Design ideas, navigation, layout, colours?

There are a lot of great suggestions going on out there in other topics. However as we are heading towards a major overhaul after the implementation of a CMS (content management system)in November/December 2008. We wanted to get your ideas all in one place for design, colours and layout.

Please note: This thread is for visual aspects, not for adding new program features

If you want you can make mock ups to show your ideas. Those can be uploaded here

Even if you can not create a mock up, tell us of any websites which you like and tell us what you like about them visually and why?. Even if you only like the colours of a website and nothing else we want to know.

the Replicant v2 theme for Joomla.
because it's hot and i want it's babies.
if there's gunna be a sidebar module to the new HoP template, i'd like it to not be too massive/obtrusive (like less than 140px wide or 10% of window)

there HAS to be a pink option

i like the current colours cus if i'm gunna be trawling, i need subdued hues.

I have to say I love options.. he more the better so my HOP can change with my mood.

I also find that a lot of the time, website are too grey. Stronger colours do it for me!

Options are good - suit different people.

But i will always love HoP in grey. Anything else seems heretical

In fact my main opinion for now (need to think about it more) would be to bring back the original grey colours rather than this bluey-grey.

Light colours please.

The current ones are nice, possibly less blue text (make it another colour that is) and make the text-box text a bit darker?

Which CMS you going for?

Joomla? Drupal? Something else?

I'm looking muchly forwards to this new change




(Bender - Rockettheme make some damn nice stuff - it's a shame about their default branding though)

A> Agree.

- Finish the skins / Personal template, like MySpace would be ACE!



- UBB A tag <name=#option>, anchoring addon.



- Also too A link <style="text decoration:none">.



More 3D Layout plastic?



- 5M FS.



---------

Nothing else, for now.

lightning,

:R

Anywhere we can get an AI file or something for the HoP logo for mockups rather than having to rip them from the site?

Here is a larger image to rip off for the logoman
Large HoP logo man

At first I thought you wanted an AI , Artificial Intelligence file

Oh, and you don't have to keep the logo man. You can change it or remove if you like. Our important trade mark is really "Home of Poi" and any image is secondary to that.

how much bright yellow blinking text can we have? are we allowed to put very fast and very very fast blinking text on the same page?

Personally think the garland theme for drupal is awesome:

less is more!

Oh awesome!

This more for the main page or the forums?

How about navigating using the Dymaxion Map? It's the most accurate map there is of this place we're residing on.
Here's a link to see how it unfolds...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dymaxion_map

i'm not sure that Hop as a website is ready for extreme polygonal awesomeness.

let there be no doubt that despite whatever sexy new layout this site gets, we will still encounter more than a little change resistance. the fact that it does not look the same will be on the minds of some visitors.

also, web optimisation will be another key factor - some users are reporting already that their load times are a lil heavy. additional CMS assets and a potentially bigger (in file size) template could exacerbate that.
A sparing design would place emphasis on the content - has anyone uploaded a design yet? will other users be 'inspired' by the early entries?

I think some rounded corners and brighter colours (reds, oranges, yellows).

Id show you my website http://easel.net.nz but its not due for release for a wee bit longer!

What CMS are you using? Drupal?

Whatever you do, please leave the gray version available! HoP just doesn't look right to me in any other color!

hi easel, everyone without flash 9 will only see a black screen, mate! also, looks like hop will be integrating Drupal.

Well not having flash 9 is like navigating the web blindfolded!
I mean flash 10 is already out!

You have to keep the main parts of the site (ie forums, any written material) in neutral tones or it just becomes far to hard to read.

I was talking more about the menus, sidebars, buttons, all the kinna glossy stuff on top of the actual content.