TUG homepage design contest

[TUGBrian]

do you have an example page that has the wash on it Steve?

do you mean the background for the entire page? or just the "cell" containing the text articles and announcements?

is it a gigantic blown up picture of the palm tree...or is it just regular sized...grayscaled out...and repeated all over the page?

I would like to distinguish the "headlines" area from the rest...without using the grid boxes etc all over the page...makes it well...too boxy for me.

ill need to play with different scales of "cream/sand" before i come up with the right one that looks good on the screen I suppose.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

do you have an example page that has the wash on it Steve?

do you mean the background for the entire page? or just the "cell" containing the text articles and announcements?

is it a gigantic blown up picture of the palm tree...or is it just regular sized...grayscaled out...and repeated all over the page?

I would like to distinguish the "headlines" area from the rest...without using the grid boxes etc all over the page...makes it well...too boxy for me.

ill need to play with different scales of "cream/sand" before i come up with the right one that looks good on the screen I suppose.

Try this: http://tug2.net/tugadvic-logobackground.shtml

 

[TUGBrian]

I gotcha...had to really look for it...but that could just be my monitor =)

moving further along with v4.

http://tug2.net/testform/tughomepagenewdesign4.html


man...it seems the more it goes along...the more it turns into looking cluttered like the old page. *sigh

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

I gotcha...had to really look for it...but that could just be my monitor =)

moving further along with v4.

http://tug2.net/testform/tughomepagenewdesign4.html


man...it seems the more it goes along...the more it turns into looking cluttered like the old page. *sigh

That yellow background seems a bit intense to me. I would suggest lightening it to something such as RGB(253,255,233).

It is getting too cluttered again. The big problem is that there are too many things screaming for attention. It's not the number of links that's the problem; it's that everything jumps out. Here are my suggestions:

• Make everything that is a headline on the right frame into a clickable link rather than nesting links below the headline.
  
• Then consolidate those right frame links with the links that are in the top bar, so that all of the key links are organized together. Put them in link bar across the top or in a column down the left side. Doesn't make a big difference as long as you get them all together.
  
• Delete the "click here for free timeshare reviews" link. Expose that link on the "Ratings and review" page. Or, if you want to keep it on the home page, group it with the link to the ratings and reviews page, but make the font significantly smaller than for the link to the Ratings and Review so that link is clearly subordinate to the Ratings and Reviews link.
  
• Decrease greatly the font size and graphics dimensions on the links bar, the right column, and main display area (the area you currently have with a white background). As mentioned above, there are too many elements all screaming for attention. Let the three or four most important elements have the biggest graphic impact, everything else should be scaled way back. If a person looks at the page for five seconds, what three things should they remember if they immediately go someplace else? Those are the elements that should have the primary visual impact, and nothing else should compete for attention.
  
• Change the "Ratings and Reviews" link to "Timeshare Resort Ratings and Reviews". For someone unfamiliar with TUG landing on the home page, it's not clear what is being rated and reviewed until they hit the link.
  
• If you keep a column of links on the left side, add a right border to the column to give better separation from the main text area to the right. Then indent the text in the white area a bit so that it doesn't crowd against the border. [added comment: Now that I look at the page again, I'm not sure you need the border as long as you pad the left side of the white content area.]
  
• The contrast between yellowish background and white background is another element that draws viewer attention; the contrast is too great and is visually jarring. I suggest that you change the background in the area that is currently white to match the rest of background of the rest of the page. Or if you want that background different from the rest of the page, use a background that is either a slightly different hue of the same background, or use a background that is a very pale blue (blue is opposite yellow on a color wheel so pairing those colors is visually appealing while providing contrast). Try something such as RGB(233,234,255).

HTH. Thanks for your efforts.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

One more thing I noted. The font selections for headlines needs to be standardized. Some headline fonts are serif; others are sans serif. They should all be the same. If you want them serif, use Times New Roman, since almost everybody has TNR as an installed font so you won't get any clunky browser font subsitutions.

It looks as if all of the text is Arial, and that's a good text font. I ordinarily use a boldface on all ordinary text to make the text easier to read.

