I really like this site. I really do. But there's something that's been bothering me for a while: the layout. It's not ugly, but it's just too busy for my tastes. There's too much going on. There's gloss everywhere. My computer actually lags while rendering pages on this board. 

What I was wondering is if it'd be possible to offer a third layout choice? Currently there's 'daily cycle' and 'Christmas'. It by no means will be a default board layout. It will be completely optional and Daily Cycle will remain the default. I was just wondering if sometime someone could develop a smooth/simple layout scheme that's not graphic-intensive or glossy? Maybe something with a very simple pastel blue, white and gray color scheme? Something minimal and clean would be fantastic as a third layout option in the drop-down menu. 

That's really the only thing I dislike about this website. In the nearly 7 years I've been here on-and-off, the layout has been the primary reason for me not returning. I like the community and I feel comfortable here, but the layout hurts to look at because it takes a long time to render, even on my high speed connection. 

Just a humble suggestion. Thanks for taking the time to read this!

I think this is worth David's time to read soooo

Davideo7 :

I think this is a great idea too. I'd like there to be another option as well, the current style is fine for me, but it wouldn't be so bad to mix it up from time to time. =)

Absolutely! The current layout is pretty! 

It'd be awesome to have a minimal alternative with a clean/smooth setup. Maybe the minimal version could have a minimal Vizzed logo as well? I mean, since it'd be an optional layout and Daily Cycle would be default 100% of the time, it wouldn't hurt to have a different logo for the alternate layout. 

I did a really fast mock-up of what I mean by a 'minimal' logo below:

Wha? I personally think the regular layout is awesome. And I've had multiple connections without lag from the layout.

When I was using a dial-up connection, I had headers and signatures disabled, but the layout of the board never affected me. Now I have wireless for my laptop and digital cable broadband for my desktop - I don't understand how the current regular scheme is causing lag... but it would be cool if there was another scheme...

tRIUNE : It's also less of "it's laggy" and more "It'd be nice to have a 'clean' alternative while keeping this design intact" 

Some people like glossy and shiny, while others like clean-cut/professional/'quiet' and simple schemes.

Well yeah, the current is cool I think, but if there was an option for a more plain layout, like the different options we have for Thread Layout, then that would be cool as well...

tRIUNE : You're definitely right. I don't personally have a problem with the current one. Back in like 2005 there were 10-15 different layouts if I believe, and everyone's preferences were mostly fulfilled in the design department. 

I dunno, I just like simpler layouts better :p but the Daily Cycle is still really nice. 

The different options for board layouts is a feature I would love to see return gradually. A third layout would be lovely in my opinion. Hope David considers it! 

More layouts would be cool and if it sped things up for people that too,would be worthwhile

iBOCK :   First of all, this current layout has only been the site layout for about 2 years so you saying that it's been the layout for 7 years is false.

Secondly, you've brought this up on the past multiple times (one example here) and I'm pretty sure I've given you an answer before which I will give you again now:

I plan to make a mobile version of the website which would be less fancy, use less graphics and would work better on a mobile phone but also could be used on a computer.  It's just a matter of having the time to do this and since it's very low priority, it'll be a while.

Keep in mind that this isn't a "business" or "coporiate" website, it's a gaming website so the scheme is suppose to have that sort of feel.  And if the site is being laggy, it's probably the post layouts that users have.  The trouble with having to many schemes (besides spending a ton of time putting them together) is that when I change the overall layout of the board, I have to check with each scheme and make sure they look fine with the new updates as well and that can get time consuming so when I do put together a 3rd scheme, I wont be making any more than that.

Davideo7 :

>implying I said this layout was the same for seven years

Except not really. I said that we had more layout options 7 years ago. The default layout has always been a variation of Daily Cycle.

And I know it's not a "business" website, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be professional. A website can be fun while also being clean and professional...

It's fine. I shouldn't have brought it up again. I know I brought it up before because it's a good idea. 

Professional web designers will stumble upon this site someday and cringe. It's not because the layout is bad, mind you. Everyone in the designing world knows that less = more. If you make a layout too busy then it won't look as nice.

