« link of the day | Main | there's no one now in power thinking of me »
she says it's lack of sex that's bringing me down
by mg at 01:18 PM on September 30, 2002
I’ve been feeling this sort of overwhelming self-defeating pity fest entrenching itself in the deepest darkest reaches of my psyche recently. This melon collie has been slowly manifesting itself in outward signs. Chief of those is my inability to create a design for the new Bad Sam that I don’t instantly hate.
So far, I’ve squeezed out three reasonably interesting work-ups. But, as soon as I feel comfortable enough to say, “I can do this,” a little voice inside peeps up with an insidious “No, you can’t.” And, as much as I’d like to say that I can ignore the little voices in my head, they introduce enough doubt and self-loathing that I can’t be bothered to turn my mock up design into something useable.
And so now I leave it all up to you. I want to have a new design in place no later than October 3rd, to coincide with the sites 2nd anniversary. I will now present to you the three mock-ups I’ve put together, let you decide which I’m going to use, and then just do it.
No whining, no questioning, no doubt. Just action.
That out of the way, here they are, without any sort of explanation (other than to say that they are in varying degrees of completion, these are more concepts than actual designs).
Design 1 | Design 2 | Design 3
Feel free to make any and many suggestions; there is nothing too wild for me try at this point.
comments (32)
Personally, I like #3, but maybe only because that is the last one I did and I'm not sick of it yet.
by mg at September 30, 2002 1:33 PM
Ok, when I saw #1 I instantly thought 'oh god, no'
#2 looks interesting enough, or maybe it's just the fact that I can't get past your hairdo.
#3 looks pretty much like the one you have now, only kinda. . .comercialized (for lack of a better word)
I vote for #1.
by Lucy at September 30, 2002 2:16 PM
"Oh god, no" but that's still the one you choose? Says some very interesting things about you Lucy.
by mg at September 30, 2002 2:24 PM
What can I say? I'm weird like that. ;)
by Lucy at September 30, 2002 2:29 PM
Interestingly enough, the first thing Lucy said when she met me was, "Oh god, no." Whatever that means.
About the design... I think #3 is the best of the three. But I agree w/ Lucy tho... it's more or less the existing design, but with a slicker look.
I was curious why you chose to keep a lot of the same elements in the redesign... is it a time/effort thing? Or was it important to keep some sort of continuity?
The existing elements are very squarish / sharpish. What would you think of a more roundish design... something without much geometry, symmetry, or even much form, for that matter. For example, someone would look at an icon and say, "Is that a butt print or a vomit stain? I cant tell."
by Eviltom at September 30, 2002 2:33 PM
The reason why all my designs have a very squareish look is because when it comes down to it, I'm not a very good designer. It is much easier to work with straight lines and hard angles than it is to with curved lines.
by mg at September 30, 2002 2:46 PM
I like 2. It reminds me of Atari. I also like that it's just me & you there, mg. Just the two of us, we can make it if we try! Just the two of us... (song fadeout)
by Linz at September 30, 2002 3:46 PM
I like #3 the best but I like it less that what you have now. I really dislike #1. But you know to keep it in perspective even your worst design is much better than some other stuff I've seen on the Web.
by Sydney at September 30, 2002 5:07 PM
My vote goes to #1, that icon layout is bitchin'. Also apple pie.
by Dan the Goose at September 30, 2002 8:21 PM
Listen to Dan, people. He knows what he's talking about.
by Lucy at September 30, 2002 9:03 PM
My vote goes to #2. Design #1 is far too busy.
by zuchris at September 30, 2002 10:51 PM
#1, because it has a picture of Shar.
by Pokey at September 30, 2002 11:29 PM
I suck at design, so keep that in mind as you consider my feedback:
Design #1: Too busy, causes epileptic fits.
Design #2: Currently the most appealing, but that may only be because, as the least complete design, it seems cleaner.
Design #3: Lovely, but too close to the current design.
One final thought, which may be moot given I have no clue what your process is like. I like that you font size is 12, and in the proposed designs it appears to be 10. Stick with 12, whatever you end up doing. Not that I follow my own advice.
by jadedju at October 1, 2002 2:09 AM
Number 1 is too busy on the left and I don't like the font. The colour scheme is nice though (simple is good).
