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New site design being tested!

(585 Posts)
LaraGransnet (GNHQ) Fri 04-Aug-17 12:19:06

We're VERY excited to announce that we are finally testing out a new site design! We've been working really hard to make sure it's easier to user and looks neater than the current format.

It is a test though and it may take a day or two to get used to. Apologies in advance for any teething problems - hopefully they'll be minimal. If you have any major problems logging in or you can't access certain things please post on this thread or email us at contactus. We'd love to have your thoughts. smile

ninathenana Sun 06-Aug-17 01:01:13

Nankate If you are accessing GN from a mobile device rather than a laptop, you can choose to use the mobile version by scrolling right to the bottom of the page and click mobile site. This gives you a different layout.

Chewbacca Sat 05-Aug-17 21:29:13

Just what I was about to say Ana. Maybe the new style has been rolled to try over the weekend and the feedback will be assessed early next week.

Ana Sat 05-Aug-17 21:08:48

Well, perhaps they are keeping a tally, mcem.

mcem Sat 05-Aug-17 20:59:04

Isn't it about time someone at GNHQ started a simple tally to keep track of the likes and dislikes?
Seems to me that the vast majority of posters don't like the old-fashioned font with serifs and almost as many are saying ' if it ain't broke don't fix it'.
If we had the option to change font many of us would have done so but it must be a very straightforward process for the tech crew to change it at source!
Looks as if GN has gone back 20 years!

NanKate Sat 05-Aug-17 20:58:03

What is the mobile site some of you have mentioned ?

I hadn't noticed the font was bigger. I had noticed it was lighter as if on the draft setting on my printer.

Jalima1108 Sat 05-Aug-17 20:57:07

hot holiday destination thread

Jalima1108 Sat 05-Aug-17 20:56:42

POP-UPS - are they something new?

I just went on the hot holiday destinations and got a gn POP-UP (not an ad) for:
'6 places to get some late summer sun'

Ana Sat 05-Aug-17 20:52:24

fixing

Ana Sat 05-Aug-17 20:51:44

Well, it's the weekend so I expect they're leaving us to it until Monday when the tech people may or may not be up to fixong some of our gripes!

Oriel Sat 05-Aug-17 20:50:08

I don't like the new font - it seems to me very old fashioned as does the colour. I don't like the logo either. It would be better to just have the wording without the strange silhouettes peeping over the top.

Izzywizzy Sat 05-Aug-17 20:49:25

I mostly just read what others are saying but I'm really finding all this white way too much for my eyes. Even writing here on my iPad I realise I'm rushing because it's just too white especially on the right side where it's just plain and appears really bright.
The blue on some people's names is a pleasant relief.

FarNorth Sat 05-Aug-17 20:41:16

Oh, spoke too soon. Now looking at "desktop site" but still on hudl, and there are no italics in my last message. confused

FarNorth Sat 05-Aug-17 20:38:06

Wow, looks like italics works for me. It never used to do, on my hudl.

Swanny Sat 05-Aug-17 19:46:32

I'm finding it really difficult to read two different fonts on here. Posts are in the awful new one but details such as Page 8 of 8, Next, Last etc are in the old font. I think writing my messages in the new font is even worse than reading them.

I've tried to get used to the new look but it seems to me to be change for change's sake and I don't like it. Italics is still not working I see, so I've gone back and underlined that bit. Is is because the ^ is in a different position - in the middle rather than at the top like the asterisk? Has this all been produced to look better on a phone? I use my laptop as I have 'fat finger' syndrome on a phone ...

Ana Sat 05-Aug-17 19:36:08

Is there actually a box to tick to say what gender you are? I know there is when you join, but I don't think it asks for that information on your profile page.

Although both our profiles refer to us as 'she'...

