, I feel as though a design change will be a little like putting makeup on an elephant hoping that will make it look like Shania Twain.

It's actually much easier than you think. All you have to do is a bit of editing with the HTML templates and the stylesheet...

**Republikin** · 12-17-2006, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sh.lolz

It's actually much easier than you think. All you have to do is a bit of editing with the HTML templates and the stylesheet...

I think you missed my point. I am not saying that it would be hard to change the look of the website with the templates. Believe me that I know how to edit a template and a stylesheet, I have not accumulated almost 2500 posts here because I'm an idiot.

What I was getting at is the philisophical aspect of Web 2.0. Tim want's something that exemplifies Web 2.0 which is a philosophy rather than a set standard. What I am trying to figure out is how to apply that philosophy to an old model of viewing data.

**mgraphic** · 12-18-2006, 01:52 AM

Here is a try - it was fun to send an entry!

http://www.kmarshall.com/webmaster-t...gn_contest.jpg

**genelmx** · 12-18-2006, 02:27 AM

Tim, I am back. Working full time on this. Expect an edit in awhile :P

**TimSchroeder** · 12-18-2006, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sh.lolz

Got a bit excited when I read that it was a forum skin, haven't made one in ages!

Here's what I've come up with so far: Click

Is there anything you'd like to see changed so far? Please let me know! Thanks

A little to bright (maybe to much white). Definitely very web 2.0 like though. Nice job.

Quote:

Originally Posted by borzoid

Ok here is another attempt, completely different look from my last submission.
I think the header font is a bit big and would like to make the bordes a bit sharper but please let me know if this is going in the right direction.

http://www.eidolonborzoi.com/contest...astertalk2.jpg

I'm iffy on the logo and it may be a little to grey but overall that's very nice. I'll try and get some input from the other admin and mods.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghiavolu

Ok, i have a question TIM : do you want a totally different approach , smthg original, or you just want a normal skin like every website has, like...

A little bit of both. Did that help?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Republikin

I think he is looking for something new and original however the question then becomes, how do you update the look and feel of a basic forum layout that is common amongst all forums, to something more Web 2.0?

You certainly can't simplify the layout, it is what it is and it is very busy...

Republikin, your submissions are top-notch but I worry a little about how hard it would be to style. I also want to keep the forums load times reasonable so I don't want to many fancy graphics.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgraphic

Here is a try - it was fun to send an entry!

http://www.kmarshall.com/webmaster-t...gn_contest.jpg

Very nice. I like the rounded category corners. The navigation bar is to small.

To ALL:

I want to say that most of the submissions have been very good and I thank you for them However it needs to be good enough to change from the style we are already using (which I like but I'm ready for something fresh).

I understand I have been light on guidance. The problem is that I don't really know exactly what I want or have a hard time explaining it. I want something clean, functional, fast loading and with a touch of web 2.0 (without going to far).

For example, what I like about genelmx's submission is that the style is very clean and easy on the eyes. I put his style next to the current style (dual monitors) and could actually see it as something worth changing to once it's tweaked some more. It also wouldn't be hard to code. The header has a little bit of a web 2.0 flair to it. The rest of it is basically the same as we have now but with different colors (some of the colors will need to be tweaked). I would not consider his entry as complete but it's probably the entry that's most in the right direction.

This contest is not over yet so feel free to continue to take a shot at it.

**s_u_p_e_r_s_a_m** · 02:41 AM

Heres something i did quickly...

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/3...tertalkxl3.gif

Please tell me what u think so far, if you like it i can do the rest of the layout.

If not, then i saved myself a hell of alot of time. :P

Thanks
Sam

**genelmx** · 11:38 AM

Well the update isn't going too well. I really want everything to be perfect and the more I look at the first design I made, the more I want to stop whatever I'm doing because I think it sucks. So I'm in the middle of designing a new one which I am going to use a darker shade of blue and more grey contrasts. I hope I can find the time to make individual icons for each forum.

I spent a very long time trying to fit a logo. Here it is, I don't want to put the '-' because it won't look good.

I will finish up the rest of the design tomorrow.

