graphics, starting with new smilies
 

I think that it's good to see a website with a clean interface, specially since linuxquestions.org is a forum. However IMHO, the graphics done right can be a good thing. I consider that I've some skill for graphics and I'm offering to do new designs, starting with the smilies (from December to February I will have more free time). It can be 'smilies on demand'; members asking for one particular smilie and I (or other) designing it...

here's an example on a small design (200x200)

boy, your site takes a while to load, and I have a decent connection...

Smilies are something that, I feel, are given as a conscession- most people don't like them that much... this site is about the written word, the content, the answering of questions.

titanium_geek

That most likely isn't his own site he hosts, more like he has an account on deviantART.

I think the less amount of images with a clean interface always works out better with websites. Especially larger sites like this one that get millions of hits, which then will use less bandwidth.

And as for smilies and other images, the main focus of a site like this one to me is not how it looks but rather the content it holds and functionality it has.

It is a nice thought (and thanks for it), but smilies are a very minor part of the text. Since we are primarily a technical site, I believe that the small number we have is sufficient.

That's not my site (I'm planning to make one website about personal projects :D ), and yes it sometimes is too slow.

this may work:
http://ic1.deviantart.com/fs8/i/2005..._elvenmuse.png


It's a start. I think this site is lacking some subtle design change. Smilies may be a good start because it's not everywhere (like the penguins with the ???? and the bulb). Sites like wikipedia.org, digg.com, google.com have some graphics but the focus is still in the text (making visiting the site comfortable).

Fair enough but I've noticed that (graphic) design done right can help the functionality and make a better focus on the content.

That doesn't mean that smilies shouldn't look 'pretty' or 'good-looking'. It's mostly and experiment, if the smilies change most members wouldn't notice, and if the ones that notice like them it may lead to feedback and later to a (subtle) change in the design of this website.

why do we need to change the design of this website? subtly or not.

sorry to sound harsh, but you don't sound like someone who has spent a lot of time here. I like this site a lot, and the only person qualified to change it would be jeremy.

titanium_geek

Layout and functionality along with speed is the top things I look into a site like this, news sites, etc.

A good logo and layout is all a site really needs. Or a site that doesn't really cater to providing pages and pages of documentation, knowledgebases, etc.

I think this site looks fine the way it is. I'm sure there will be some changes when the new forum code is released but smilies and the such are such a low priority over the actual features and functionality of this site.

An overhaul of the look is all part of the upcoming site update. While the focus will remain providing a clean layout that focuses on content, the look has been refreshed and updated (as well as brought into XHTML compliance). We're getting close on this folks, so you may notice me sneaking in more details as the release gets even closer.

--jeremy

hehe, I <3 xhtml

...I can do any graphics no matter how small they're :)