NfkDumpling Sat 05-Aug-17 19:12:46

Quite so Ana and I'm guessing you're not a bloke. So why are so many people still in the black? It seems rude when you've been chatting nicely in a group to refer to someone as he/she or him/her. Makes for a stilted answer trying to work out a way of not saying it. And several contributors to Mick's good morning thread say what the weather is like but not where they are. UK or Australia? I'm not asking for your full address including postcode just an indication. I'm guessing Durhamjen may possibly live somewhere in the Durham area, but I don't think for a minute I'd be able to trace her/him.

M0nica Sat 05-Aug-17 18:43:48

Sorry, do not like the logo either. It looks like an illustration from a 1950s women's magazine.

I feel the whole redesign is woolly and old fashioned and reinforces all the conventional beliefs about what old people, especially old women are. Old fashioned, living in the past, not comfortable with the modern world.

Why can't we have a site that reflects what we are or see ourselves as. Smart, in every sense of the word, still engaged with life and ready to come to grips with new technology.

I would like to see a redesign that has a cutting edge look with a striking modern logo. All this is entirely compatible with a site that is easy to read and navigate.

MiniMouse Sat 05-Aug-17 18:37:34

Just realised that my post of 18.13.24 didn't put the quote from Jalima in italics, but did manage underline and bold.

notnecessarilywiser Sat 05-Aug-17 18:29:44

I'm not keen on the new typeface, but am happy to stick with it if it's proven to be easier for those with impaired vision.

Today I think I've had success with bold but failure with italics. Let me demonstrate - bold, italics, underline , strikethrough .

I'd really like the option for the OP to be highlighted so that in the event of a very long thread I can at least see everything that the original poster has to say.

And (please correct me if I can already do this) is there a setting whereby I'm notified when there are new posts on threads I'm on or watching?

TIA

Ana Sat 05-Aug-17 18:28:14

Nfk, you can put as little or as much as you want to on your profile page - I only have number of grandchildren and my age on mine - and I've found I can be any age I want, even 250! grin

There's no compulsion to give any more details than you want to - I certainly wouldn't give my location.

Indinana Sat 05-Aug-17 18:25:44

M0nica your last paragraph says it all. I totally agree. I hope they're reading this. Properly.

NfkDumpling Sat 05-Aug-17 18:22:52

It's OK, and the logo is marginally better than the old one which somehow always looked a bit like a witch on a broomstick to me. (A first impression, but it stuck.) BUT, there are grandads too, so it does seem a little sexist. Can you change one of the ladies to a grandad?

The grey really shows up how few people are prepared to admit any details about themselves. Not many blue names at all. Perhaps it's time to rethink personal details and minimise them to sex (man or woman) and location (North/south/east/west England, Switzerland, south USA, etc) and ditch the rest?

MiniMouse Sat 05-Aug-17 18:13:24

^I don't like this wishy washy grey
I prefer the typeface on Mumsnet - plain and straightforward^

Agree with Jalima, plus there's so much white that it's dazzling after a while. hmm that could be a good thing, as it makes me take a break and get on with what I should be doing!

M0nica Sat 05-Aug-17 17:25:30

I have just been looking at the BBC sports pages. No interest in sport but the BBC have just had a new typeface designed to be easy to read online and it is being trialled on the Sports site.

I have had a look at it. On a 17 inch screen it looked as if it was slightly fuzzy and out of focus, but nevertheless I found it really easy to read and also to navigate from news item to news item and at a glance to absorb the essentials contained in each item. I note that the font is a non-serif font. I look forward to other BBC sites converting to this new type face (see, I am not against change when it is well done).

Look also at Bookerly the font designed by Amazon for use on the Kindle. there you can choose your own font size and line spacing.

GN may say that they are very excited about testing out the new design and that they have worked really hard, but being excited and working hard does not guarantee that the product is any good. In this case they have got excited and worked hard on a really poor redesign.

Lona Sat 05-Aug-17 17:05:42

To be honest, the mobile site doesn't look much different to me on my iPhone,tablet and Hudl. The desk site always looks a bit dated though.
I prefer Mnet though because it's easier to scroll down and catch up with the Ops' updates.