Do you want to know why I brought this up so many times? It's because I wanted you to do it. I've said it many times over the course of a couple years. A website not being 'corporate' or 'business' is absolutely no excuse to have a layout that isn't streamlined.

It's fine. I wish you the best... I'll probably be around again sometime. Gaming websites all over the internet have clean layouts. There's no reasoning to shoot down a 'corporate' look, as you put it. 

Bye. Now I know why I left the last few times :

You said:
" In the nearly 7 years I've been here on-and-off, the layout has been the primary reason for me not returning"

Vizzed has had a few different layouts as its primary layout over the past 7 years.

I think one of the things that makes vizzed look a little messy is that the site stretches horizontally with the browser, most sites don't do this any more and I think if I did a fixed width of like 974 pixels, than the site would look more organized.

I like to think of myself as a professional web designer so you're kinda insulting me again (like you did before a year ago).

If you are leaving this site just because of the design that is very sad to say the least. The only time someone should leave a site because of design is if the colors are so bright you are blinded by reading text or when you are bombarded with popups. A site isn't about design its about content and functionality. There are many good looking non-corporate sites out there but if they have nothing useful on them then what then? Its just eye candy, serves no purpose.

The corporate look is ok, I've used it. That doesn't make a site better or more professional. The term professional means you can make a living off it and David has done just that, not because of the design but because of the ideas and content this site has.

Web Designers are the lowest rank in our field. Web developers on the other hand care more about how good a sites features and content are. You can be the worlds best web designer but amount to nothing on the web.

If you honestly try to degrade Vizzed and call it unprofessional then you got a lot to learn in our field. The first thing you will learn as a web designer is that content and functionality is king, design plays a role in a site but you have taken it way to overboard. I don't think you know what a "bad designed site" consists of. If you think this site is bad then you have obviously not seen a majority of sites on web that are much more crappy in design then this. Hell use the way back machine and look at old Vizzed compared to the new one. Your telling me that design is better? Your not thinking straight.

Ok gaming sites have clean layouts, now tell me... what do they offer that is better then Vizzed? Username colors? NO. Viz? NO. Online games playable in browser? NO. A owner who makes features constantly and updates the site every week? NO. A owner who actually knows how to code and design and modify the site however he wants without the use of premade templates? NO. You are sure missing out on the big picture here in what makes a site good and successful and if the design was as bad as you say it was then it would not have over 100,000 members and get 20,000-30,0000+ visits a day.

JigSaw : Well said.  Yeah the site's design is way better than it was 7 years ago.

iBOCK : Everything is a matter of opinion.  I can't please everyone with the design but if I can please the majority, that is all I really need to do to be considered successful with the design.  Here's something else to consider.

If I made a website that is plain and looks like every other website, than the site doesn't stand out.  If I make something unique and different, people will remember the design better and when you can keep that image in someones head, they're more likely to remember the site and come back.  Most of the things I I do with this site is all part of my tactic of gaining traffic and getting the users to come back.

I'm leaning to this currently.

What we currently have as the default would stay the default.

But what iBOCK is suggesting also makes sense, I'd reccommend the minimalist look could be an option much like the Christmas scheme is.

In the end, the biggest difference is that there is less gloss and less of the flash most of our members enjoy.

I understand it takes time to do so, so it's by no means a priority, and I know you are working on a mobile version David, but it sounds like something a lot of the originals would enjoy.

I'm going to go on iBock's side (le gasp!), not because I necessarily want a new layout for Vizzed or anything.

Ibock made a simple suggestion and was clubbed. In reality this makes me afraid from suggesting anything anymore. Ibock didn't "leave" because of the website's design, it was because of the immature responses of both the owner and a former developer.

That's my view.

the_casualty : I didn't actually "club" him.  I never shot down his idea either because I do plan to do this.  He's brought this up to me in the past and threw a few insults my way in the process.

aaand I'm going to close this since essentially it serves no purpose anymore.

Davideo7 : Well, I don't know all of the story, so I suppose I can't judge either way.