I'm currently designing a new look for the SEN DLDB for Devourer and right now, I have a basic layout based on the current look.

In my version, navigation is simplified to 'Portal', a drop down 'Browse' menu, and 'Upload.' Along with a search bar with an autocomplete category textbox.

While I'm still in the early stages of development, I'd like to ask what you SENners would like to see in this new look. This is not to discuss DLDB functionality, but the way it looks. I'm tired of the ugly, boxy, cluttered version we have now.

Post has been edited 1 time(s), last time on Jul 27 2010, 10:24 pm by A_of-s_t.

It'd be easier to give recommendations when we see it.

Here's a version I made yesterday from scratch. I still need to get the colors and fonts correct and add a few details. But that's what I envision the new layout to look like.

Eh... Let Devourer and (ideally) I worry about the code. Try drawing it up in PowerPoint. (No, srsly. I've tried doing mockups in GIMP, Photoshop, PowerPoint... And PowerPoint is by far the easiest and most flexible tool for the job. I was pleasantly surprised.)

David, I asked him to make a neat dldb-2 layout which also looks like the forum index (at least a bit). Of course, concept arts and ideas would be enough, though, if you haven't got that many time. If you actually have and want to put it into SEN: go ahead.

The point is moot, though. You'll be able to show us the design you plan on doing if you create a mockup (a picture) first. Show us what it'll look like, so we can criticize it and offer suggestions. Then do the actual work, since you seem so intent on doing the code. I was only offering to ease your workload by taking on the gruntwork of actually implementing a design in client-side code.

Quote from Devourer

David, I asked him to make a neat dldb-2 layout which also looks like the forum index (at least a bit). Of course, concept arts and ideas would be enough, though, if you haven't got that much* time.

*Fix'd

I think we're having a discrepancy over the term "code". A_of_s_T is willing to do the HTML. He cannot do the PHP and dynamic parts of the page, which is up to you guys.

PHP isn't up to me, it's up to Devourer. In any case,
'Cause it'd suck if he did all his client-side code, and then had to nuke half of it because nobody likes the visual theme or layout arrangement he had in mind. Again, he should do a mockup in an image editor, like GIMP or even MSPowerPoint, and post it (though NOT as an XCF or PPTX, obviously) so that we, the community, can evaluate it.

EDIT: Oh, Aofst, here are some assets you can use that are already on the servers. Anything you don't already see on Turtle will be used when I redo the Forum Index.

Left-side slants for the global navigation, in-use.


Four images you can put on corners to slant them. They are background-color-dependent but can hence be applied to any header or box color. Slated for use in new Forum Index code.



Green corner. Used on the utility nav (Welcome panel) for a small green slant.


You can clip them with basic CSS and HTML if needed.

Post has been edited 1 time(s), last time on Jul 28 2010, 1:37 am by DavidJCobb. Reason: ASSETS 4 U AOFST

Imitate the Nibbits system, it's very flexible and nice

Falk ninja'd me; I added some assets to my post for Aofst to use. They're already on SEN's servers, in the files for Turtle. If you're testing your files locally, Aofst, your browser oughta let you just grab these right off StarEdit.Net and reference them in your code like that, without needing to download 'em.

I'm currently on a computer with no internet access, so I'll have to grab them later (I'm on my phone right now).

I don't like designing a site using Jasc Paint Shop Pro (which is what I use) -- I prefer actually coding it since it provides good practice and I can keep it for future reference or display.

I looked at nibbits and I don't think we need a splash page for the dldb, but I do like the way they list maps.

I'm like that too, actually; my mockups are my prototypes. But if you're coding that way for other people, then you'd better make your code flexible, 'cause they're sure to want changes!

There's no other way to code . And besides, this is a volunteering job that I'm doing out of the goodness of my heart.

Agreed with, noted, and appreciated.

I agree, to an extent. I think they have one of the best DLDBs I've seen.