Feedback for new header design

[jimnyc]

I have a friend who is a Flash expert. This is the general layout that I have in mind. The blue background will make the "images" transparent with the theme of the site. When the site first loads, the 2 black images will appear first and be alone for a few seconds. I'm thinking these images maybe 9/11 related. Then the 2 yellow images will load overlapping the first 2. I'm thinking this will be related to the responses to the actions of 9/11, maybe military related. Then the last 2, red images, will load. I was thinking this would be the political aspect, maybe like the US Flag, the bill of rights or something along those lines.

After the 6 images load, then the logo will load (not the font I have above) over all of the images. The lettering is the hardest part as my friend is making each letter individually as 3d objects in flash. I'm hoping to have him load the site name and have the background pictures fade a bit to have the name stand out.

Thoughts, suggestions, critique, additions, comments?

[emmett]

I have a friend who is a Flash expert. This is the general layout that I have in mind. The blue background will make the "images" transparent with the theme of the site. When the site first loads, the 2 black images will appear first and be alone for a few seconds. I'm thinking these images maybe 9/11 related. Then the 2 yellow images will load overlapping the first 2. I'm thinking this will be related to the responses to the actions of 9/11, maybe military related. Then the last 2, red images, will load. I was thinking this would be the political aspect, maybe like the US Flag, the bill of rights or something along those lines.

After the 6 images load, then the logo will load (not the font I have above) over all of the images. The lettering is the hardest part as my friend is making each letter individually as 3d objects in flash. I'm hoping to have him load the site name and have the background pictures fade a bit to have the name stand out.

Thoughts, suggestions, critique, additions, comments?

Sounds pretty cool.

Personally I like the background of the picture in our header. Having said that however it is very military oriented and sends a "conservative" psych message to those who see it, in my opinion. Sort of the blue room / pink room thing there.

I would think a way to incorporate a more unilateral background picture might be worth considering. Now understand I don;t know what else we could use, I LOVE the American flag being in there and the picture of the soldier has always been a signature of the site but the rest of the background pictures seem to lend a personna of our site being a "military" site.

My opinion would be to introduce some other pictures that allow our pictures in the background to evolve a bit to something with more elasticity. A picture of a professional woman would be nice, maybe a nurse or buisness person in a nice pant suit (dress would make it seem like we were attempting to impregnate them while barefooted in kitchen), maybe some faded pictures of common professionals. A hardhatted worker for instance, a black person with a suit on or maybe driving a truck. Something that would tend to lend diversity to our broadcasted message and attract a more liberal average member to stimulate more debate.

I think you no doubt get what my thoughts are. I would, like many of us like to attract more liberals and not the likes of some of the hatemongers who have represented the liberal side recently. I would also like to see some of our more conservative members behave a wee bit better when that is acheived so we can realize a true debate board.

Changing the header is a good idea right now. Let's just make sure this "change" is the type we are comfortable with and makes the board more attractive.

Just my opinion.....and remember...I loved and I mean absolutely loved the old banner.

[Psychoblues]

I posted this a little earlier, or something like it, it disappeared, fear I can only assume, but I don't mind posting it again.

You owe me a keyboard, emmie!!!!!!!!! You are not very sensitive to patronization and condescension, are you? If jimnyc accepts your recommendations then I accept that he is a bigger fool than I ever imagined him to be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One big question, cowgirl. What do you mean by your word "unilateral" in this conversation?

Sounds pretty cool.

Personally I like the background of the picture in our header. Having said that however it is very military oriented and sends a "conservative" psych message to those who see it, in my opinion. Sort of the blue room / pink room thing there.

I would think a way to incorporate a more unilateral background picture might be worth considering. Now understand I don;t know what else we could use, I LOVE the American flag being in there and the picture of the soldier has always been a signature of the site but the rest of the background pictures seem to lend a personna of our site being a "military" site.

My opinion would be to introduce some other pictures that allow our pictures in the background to evolve a bit to something with more elasticity. A picture of a professional woman would be nice, maybe a nurse or buisness person in a nice pant suit (dress would make it seem like we were attempting to impregnate them while barefooted in kitchen), maybe some faded pictures of common professionals. A hardhatted worker for instance, a black person with a suit on or maybe driving a truck. Something that would tend to lend diversity to our broadcasted message and attract a more liberal average member to stimulate more debate.

I think you no doubt get what my thoughts are. I would, like many of us like to attract more liberals and not the likes of some of the hatemongers who have represented the liberal side recently. I would also like to see some of our more conservative members behave a wee bit better when that is acheived so we can realize a true debate board.

Changing the header is a good idea right now. Let's just make sure this "change" is the type we are comfortable with and makes the board more attractive.

Just my opinion.....and remember...I loved and I mean absolutely loved the old banner.

I agree with you, emmie. The original banner is perfect! If any change would be made I would suggest that an image of the President Of The United States Of America would somehow be mixed into the mixture of flags, soldiers and other patriotic symbols.



Psychoblues

[jimnyc]

I agree with you, emmie. The original banner is perfect! If any change would be made I would suggest that an image of the President Of The United States Of America would somehow be mixed into the mixture of flags, soldiers and other patriotic symbols.

I have no issue with that and will probably incorporate it somehow. He may not be MY choice, but for better or worse, he is OUR President of the US.

[jimnyc]

Ok, we have a rough draft ready to at least get some more feedback. This is just a "generic" header that has images fading in to give you an idea of the functionality. The images are now military related, but it's as easy as uploading 6 new images with the same name and they automatically adapt and resize. The background color will ultimately be the same as the site. The hard part, the 3D lettering "DebatePolicy.com" will then go across all 6 pictures. I know it's hard to get feedback on an unfinished project, but it's much easier to make requested changes now rather than when it is done.

