52 replies to this topic

[Naraa]

I've been thinking a lot about this. About how I could possibly make this place better, how indeed I can fill your requirements. I don't need professional help, I need your help!

Even though I have a few visions of how I would make this forum a more appealing place to hang out at. And not only where you check in when you're bored to death, when tumblr is on downtime or facebook is being a loser (Like always). It doesn't mean I have any rights to just change the place after my own likes. Luv-Emo has been a home to a lot of people who has even been here years more than myself, and people who have done great things for this community. However I feel we need UPGRADES, and I feel the theme is one of the places to start.

In the next occurring days I will try to pin down some of my ideas for a new main theme.
And I need your ideas too, because this is going to be the only theme available from the second we install the new theme. That means everyone will be using the same theme!

This is simply because it's rather hard for each and everyone here to imagine what theme you are using when they post, most people don't even think about it while posting. And that can actually ruin the point of the content. What you think looks good can look like shit for other people even though what you posted actually is great, for example how you as a user see your signature, or the text in your signature area. Because someone might have a black background instead, someone might have a white one, a rather flat and minimalistic theme and there's the users using the more complex themes with colours and what not. So simply put, colours in signatures, avatars, posts etc doesn't get the right impression from the other members of the community, because there are more themes to pick between. I want to make that issue disappear, even though some of you might hate the idea.

However as stated I need your ideas too, because I'm definitely not just picking a theme because I like it. I could, but it would be wrong. I am including everyone who want's a part of this, everyone with idea's are truly appreciated. I will also report any idea's I have.

I want to make this reality as soon as possibly. I've been asking around, even people I know in real life to people I don't know at all for help and ideas, so I'm hoping you who is this community's flesh and blood to just brainstorm everything you could possibly think of.

Meanwhile I'm going to change a few more categories in the forum. Add more sections and sub-forums, and clean up a whole lot of closed threads.

Go for it !



-Nathalie
Ps. I hope you appreciate what I'm trying to do, because I'm not doing this for myself. And I hope you understand that. And I apologize that this post actually is a wall of text, I need to sleep (important day tomorrow, or today ._.) so I don't have time to make it fancy and easy for mind and eyes. You just need to cope with that. Sorry!

[IsshoNI]

Ok, so I'm volunteering my time to design an index page in a totally different layout and theme. As I told Naraa, I was thinking dark and light colors that are somewhat half-complementary, streamlined and modern, not childish, but not boring. The design needs to represent what the people of this community are.

Graphics
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So my first questions before I go any further is, does anyone have any objections to me helping out brainstorm designs? (I will post pics up when they are done.)

Is the domain name remaining as luv-emo? What do you want? Is the main idea still emotive hardcore? Remember that no matter what the intended center of this forum is music, at least that's what I believe it is. Your input is welcome and needed.
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Also a custom theme is well deserved to implemented in this awesome community so that's what we're shooting for pending Nuk's approval. Neither I nor Naraa have any programming skills with Adobe Flash, HTML, or IPB. So Naraa is working on and deciding whether or not to hire a team to program the designs into the site.

As of right now we have no deadlines, things need to be approved to Naraa, then to Nuk of course.

Naraa wants YOU involved so jump in! The place needs your help! We need feedback of what you guys want! So please, what do you want to see?

[Naraa]

This sounds great. I was thinking light colours as well, didn't really put much thought into a dark theme, but it can be discussed of course. I want it to light up, make people smile.

Also I was thinking slightly about changing the domain name as well, because Luv-Emo is somewhat weird to promote, however this is not really my choice to make so I'll have to talk to Nuk about it in case you want a change there.

And I was thinking small images to illustrate each category. Which I believe will make new people less confused, and pay more attention to what category to post in, for example "new arrivals" with a illustrated picture of someone shaking hands, or maybe even just a person looking happy to see you. Illustrated, drawn images, not real pictures. And a little sign above the image with the name of the category... Smiling person "new arrivals".

I kinda wanted to improve the profile's a tad as well. Bigger profile pictures, more tabs to write your info in. And remove some of the existing tabs. I don't know how far it's possible to edit the profile really, but I'll figure out something.

[sarena]

Those sound like good ideas!
I'm not sure what theme would be the most popular, maybe we can vote on them?
Also I think the banner needs to go, especially if we are going to have a new domain name.

[xJoeySixShooterx]

is there any way to make the site look and feel like a basement show? that's my suggestion

[Naraa]

I don't know what you mean by that..
Care to explain a little further ? :')

I'm also thinking we could include a blog feature to the profile, with a possibility of a twitter feed as well. And maybe random tweets from the members floating in the sidebar if possible ? Sounds rather impossible actually, but it's a thought nonetheless.