*****

The search link in the bottle is great!!! Looks really good.

 

[vacationtime1]

It is getting too cluttered again. The big problem is that there are too many things screaming for attention. It's not the number of links that's the problem; it's that everything jumps out.

I agree with Steve's premise and most of his specifics, so I won't repeat them all. My thoughts:

Sir Francis is correct, but at the top of the homepage, he is clutter.

The milk bottle (which I still like) can be captioned "Search TUG"; that would say everything that has to be said.

If you deleted the "Click Here for Free Timeshare Reviews . . ." (to the right of the banner ad), you would be left with two equally sized display boxes. This would be easier on the eyes and the mind. The free reviews link appears elsewhere, anyway.

The graphics labeled "news" and "blogs" distract. You want to have things that focus (as Steve suggests above, the viewer should remember the three or four most important things).

Blank space on a page is good. It allows the eye to view the non-blank areas without distraction.

As we know, the World of Timeshare is complicated, very complicated. TUG should be simple (at least until the newbies are fully initiated). The homepage should be downright relaxing.

We appreciate your continued efforts on this.

 

[TUGBrian]

glad to see so much interest!

See if i can implement these suggestions this weekend!

 

[AwayWeGo]

Clutter Is In The Eye Of The Beholder.

Sir Francis is correct, but at the top of the homepage, he is clutter.

Maybe.

But maybe not -- not if Knowledge Is Power is made into a link that opens up a page showing the TUG Top 10 Timeshare Questions (with answers, of course) -- something like a mini-FAQ.

I'd hate for Knowledge Is Power to lose its prominent spot on the TUG opening page.

If anything sums up the significance of The Wisdom of TUG, Knowledge Is Power surely does.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[TUGBrian]

Try this: http://tug2.net/tugadvic-logobackground.shtml

added this background

 

[TUGBrian]

That yellow background seems a bit intense to me. I would suggest lightening it to something such as RGB(253,255,233).

hopefuly your background subdued it a bit?

Make everything that is a headline on the right frame into a clickable link rather than nesting links below the headline.

done

Then consolidate those right frame links with the links that are in the top bar, so that all of the key links are organized together. Put them in link bar across the top or in a column down the left side. Doesn't make a big difference as long as you get them all together.

not sure im following you on this one

Delete the "click here for free timeshare reviews" link. Expose that link on the "Ratings and review" page. Or, if you want to keep it on the home page, group it with the link to the ratings and reviews page, but make the font significantly smaller than for the link to the Ratings and Review so that link is clearly subordinate to the Ratings and Reviews link.

done

Decrease greatly the font size and graphics dimensions on the links bar, the right column, and main display area (the area you currently have with a white background). As mentioned above, there are too many elements all screaming for attention. Let the three or four most important elements have the biggest graphic impact, everything else should be scaled way back. If a person looks at the page for five seconds, what three things should they remember if they immediately go someplace else? Those are the elements that should have the primary visual impact, and nothing else should compete for attention.

do you mean the horizontal links bar below the top graphic? the link bar on the left side, or the headlines box? or all 3 lol

Change the "Ratings and Reviews" link to "Timeshare Resort Ratings and Reviews". For someone unfamiliar with TUG landing on the home page, it's not clear what is being rated and reviewed until they hit the link.

done

If you keep a column of links on the left side, add a right border to the column to give better separation from the main text area to the right. Then indent the text in the white area a bit so that it doesn't crowd against the border. [added comment: Now that I look at the page again, I'm not sure you need the border as long as you pad the left side of the white content area

hopefully the color gradient between the background image and the "white" background for the headline/blog area is enough?

The contrast between yellowish background and white background is another element that draws viewer attention; the contrast is too great and is visually jarring. I suggest that you change the background in the area that is currently white to match the rest of background of the rest of the page. Or if you want that background different from the rest of the page, use a background that is either a slightly different hue of the same background, or use a background that is a very pale blue (blue is opposite yellow on a color wheel so pairing those colors is visually appealing while providing contrast). Try something such as RGB(233,234,255).

hopefully this isnt an issue anymore?

thank you for the tips...keep em coming!

