Layout/Skin Poll - Please vote and reply!

[CowboyGuy]

Hello all!

The forum's anniversary is approaching in early February, and I am starting to plan things that I want to put out for you during that time. One of my ideas would be to do away with the current way of doing the forum's layout. Gone would be the permanent layout, and in it's place could possibly be a system where you'd find:

PROS

• a default skin, which would be updated monthly similar to the way we do it now.
  
• in addition, you would also be able to edit your profile and choose a different skin of your choice.
  
• there would be about 15 different skins to choose from, to be added to monthly (1 - Season 8 skin per Issue, 1 - Layoutarama winning layout) as well as many other layouts for Angel, Firefly, Dollhouse, Dr. Horrible, and a simple skin for those who do not like imagery.
  
• more colorful, quirky layouts can be made for those who want them
  
• holiday skins
  
• different fonts and text color per skin
  
• basically freedom to make SlayAlive look to your taste
  
• Layoutarama winning layouts would be permanent and always selectable
  
• without the template HTML, the forum's width would fit to your screen as most other forums do

CONS

• the forum would lose it's current "frame" of white behind the actual boards, with the rounded edges.
  
• the header may/may not be of the same width as the forum would be depending on your screen's resolution
  
• the header image and menu bar would look more generic (square edges), and we would no longer have clickable buttons embedded in the banner either.
  
• the forum may lose a bit of it's design aesthetic
  
• the forum would no longer match the Blog, Gallery, or Main/Portal site(s)

Here is a rushed mock-up of what the February Season 8 skin might look like, obviously it would be a bit better than this...but you get the picture:


Please vote, and let me know why you voted. It will help me. Thank you!

[Darth Rosie]

I voted No because I believe that the cons outweigh the pros. I'm not so much one to spend time choosing own skins etc. so the kind of freedom promised would probably not be one which I need or would like to act upon. Accordingly, my slightly conservative streak wins the day. But thank you for being ever so imaginative to make this community an inspiring place for us all!

[Skytteflickan88]

I say no. I like the look of the forum as it is now, and the cons seem too big.

[Wyndam]

I really do like the idea of having selectable skins, but I agree with the ^ that the cons seem a bit too steep. I'm going to wait a bit before I vote though.

[CowboyGuy]

Three votes for no, so far.

[CourtneyDax]

I'm voting no because I really like this layout you have. The preview of the new one just doesn't look good at all to me. I'd much rather just keep it the way it is.

[SlayerLV]

I'm gonna have to say no. I think that the layout we have now is perfect in my opinion.

[Rebecca]

I like the aesthetic of the forum as it is now. I agree with those who have voted no so far, in that no matter what skin you have, even the default skin, the site would lose it's aesthetic character.

It just wouldn't be as pretty as you make it now, Phil

I'm waiting for some positive input for this implementation before I vote.

[CowboyGuy]

Truth be told, I have been thinking of doing it this new way just to free up my time a bit. In the Spring I will be working full-time as well as going back to college. I know that I won't have time to be messing with the layout too much.

We'll see.

I'm going to whip up a better idea of what I mean, and post it.

[Midnight Butterfly]

I voted no. In the past it would have been a yes. But now I like the monthly layout change. Its a SlayAlive trademark

[CowboyGuy]

Thanks guys.

Actually I've tinkered with it a little bit so I might do that...allow someone else to take over on days where I might not have time.

Looks like it will be a white background, same large image for the banner, with the slayalive name, etc up on top like it is now with the menu directly below so there won't be a long bar over the banner anymore.

It looks okay. I'll upload it later.

But you can get the general idea by looking at my test board:

slayalivetest.proboards.com

(the menu will be better once I use actual images, not plain text)

[Rebecca]

Because it is a change in life circumstance, I think the forum should go to a default layout, regardless of skins.

BTW, you mentioned that other people could make skins for themselves or to share; could it be possible to make skins as pretty as the forum is now?

[TabulaRasa]

I voted no because the look of the forum is what made me choose it over other Whedon related forums, its pretty

[CourtneyDax]

Dec 2, 2009 14:37:07 GMT -5 TabulaRasa said:

I voted no because the look of the forum is what made me choose it over other Whedon related forums, its pretty

Same here.
Is there anyway we can appoint a new person to design the layouts if CB is going to be out of commission for a bit?

[Skytteflickan88]

In case your busy, why not use old layouts? No need for something new every month, specially in case you're using something we haven't seen in a long while.

[CowboyGuy]

Dec 2, 2009 23:18:15 GMT -5 Skytteflickan88 said:

In case your busy, why not use old layouts? No need for something new every month, specially in case you're using something we haven't seen in a long while.

Most of the previous layouts contain imagery pertaining to the month it was used (ex - Buffy Appreciation, etc). So old ones won't be useable.

[Skytteflickan88]

Would you be able to get a different background than white?

[CowboyGuy]

Dec 3, 2009 20:24:49 GMT -5 said:

Dec 3, 2009 16:39:41 GMT -5 Skytteflickan88 said:

Would you be able to get a different background than white?

Do you mean for the main message background? If so, yes, nearly everything can be changed colour from the skin functions.

Each skin has set colours and is saved. The skins can be edited and saved and then it would be applied to the boards.

For the forum now, one skin is used so its the same for everyone. If each person wanted a different colour a different skin would have to be created to facilitate that desire.

Yes and to add to this:

Of course we would have a default theme. And with this new plan, we could have about 10 to 15 extra skins of various themes added as well. I will be creating polls in a new board to gauge which themes might be most wanted, for example:

• Spuffy, Bangel, or other 'ship themes
  
• specific needs like larger text, font face, and colors for people who desire larger text
  
• a skin that will be simple, minimalistic for those who are bothered by lots of color or imagery
  
• Layout-a-rama winners will be able to customize their winning layouts even further with it being it's own skin with text and forum color added

[Rebecca]

Voting Yes.

1) It will make Phil's life easier
2) Lots of customization that can add to the forum community.

[Randi Giles]

At first reading the pros I was kind of excited. I was thinking yes this was look nice and fun, then I got to the cons. And I'm going to have to say no, but I don't like it. I might change my mind.

Edit - It's a good thing I post before I voted. If Rebecca's right and it will make easier for CBG then sure why not.