*EDIT*
I completed the rest of the design, the thread view etc. will be for another day if you really want it. This is hard work. When you said only the top part of the design looked web2.0 and the bottom was normal, I realized I had to customize the tables to make it more web2.0 like.

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/3...master2kp5.gif
As usual I see no point in watermarking. Please don't steal

**TimSchroeder** · 12-21-2006, 10:21 AM

Wow, you really put a lot of work into that genelmx. Thanks!

Looks very good. I'm out of town at the moment and will provide feedback shortly.

**woosh** · 12-21-2006, 06:30 PM

Oooo i like the second one genelmx

**borzoid** · 12-21-2006, 08:00 PM

I agree - that is one "hot" template

**Republikin** · 12-21-2006, 11:11 PM

I have to be completely honest when I say that I do not really like it, and to be fare, I really don't like my own submission much either anymore. Genelmx's is pretty much just black with some beveling. Mine is just some colors and nothing more.

I have to admit also that I was never really impressed with the current design and I remember being on the staff when it was implemented. I think what I am more annoyed at is the fact that nothing really new can be done with the a vBulletin forum. The only thing we can do is try to beautify the outside when the inside is still old. Kind of like when buying a house that was built in 1860; the current owner may make the outside look like a gem but it only goes skin deep.

All of this thinking has led me to kind of a weird place though; one where I think the only thing left to do is change the way data is represented on the web. Unfortunatly, I think this is a product of our need to feel that things that are old are something new (hence a new skin).

**genelmx** · 12-21-2006, 11:40 PM

Everyone has their own comments and I know some may not be too familiar with the simplicity "easy on the eyes" concept. However although changing the way data is represented on the web may mean using AJAX and Ruby on rails, it is not always necessary.

Though one of the web2.0 "requirements" is that data should be represented with ease. Most people assume they have to have to code their entire website with rubyonrails and use AJAX to get it on but do we really need it? Unless you are running a fast-paced news site like digg. Simple html/css and php/sql is sufficient and perhaps a little AJAX for the 'Quick Reply' feature. I think the software this forum is running is good enough.

So let's drop the web2.0 hype when it comes to forums.

**borzoid** · 12-21-2006, 11:51 PM

I think it's hot because, it's bold and memorable. It "is" different than much of what you see on the web these days. All of the pale blue and white: sometimes when I'm in more than a few sites at the same time I honestly have to stop and make sure I've clicked on the right window because the color schemes are all the same.

In studies done with paint colors, blue and grey were the colors that most likely created feelings of depression and loneliness. It suprises me that they are so sought after in design schemes. The illicit no excitement from the viewer.

If faced with two sites that were identical except for the colors, I would most likely stop and read the black and white which would stand out and be remembered in the sea of boring blue.

**vangogh** · 12-22-2006, 01:47 AM

The reason you see so much blue is because it's associated with things like trust, loyalty, and consistency. Blue is also a calming presence.

**s_u_p_e_r_s_a_m** · 03:46 AM

I agree with Republikin, your design is very dark... But it is still my favourite by far.

Just a suggestion but i think it may look a bit better if you used that blue text more, but thats just my opinion.

Quote:

In studies done with paint colors, blue and grey were the colors that most likely created feelings of depression and loneliness.

Then why is myspace blue...

**borzoid** · 12-22-2006, 05:47 AM

Quote:

The reason you see so much blue is because it's associated with things like trust, loyalty, and consistency. Blue is also a calming presence.

I can see this. There is a fine line between calming and depressing. Many sites use the same (or similar) shades of pale blue and it appears they are trying to illicit trust at the expense of individualism.

Quote:

Then why is myspace blue...

Myspace uses a strong bold blue not the pale soft blue that so many sites use. There is stark contrast and accents of red. The contrast and strength of the colors are much more dynamic than the calming/depressing/boring pale blues.

Contrast is important in creating energy in the appearance. Genelmx template is both bold and easy on the eyes at the same time. There is energy in that black and white. It's hot

**genelmx** · 12-22-2006, 07:24 AM

Hasn't anybody told you "MySpace is emo."?

**borzoid** · 12-22-2006, 08:05 AM

what is emo?