 

[TUGBrian]

One more thing I noted. The font selections for headlines needs to be standardized. Some headline fonts are serif; others are sans serif. They should all be the same. If you want them serif, use Times New Roman, since almost everybody has TNR as an installed font so you won't get any clunky browser font subsitutions.

It looks as if all of the text is Arial, and that's a good text font. I ordinarily use a boldface on all ordinary text to make the text easier to read.

*****

The search link in the bottle is great!!! Looks really good.

I deliberately made everything verdana...but it appears after the save it goes back to something else...hrm.

I have resaved everything to verdana...hope it sticks this time

 

[TUGBrian]

I agree with Steve's premise and most of his specifics, so I won't repeat them all. My thoughts:

Sir Francis is correct, but at the top of the homepage, he is clutter.

well it looks weird to but the 2nd table up against the 1st table with all the links, so i need a blank space...or have something in that line. which would be more preferrable?

The milk bottle (which I still like) can be captioned "Search TUG"; that would say everything that has to be said.

I prefer to think of it after this week as an empty bottle of booze...but milk works too =)

Made this change.

If you deleted the "Click Here for Free Timeshare Reviews . . ." (to the right of the banner ad), you would be left with two equally sized display boxes. This would be easier on the eyes and the mind. The free reviews link appears elsewhere, anyway.

agreed

The graphics labeled "news" and "blogs" distract. You want to have things that focus (as Steve suggests above, the viewer should remember the three or four most important things).

gone

We appreciate your continued efforts on this.

and i appreciate all the feedback! it continues to get better every time i go back to it!

 

[TUGBrian]

current design with all current changes

http://tug2.net/testform/tughomepagenewdesign5.html

 

[dmharris]

The Timeshare User's Group which started in 1993 is a self-help organization composed of timeshare owners just like yourself. TUG provides an unbiased source of consumer oriented information on Timeshares and the Timeshare concept. Here at TUG you get the truth about timeshares! To learn more about our organization or about Timeshares in general see About TUG.


This is how I'd like this paragraph to look; justified left not centered as it is on the site.


Thanks,

 

[TUGBrian]

is that different than what it looks like in the current update?

oh you mean left justified in the box vs centered? hrm.

 

[TUGBrian]

ok...while i think ive pretty much finalized the "top" part of the website...that will become the default top part for all TUG pages (thatll take awahile to update)...but the one thing that really sticks out like a sore thumb to me is the link bar just below the top pic.

nothign I do makes it look right...the grid...removing the grid...highlighting it...making it transparent. it just looks "off" to me.

I suppose if I perhaps make it a series of images instead of just text that woudl work better.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

ok...while i think ive pretty much finalized the "top" part of the website...that will become the default top part for all TUG pages (thatll take awahile to update)...but the one thing that really sticks out like a sore thumb to me is the link bar just below the top pic.

nothign I do makes it look right...the grid...removing the grid...highlighting it...making it transparent. it just looks "off" to me.

I suppose if I perhaps make it a series of images instead of just text that woudl work better.

Well, since you mention the top bar I'll go revisit my previous suggestions.

Put all the major links in one location. Right now you've got one set of major links displayed across the top bar. Then there's another set if major links down the left. Too many links; too much clutter; too many things competing for attention.

I prefer having all of the links down the left column, and limit it to no more than 6 links. Use those key links to direct users to another page where more detailed links are located. IOW, instead of having four or five clickable links under a "TUG Member Links" heading, make "TUG Member Links" itself a clickable link, and when you click that link you go to a TUG members page where that has those links (as well as other info for members).

Or, if you know how to do it, crate a control that expands with the sublinks when a user mouses over the link.

The padding on the left side of the TUG headlines area helps. You might try to putting a thin border down the left side of that area, just to give it a bit more separation from the links to the left. I've vacillated on that idea; I think it's one of those try it and see if it works things.

=====

Although it's much better, I th ink you're still trying to cram too much stuff onto one page. Simplify that main page - be ruthless. Let people click on links to navigate to areas that have more detail.

