New site design being tested!

Really dislike the latest reincarnation. Not at all clear on an iPad. Would t even attempt it with an iPhone.

New site design has now been tested and has failed!

Glad it is just a test- can we now get back to how it was?

The 'Last Day' only shows the last few hours, surely it should show the last 24 hrs? I also miss my own posts being highlighted when I scroll through a thread. I posted earlier today and can't find the topic at all unless I use the search function.

While I don't hate the new layout, and appreciate how much work goes into making changes, I think it is important to ensure that any changes don't diminish accessibility by GNs, especially those with poor vision.

Oh good God, I've just checked out the "I'm on" and "Last Hour" options. GNHQ what on earth are you playing at? I haven't seen a layout that amateurish since I first started cruising the internet about 20 years ago.
Seriously, you need to get this sorted or this site will be a laughing stock. The average 10 year old could design a website more professional looking than this.

The new Last Hour is a disaster. The old format showed more than just the last poster, and gave a flavour of how the discussion was going.

What is the justification for this change?

PLEASE help me to get back on "I'm on".No matter how recent my post I'm told I have not posted. Very frustrating

I mostly use my phone, using either 'active' or I'm on. Both are ok for me. I don't like the lack of colour contrast but otherwise it works for me.

I'll report on the computer aspect and my tablet when I use them next.

Desktop view has the new logo but mobile site has the old. I seem to find new confusions every time I log on! No joy with Watching or I'm On.

While you are tinkering about, a useful thing to have would be a preview option in private messaging. Don't know why there is one for ordinary posts but not for PMs.

Still no italics when using an iPad.

Absolutely dreadful!

Old fashioned hard to read font, confusing layout, meaningless logo, insipid colours.

Surely this can't be seen as an upgrade to the site? The old layout, whilst not particularly striking, was infinitely better than the present one.

I am in total agreement withIndinana and grumppa re the last hour and day. I am technologically challenged and that is something I would produce very easily. It is all crammed together.

I do like the larger font but I could live with the previous font if we reverted to the old design.

It may be similar to old fonts but the reason those fonts are still around is because they are good. Try this test: open a library book, any library book, and you will most likely find a similar font to the one being used on GN now.

And here's a question for HQ: Is it, in fact, a different font from before or does it just look different because of the changed background?

Baggs I would say the latter.

I like the font, it is clear .
I do not like the layout. It is not easy to run your eye along the line to see who has posted. It seems to run into two or three posters. Also it doesn't go to the last post , you have to go to last page and then scroll down so I feel continuity is lost for those of us older GN'ers. Poor souls that we are.

baggs there are literally hundreds of fonts available. Some are almost indecipherable. The fact that they are still available doesn't mean that they are in any way recommended for easy reading. A font used in books is not necessarily a good one to use on a computer.

I assume the revamp of the site is to make it more engaging and up to date. The font we have now (I assume it's Times Roman) makes the site look old fashioned no matter what the layout. Coupled with the 'new' layout it makes the whole site look dated and uninteresting.

I agree about the site looking dated and uninteresting.
I truly believe if I cane to it new I wouldn't be bothered in joining.
Is it my imagination or are fewer role posting?

It's all a bit of a dog's dinner, particularly 'Last Hour' - I assume teething problems and will be sorted.

The new font, cropped old logo and general look is dated and twee. IMO the look has a downmarket, coffee-time, Woman's Own magazine, air about it.

I'd say it's an in-house job and GNHQ haven't engaged specialist website designers.

Is it just me or does no-one else get any differentiation between the topic and the thread title? It is too easy to select what you think is the start of the title and find yourself with the list of the whole of the topic threads, instead of the thread you want. This was OK until today - now instead of being on separate lines and in different weights of font, they run together.

Agree elegran . It's another backward step. Another tweak which makes a bad idea even worse.

Given the volume of complaints I do wonder just how long this test will continue and when we'll have some straight answers from GNHQ.

I agree and sometimes there is no space between two topics so it all seems muddled.

Soop's Kitchen is Scandi Noir......Who knew?

I do not find this site easy to navigate and I am using a 17" laptop
The threads page headings run into one another and almost unreadable.
The last hour page is one complete jumble and makes no sense.

I've just twigged. It's school holiday time, so GNHQ have the students in doing work practice.

Sorry, but don't like the font, font-size, background... I could go on! I have left it a week or so to comment in case I was just being a GOW and would get used to it but I really can't find anything positive to say. I actually spend less time now on GN as all the glaring white just gets too much. I much preferred the old site, admittedly very dated and a tad 'quaint', but IMHO it was functional and it didn't give me eye-ache. I know it is still 'work in progress' and I really hope you will take everybody's moans into account and have a big re-think...