[IsshoNI]

I love the twitter feed idea! I'm working on a grunge type theme right now...I think that's what Joey was talkin bout. Also working on some illustrated graphics with people as faded backdrops to the different forum categories like Naraa suggested. I'm doing illustration motion to try and show nice menu bars and and what the implementation of flash could look like. So this means I have to do several copies that show motion when flipped. I'm going to recruit a college friend to help me with the all the different individual graphics, she's amazing. This is very time consuming so hopefully she will help the progress. Please keep the ideas coming guys.

[Naraa]

Awesome, I appreciate it more than I can express. Thanks :')

Can you make the background and menus kinda grungy and dark, but keep the board itself kinda light and minimalistic? I think that would be cool, and comfortable.

sarena, on Dec 6 2011, 09:00 PM, said:

Also I think the banner needs to go, especially if we are going to have a new domain name.

Banner is definitely going.

Spoiler

I hate the current one :')

I've been thinking of a completely new set-up for the board. I will draw up a plan on my flight and show you tonight. Not gonna promise though, might end up hitting a bar or something tonight for all I know. But soon :]

[IsshoNI]

Naraa, on Dec 7 2011, 06:11 AM, said:

Awesome, I appreciate it more than I can express. Thanks :')

Can you make the background and menus kinda grungy and dark, but keep the board itself kinda light and minimalistic? I think that would be cool, and comfortable.

No problem. Right now the first background is washed out sky blues and blacks that blend together with some white highlights. All washed out and smudged somewhat. Also some minor musical detailing in it. I plan on it being a fixed background, not one that scrolls with the board. The board itself and the menus are the most time consuming. It's tedious to say the least.

Naraa said:

I've been thinking of a completely new set-up for the board. I will draw up a plan on my flight and show you tonight. Not gonna promise though, might end up hitting a bar or something tonight for all I know. But soon :]

No worries on the time. Have fun dude! I'm gonna put in some chill time soon too. 4 hours of sleep is not cutting it lol.

[DeAgon]

if you change the domain name some of our past members may not find us, unless of course a link is placed so that if someone hits the old name they are re-directed to the new name !

[Sunshine Bunny]

Not hard to redirect people.

[Britty-kitty]

I have to ask this, and only because I really love themes. Not all of us are dark, scary monster who like to have dark colors on their screen so can we have something vintage floral? With pastel pinks or purple colors because that would honestly be incredibly amazing and I dislike dark things on my screen. Just a suggestion.

Also, before you rename the site or give it a new banner, think of the name, let everyone here vote on it and if we have a disagreement then we somehow work it out and make it to everyone's liking. It is time for an upgrade but I would try doing a little at a time because if you do too much at once then you may dislike it later on down the road and have to once again change things.

Also, just saying, there are a lot of forum topics, as in A LOT! I liked it better as it was with the sub forums within one topic if that makes any sense. Removal of that chat would be nice, or somehow making it to where there is a mod that goes on there from time to time to keep the pedo and spammers out of there because yes, stupid people post their phone #s in there and I know we have no control over that but it would be respectful of us to at least try to keep this place safe and at least make it to where the chat can only be viewed by actual members because at this point anyone and everyone is allowed on there.

Just a few suggestions.







Really would love that them btw...

[sarena]

I agree with the voting, but I'm not sure about floral.
I think the theme/banner should be something gender neutral.

[Britty-kitty]

Oh I didn't mean the banner, meant the themes we can choose from.

[Naraa]

I was thinking something like the new myspace theme, it's bright, but it has like dark details. I want it to be somewhat inspiring, if you know what I mean. When you look at it, your eyes should feel comfortable looking at it. Keep pouring ideas guys!!

[♥i-love-you♥]

Naraa's an admin? nuk does shit? How long was I sleeping for?!? O_o

[Naraa]

Quite a while x)
We're patching up. Trying to figure out some improvements here. Do you have any knowledge with IPB themes?

[♥i-love-you♥]

Eh, not a great deal. I've made one or two, but that was at least 2 years ago. I use free forum software for my other projects so I don't get much chance to do anything. I don't think you should remove the option though, but maybe restrict it to a light and dark version of the same theme? I use the default IPB theme on here.

[Naraa]

I use the SE-Sharpe which is restricted for moderators/admins for some reason.. I like the slim look, however it lacks potential, visuals and it's not as comfortable for the eye that I wish for..

I somewhat agree with two options I guess. However I kinda want to keep the board itself bright so I don't know. But we could always try to find a balanse where it doesn't crash.

[♥i-love-you♥]

Indeed, if the main design is done right, a second option shouldn't be needed. However, it was just a suggestion as I know people like the ability to customise, even if they choose never to switch from the defaults. xD