Also, if enough people say leave well enough alone and scrap the idea of changing, I will do so. This is just a work in progress that a buddy and I have been working on. Should have been a few hours for this test but neither of us has been very reliable as of late!

Anyway, here's an EXAMPLE of what I'm aiming for:

http://www.westchestertechnical.com/...er/banner.html

[CSM]

Ok, we have a rough draft ready to at least get some more feedback. This is just a "generic" header that has images fading in to give you an idea of the functionality. The images are now military related, but it's as easy as uploading 6 new images with the same name and they automatically adapt and resize. The background color will ultimately be the same as the site. The hard part, the 3D lettering "DebatePolicy.com" will then go across all 6 pictures. I know it's hard to get feedback on an unfinished project, but it's much easier to make requested changes now rather than when it is done.

Also, if enough people say leave well enough alone and scrap the idea of changing, I will do so. This is just a work in progress that a buddy and I have been working on. Should have been a few hours for this test but neither of us has been very reliable as of late!

Anyway, here's an EXAMPLE of what I'm aiming for:

http://www.westchestertechnical.com/...er/banner.html

I like the sample site. My only concern is how long will it take to get logged into the site with that running.

[maineman]

it's your board Jim.... you do what makes you happy, and my guess is, that a board owned by a happy owner will attract interesting people.

[gabosaurus]

it's your board Jim.... you do what makes you happy, and my guess is, that a board owned by a happy owner will attract interesting people.

Thanks, Virgil. Do you spit or swallow?

[Kathianne]

I have a friend who is a Flash expert. This is the general layout that I have in mind. The blue background will make the "images" transparent with the theme of the site. When the site first loads, the 2 black images will appear first and be alone for a few seconds. I'm thinking these images maybe 9/11 related. Then the 2 yellow images will load overlapping the first 2. I'm thinking this will be related to the responses to the actions of 9/11, maybe military related. Then the last 2, red images, will load. I was thinking this would be the political aspect, maybe like the US Flag, the bill of rights or something along those lines.

After the 6 images load, then the logo will load (not the font I have above) over all of the images. The lettering is the hardest part as my friend is making each letter individually as 3d objects in flash. I'm hoping to have him load the site name and have the background pictures fade a bit to have the name stand out.

Thoughts, suggestions, critique, additions, comments?

It sounds great, of course I'm one of those that must see it first. Bad at making mental images.

[Gaffer]

Will this slow down the loading of the site? Similar sites I'e been to with flash loading takes time to load the whole site.

[Mr. P]

Kill the 911 part and address DEBATE issues of the country instead. That's my 2 cents but then I don't think a change is needed in the banner either. I'm just a party pooper.

[Little-Acorn]

What broke the present banner?

[jimnyc]

Sounds pretty cool.

Personally I like the background of the picture in our header. Having said that however it is very military oriented and sends a "conservative" psych message to those who see it, in my opinion. Sort of the blue room / pink room thing there.

I would think a way to incorporate a more unilateral background picture might be worth considering. Now understand I don;t know what else we could use, I LOVE the American flag being in there and the picture of the soldier has always been a signature of the site but the rest of the background pictures seem to lend a personna of our site being a "military" site.

My opinion would be to introduce some other pictures that allow our pictures in the background to evolve a bit to something with more elasticity. A picture of a professional woman would be nice, maybe a nurse or buisness person in a nice pant suit (dress would make it seem like we were attempting to impregnate them while barefooted in kitchen), maybe some faded pictures of common professionals. A hardhatted worker for instance, a black person with a suit on or maybe driving a truck. Something that would tend to lend diversity to our broadcasted message and attract a more liberal average member to stimulate more debate.

I think you no doubt get what my thoughts are. I would, like many of us like to attract more liberals and not the likes of some of the hatemongers who have represented the liberal side recently. I would also like to see some of our more conservative members behave a wee bit better when that is acheived so we can realize a true debate board.

Changing the header is a good idea right now. Let's just make sure this "change" is the type we are comfortable with and makes the board more attractive.

Just my opinion.....and remember...I loved and I mean absolutely loved the old banner.

Excellent feedback and I will let my buddy read this. He is making it so that the pictures will be interchangeable, so altering the specific images will be quite easy. I'd love to cover every topic via a banner but unfortunately there's only so much space, but your ideas are very good.

It sounds great, of course I'm one of those that must see it first. Bad at making mental images.

Depending on feedback, revisions would start going up soon for additional feedback.

Will this slow down the loading of the site? Similar sites I'e been to with flash loading takes time to load the whole site.

This is a concern of mine as well that my buddy addressed to me. He will develop it so that it only loads once per session (any activity within the banner), and it will also load from your cache on future visits. The entire load size will be less than 150k .swf file and your machine will execute the script locally... It should load as about as fast as the current image.

Kill the 911 part and address DEBATE issues of the country instead. That's my 2 cents but then I don't think a change is needed in the banner either. I'm just a party pooper.

Sounds a bit like Emmett's feedback where there is less military/9/11 stuff and more about the countries debatable issues.

What broke the present banner?

To address you, and others, I am not married to the idea of changing things. I just thought maybe the community would prefer a more modern design, or something that would help entice guests to register. I'm kind of sentimental at times and like to keep what got us here, but sometimes you don't know if change will be for the better unless you try. But I won't force anything on the community without it's approval.

If enough regulars think we should remain the way we are, I will be more than happy to scrap the project.

It's YOUR board!

[Nukeman]

Jim,

You have to remember ITS YOUR BOARD if yo like something than go for it!! I personal think if you want to try some new things than by all means do so. If after a while some don't like it than ask for feedback. Most folks need to use a thing before they can adequately evaluate something!!!