Number 2's layout is nice, but bad colours.
I'm indifferent on #3.
Personally, I'd like to see a toned down version of #2, with some of the sidebar functions in #1.
by T at October 1, 2002 8:41 AM
#3 is slick and by far the most polished design. It wins first place.
#1 gets second place. All of the little graphics in the sidebar make it really interesting and saves the b&w color scheme from getting dull.
#2 is third mostly because the sidebar boxes are too dominant to the entry box. The posts are the most important part of BS. Make that info dominant.
(Here comes the part where I act like annoying client) How about Design #3 with the sidebar elements of #1? Add the calendar layout to the archives, author mugs and support graphics to #3.
Actually, the more I look at #1 the more I like it. It’s hard to choose. Any of them will work well.
by MrBlank at October 1, 2002 10:21 AM
Wow, it seems if you average out all of our opinions, you are back to where you started.
by Linz at October 1, 2002 10:34 AM
Yes. At #1.
Although Mr.Blank's idea about combining #1 and #3 is a very good one indeed.
by Lucy at October 1, 2002 12:08 PM
#2, please. if not, #1. i'm totally negging #3. combining #2 & #3 would not be much of a departure from what you've already got going. which makes me say, if you're gonna redesign (and sweat over it as you are) then switch it up bitch!
by miss b at October 1, 2002 4:05 PM
i meant to say "combining #1 & #3", not #2 & #3.
by miss b at October 1, 2002 4:07 PM
I like #1 since it includes my picture. Style-wise, though, I have to vote for #2.
by Muad'Dib at October 1, 2002 4:14 PM
Alright, I've changed my mind. Now I like #1. I'll check back again, then I may like #2. *sheepishly grinning*
by sydney at October 1, 2002 5:36 PM
I like #1 the best (esp. with the picture of the Hottest Samaritan), but I do feel like all that black makes it feel too heavy. #2 is right out: linz's ego needs no inflation right now. I'd like to pretend Atari is still neat, but no. I like #3 because it's more muted than #1, but I agree with B that it's too much like the current one. I'd vote for #1 with gray instead of black. Anyway, if I know you, the redesign will look nothing like any of these, so I don't know why I'm bothering to comment anyway,
by space at October 1, 2002 7:57 PM
Gotta listen to Miss B. Switch it up bitch.
by Eviltom at October 1, 2002 9:23 PM
I'm sorry, darling, but they all give me headaches.
by Jodi at October 1, 2002 10:51 PM
#1 came across as a bit cluttered at first glance, but it grows on me. I also dig #3's minimalism, resemblance to the current setup be damned.
by Antwon at October 2, 2002 2:23 AM
This is gonna sound very Lucy-like but here it goes: When I saw the first one I wasn't very impressed. When I saw the second one I thought, 'Oh, this one is horrible', and then I immediately thought 'But you know, it would be nice' I moved on to the third and I thought 'Hmmm. Isn't that just the same as the one he has, but different?' So I think I'll vote for the second one.
by Noir Lenfent at October 2, 2002 8:50 AM
I like #2. #1 seems to be a bit busy on the right (though I do like the pictures... maybe it's the calendar that does it). #3 is a lot like what you currently have, and although it's good, I agree with miss b... if you're gonna change it, then do it right! Go with #2. Go Atari!
by leaffin at October 2, 2002 10:47 AM
Nearly 30 opinions, and no consensus. Democracy sucks!
by mg at October 2, 2002 11:09 AM
Actually, according to my calculations, #1 is in the lead.
Besides, as Antwon said "#1 [comes] across as a bit cluttered at first glance, but it grows on me" Isn't that what you want? A site that makes people think 'Oh god, no' at first glance but keeps them coming back for more non the less??? :-)
by Lucy at October 2, 2002 12:07 PM
am i too late?
i go to manhattan for three days and see what happens?!?
::hangs head in shame::
BUT STILL! i pick #1
by Capital J at October 3, 2002 3:42 AM
i mean 3!
eh.. nevermind.
by Capital J at October 3, 2002 3:44 AM
You aren't too late. Please keep offering suggestions and opinions. In fact, why doesn't some just design the stupid site for me?
by mg at October 3, 2002 11:43 AM