You want people to come, readily grasp the nature of the site and the type of information is available. That is what needs the biggest graphic impact. Then create links (with low graphic footprint) to help them navigate to where they can find information.

======

Finally, I think a primary element that is lacking is that this is an owner-driven site. It's not immediately clear that this is an owner-driven self-site, and I think that is probably the single most important concept that site visitors should grasp when they arrive.

 

[AwayWeGo]

You Are Correct, Sir.

I think a primary element that is lacking is that this is an owner-driven site. It's not immediately clear that this is an owner-driven self-site, and I think that is probably the single most important concept that site visitors should grasp when they arrive.

Exactly right -- which is why it would be such a shame to drop Knowledge Is Power from its prominent spot in the opening view of the web site.

Keeping that slogan conspicuous at the opening view is more important than whether the phrase is clickable. But if it's not too much trouble to clickify the phrase, then go for it.

Knowledge Is Power​

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[TUGBrian]

as a note...the only page that will display the side menu bar is the homepage. all other pages will only have the top nav bar to rely on.

i plan on creating a "template" using the top graphic, and first two grids (and a bottom grid obviously with the cw and such.

but the side menu is a homepage only item.

 

[TUGBrian]

ok...greatly reduced the font size for most of the items on the page (sorry..i have a ginormous resolution setting on my monitor here...so I tend to make things REALLY big just because normal font sizes look tiny on my screen =) )

Think im coming down to the final design here...maybe a few tweaks here and there. I like the idea you mentioned about it being a father-son-owner run type site...but I dont quite know how to phrase it as while my father did assemble it all in one place, there are SO many people that helped "build" TUG to what it is today, everything I think up to type comes off as "just me and my dad" when that is obviously not the case when it comes to how tug started etc.

hope that makes sense.

 

[Bill4728]

Welcome To TUG!

The Timeshare User's Group which started in 1993 by my father & a group of other Timeshare Owners just like yourself, is a self-help organization providing an unbiased source of consumer oriented information and advice on Timeshares and the Timeshare concept. Here at TUG you get the truth about timeshares for FREE! Learn more About TUG here.

The Timeshare User's Group which started in 1993 is a self-help organization composed of timeshare owners just like yourself. TUG provides an unbiased source of consumer oriented information on Timeshares and the Timeshare concept. Here at TUG you get the truth about timeshares! To learn more about Timeshares, go to About TUG

I think DM harris's statement is better but the current test page would be OK without the line "started by my father"

I like the idea you mentioned about it being a father-son-owner run type site...but I dont quite know how to phrase it as while my father did assemble it all in one place, there are SO many people that helped "build" TUG to what it is today, everything I think up to type comes off as "just me and my dad" when that is obviously not the case when it comes to how tug started etc.

Although having something about you and your Dad may be a good idea, IMHO it shouldn't be on the front page.

 

[Bill4728]

Version 5 looks good!



PS Brian I change the link in the first post to send them to ver #5

 

[SDKath]

Hi guys.

I just saw this thread and I am not sure what version I am seeing the background for (light peach TUG Logo) but it is WAAAAY too busy.

From my monitor (Dell 15" laptop), I cannot read the "Welcome to Tug" paragraph because of all the drawings and writings of the TUG logo in the background.

In general, I think repeating little logos in the background look pretty unprofessional (and kinda cheap) so I would recomment something much simpler for it -- just a simple shade of light blue or light brown or even that light peach without the logo over it. I like the neutral brown parchment paper look (like at www.royalcaribbean.com).

Anything but seeing the TUG logo 18,000 times.

Just my thoughts.

 

[TUGBrian]

it should only show up in surrounding areas "around" the actual text/images etc on the screen.

the current homepage at tug2.net has some of these changes...i just need to update the middle part once i get all the links done.

It should be EXTREMELY light, I have to move my head around just to make out the washout image on my computer screen.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

I like this version 5. To me it's clean, uncluttered. There's a good blend of varying font sizes, and the page elements don't seem to be screaming out in competition.

I'm probably biased, but I like that washed logo background. It's subtle, as it should be, but it's a bit less fatiguing to me than is a monocolor background.