New Thread Layout

[Mick]

Howdy folks,

Yesterday we had a really interesting discussion in chat about switching the layout of our current threads to a newer and better design.

Essentially, the idea is for us to move the postbit from being on the side of threads to instead being on the top. The benefit of this is that it allows more of your content to be displayed at full width, rather than how it currently shows with 15% of the space being left empty. I believe that giving thread creators the most space for their content that we possibly can will result in a better experience for everyone.

Only the thread itself will have this new design, and only in some places like the marketplace categories and announcements forum. All other threads and the replies to threads will still be in the current sidebar design.

I've created two mockups to illustrate the new layouts using Senior Team's content because they're long enough to show the wasted space:

Spoiler: Current layout (sidebar postbit)

Spoiler: Proposed new layout (topbar postbit)

I really hope that everyone likes the new layout concept as much as I do.

React agree to this thread if you'd like to see the new layout and disagree if not. I'd really love to hear your input on the idea too!

Thanks ladies and gents,

 

[Jasmine]

In my opinion the top looks somewhat nicer to me because I like seeing my name or the person who posted broad as daylight next to the thread design. I've always thought this look was pretty clean and the only way it wouldn't be was if the thread design wasn't that good.
The top bar (img #2) also makes the badges extremely cluttered even though it's the same amount on the first image. That's just my opinion but I really like the current layout and design and it looks good so far if you implement the top.

 

[Justis]

Not a fan of what you’ve done with the medals, but that can be adjusted. Other than that, and as a whole, I’m in favor of freeing up all of that currently wasted whitespace on the side, centering the body content with the page and creating more options for thread designers.

 

[Ivan.]

Howdy folks,

Yesterday we had a really interesting discussion in chat about switching the layout of our current threads to a newer and better design.

Essentially, the idea is for us to move the postbit from being on the side of threads to instead being on the top. The benefit of this is that it allows more of your content to be displayed at full width, rather than how it currently shows with 15% of the space being left empty. I believe that giving thread creators the most space for their content that we possibly can will result in a better experience for everyone.

Only the thread itself will have this new design, and only in some places like the marketplace categories and announcements forum. All other threads and the replies to threads will still be in the current sidebar design.

I've created two mockups to illustrate the new layouts using Senior Team's content because they're long enough to show the wasted space:

Spoiler: Current layout (sidebar postbit)

View attachment 467625

Spoiler: Proposed new layout (topbar postbit)

View attachment 467624

I really hope that everyone likes the new layout concept as much as I do.

React agree to this thread if you'd like to see the new layout and disagree if not. I'd really love to hear your input on the idea too!

Thanks ladies and gents,

yes

 

[Patrick]

looks clean

 

[Diz]

I absolutely hate the medal placement on the new layout. I tend to lean towards the first design. That might just be due to it feeling more like what I am used to. If you fixed the medals, I think I would be a lot less opposed to the new layout.

 

[Matty]

Howdy folks,

Yesterday we had a really interesting discussion in chat about switching the layout of our current threads to a newer and better design.

Essentially, the idea is for us to move the postbit from being on the side of threads to instead being on the top. The benefit of this is that it allows more of your content to be displayed at full width, rather than how it currently shows with 15% of the space being left empty. I believe that giving thread creators the most space for their content that we possibly can will result in a better experience for everyone.

Only the thread itself will have this new design, and only in some places like the marketplace categories and announcements forum. All other threads and the replies to threads will still be in the current sidebar design.

I've created two mockups to illustrate the new layouts using Senior Team's content because they're long enough to show the wasted space:

Spoiler: Current layout (sidebar postbit)

View attachment 467625

Spoiler: Proposed new layout (topbar postbit)

View attachment 467624

I really hope that everyone likes the new layout concept as much as I do.

React agree to this thread if you'd like to see the new layout and disagree if not. I'd really love to hear your input on the idea too!

Thanks ladies and gents,

I prefer the current layout to be completely honest, believe it just looks far better - the other being over-simplistic in a sense. This is probably just because I'm so used to seeing it on the side but that's just my thought!

 

[Omar]

In my opinion the top looks somewhat nicer to me because I like seeing my name or the person who posted broad as daylight next to the thread design.

Well the new layout seems to put more light towards the user that has posted the thread, as the first thing you read is about the user rather than the thread. With the old/current layout it means that your eyes would definitely miss the user who has created the thread as you would always be looking at the center.

 

[Ambrosia]

Both are good.

 

[Kalinox]

I love the idea, seeing as those replying will be on the left. my eyes are used to seeing users on the sidebar. 15% is a great deal for threads starters, it'll be more eye captivating.

 

[adamawesome135]

Everything but badges look good

 

[Spaceley]

I think both designs look good, personally I like the one were the user is on the left more, maybe because I'm used to it but it looks better in my opinion. Like more people are saying, if you go with the top postbit, the badges should be changed.

 

[Inviss]

I personally prefer the current layout, but then again I'm not a designer by any stretch of the imagination, so I imagine my dislike is for two reasons:
a) You're using light mode (ew)
b) It's not what I'm used to

I can see myself getting used to it, but I BEG that you fix the medal placement, I personally think it looks abismal

 

[Stax95]

the new layout. It makes the threads bigger and it makes it easier to read the text on thread designs. Redesign the medal layout though.

 

[Lotus]

Why not both? New layout as the default, but could be configurable according to user preference.

(okay I know why not being maintenance overhead but does it actually require custom development)

 

[Mick]

Why not both? New layout as the default, but could be configurable according to user preference.

(okay I know why not being maintenance overhead but does it actually require custom development)

To do this it wouldn’t require any custom development (or at least very little), so it would be feasible. In my opinion doing this would just be the worst of both worlds though. It’d remove all consistency from the navigation experience for our users and create unnecessary confusion about where to find users’ postbits upon first loading a thread.

Having a consistent layout and navigation for the site is really important to me and is why we haven’t added a whole bunch of new styles that people would want. Sure, the cost to add a new style would be negligible and many of our users may like it, but it makes the experience of using MCM more inconsistent.

If we allow the user to decide how threads look to them then it also runs into the issue of the author not designing the thread to look good in a particular layout. Making this change means that thread designs will likely use up more horizontal space, and if someone else uses the old layout then it’ll look cramped and not as the thread creator intended.

I really like the new layout, but I’d rather we simply stick to the old one over allowing users the choice.