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I realize it may just be the odd aesthete like me that cares overly about the design issues being flagged. Most users probably only really care about functionality. From the perspective of attracting new people to the site though, it’s hard to overestimate how important good design is. Also, as I’ve stated, the idea that a site that is ABOUT design and architecture should itself be characterized by VERY GOOD design seems pretty axiomatic.

As I stated in my earlier post, one of the main issues here is the cognitive dissonance that the orange/red/black palette is producing--it seems counter-intuitive and unwelcoming, and most importantly it just doesn’t say 'Toronto'.

Beyond that, the main problem with the forum sections is that there is too much going on, there is a surfeit of extraneous and distracting details. There are too many colours, too many icons, too many different scales, too much drop shadow and shading. In a word (or two): Too Much!

The issue of the banner is I believe a significant problem. Simply put, and I don’t mean it disrespectfully, it looks like the person that redesigned the banner was not a professional designer. It looks like overkill and is just full of newbie overreaching.

Again, I am a massive fan of the site—I just think you’ve done yourself (and your prospects for growth) a bit of a disservice…
 
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interchange42 said:
Your statement is still not clear as it can be read two ways.
Do you mean that it would be an improvement if the blue replaced the red again?

42
Click to expand...
my god, I've read both my posts over a dozen times and can't figure out how it's confusing...
To simplify: the improvement would be blue text instead of the red.
 
]And fixed...
urbantorontocaheader.jpg

by me (SP!RE / andrewharv) using the Toronto skyline icon from the old urbantoronto
Click to expand...

Just going to stress this again as we're still not hearing back anything definite from up above :p
 
I enjoy the professional look of the briar press forum, which is visually witty ( the type case at the top, for instance ... ), understated, and easy to navigate. As a specialist forum it is similar in spirit to what I understand the new Urban Toronto site is attempting to achieve, where the front page is now more of an index to blogs, chat, and feature articles that have been spun from the chat sections, than the simple forum it was before. And it avoids the overbearing ( that Mars Attacks! banner ) and the confusing ( all those icons, all those colours ... ):

http://www.briarpress.org/
 
... and here's a forum about growing mushrooms ( for medicinal purposes, I assume .. ) which, at first glance, looks different and somewhat attractive - or at least promising.

Unfortunately, most of the type ( including in the discussion section ) is white sans-serif on dark blue - which is very tiring on the eyes.

Enjoy ... but don't inhale:

http://www.shroomery.org/
 
Other than the CN tower, the things that make me think of Toronto are red brick homes and main streets and the overwhelmingly large tree canopy. I'd go for a simple stylized green tree line with a few tall buildings and victorian houses popping out in muted red, with perhaps a few black construction cranes poking above the treeline indicating the city is still growing! The old logo was okay--but typical of many skyscraper forums, seemed to emphasize obsession with height over the rest of the "real" city.

As for the tagline, how about this one? Urban Toronto--where Urban Dreamers live. :)
 
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Urban Shocker said:
I enjoy the professional look of the briar press forum, which is visually witty ( the type case at the top, for instance ... ), understated, and easy to navigate. As a specialist forum it is similar in spirit to what I understand the new Urban Toronto site is attempting to achieve, where the front page is now more of an index to blogs, chat, and feature articles that have been spun from the chat sections, than the simple forum it was before. And it avoids the overbearing ( that Mars Attacks! banner ) and the confusing ( all those icons, all those colours ... ):

http://www.briarpress.org/
Click to expand...

that's a nice looking site....grey and green with a hit of blue is an interesting and calming combo. nice use of serif and sans serif fonts...
 
Yes, and the type case at the top of the front page - with letters you can click on to get more information - looks like a street grid. That's an idea that could be adapted for this forum, with an alphabetical click-on members' list in each city block. That way we, as individuals, are the forum logo.

There are endless possibilities for non-Martian banners that say "Toronto".
 
Urban Shocker said:
Yes, and the type case at the top of the front page - with letters you can click on to get more information - looks like a street grid. That's an idea that could be adapted for this forum, with an alphabetical click-on members' list in each city block. That way we, as individuals, are the forum logo.
Click to expand...

extremely clever idea! i hadn't noticed that feature....
 
I think briar press is beautifully designed, with a look that's appropriate for what the site is about. Light and clean, with plenty of white space to set off visuals - reflecting the looser look of hot metal type design - a restricted colour palette, an icon-free chat section that is all talk, and plenty of scope for photographs and graphic designs.

The operaqueen site, Parterre, is another favourite of mine. It's a popular and lively forum. As with clown forum it isn't afraid to embrace colour, but does so for a good reason:

http://parterre.com/
 
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