Changing the "top and bottom" of the Mumsnet site

[NellMumsnet]

You may notice that the top and bottom bits of Mumsnet are looking a bit different. Better, we hope.

If you’ve used Mumsnet for a while you’ve probably noticed that some pages, like the homepage, have one header design, while others, like the pregnancy section, have another – with a completely different set of navigation links.

From today we’re launching a new, unified header and footer across the site with the aim of making Mumsnet more consistent and easier to navigate. No matter what page you’re on, the navigation links will be the same. And in the same order.

It’s a big change for us, so we’re rolling it out carefully. For the next few weeks only a small proportion of Mumsnetters will be able to see the new design, so don’t worry if things look the same to you now. Based on the feedback we get and how well it goes technically, we’ll make it available to more and more people.

If you can see the new design, we’d love to know what you think:

• Has the new header and footer made Mumsnet easier to navigate for you?
• Do the navigation links make sense to you?
• What do you think about the mobile vs. the desktop designs?
• What could we do to make them better?

Do add comments below or email [email protected] if you have any thoughts, questions or concerns.

Also, although we’ve thoroughly tested the code, bugs may still slip through, so if you spot anything that looks wonky then we want to know about it. Please tell us which page you’re having problems with and the device you’re viewing it on – and if you can include a screenshot the tech team will love you forever.

[PanPanPanPing]

Is there some reason you don't have an official MNHQ NN with the blue colour, Nell?

[DiggertyDamn]

Not better, bloody annoying. Is there a way to customise it back to how it was before?

[NellMumsnet]

Thanks for the feedback Diggerty - would be great to know more about what’s annoying. Feel free to PM me if you prefer.

PanPan - I should turn blue shortly...

[NellMumsnet]

There we go!

[SetPhasersTaeMalkie]

I think it would be useful to have site stuff in the top talk topics.

[Twickerhun]

I see it and like it but the font on the messages has changed too. Bold and slightly smaller.

[DiggertyDamn]

It just looks like it's made for a 5 year old. Massive text, I guess to make it easier to read? It was fine before. I dislike it.

[SneakyGremlins]

I'm not a fan, it was fine the way it was before.

[DiggertyDamn]

It was neat before, now it looks like I can't read/see well and have enlarged the font on the page. It's messy.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

I quite like it, but about 50% of the time the bottom buttons stop working, they are just a non-clickable image. I'm trying to figure out the common factor but haven't so far...

[AristotlesTrousers]

Noooo, all the shortcuts have gone from the bottom of the page! Was much easier to finish reading a thread and then hop easily to a different topic when they were at the bottom rather than the top (and also, where is Site Stuff?). Not a fan, sorry.

[Cadsuane]

New look is OK on my Samsung except the floating toolbar is back and I can't find how to turn it off again. I find it distracting and keep clicking it by mistake when I want to switch tab.

[DiggertyDamn]

That too AristotlesTrousers I hate that.
Put it back HQ, please.

[imonaplane]

You need to put the shortcut to AIBU back at the bottom of the page!

[KateMumsnet]

Hello everyone and thanks for all your posts.

Hmm, the toolbar and font sizes shouldn't have changed - we'll follow that up with tech team, that may be a bug. Likewise the bottom buttons being live sometimes but not others.

The footer links have indeed changed for desktop users (they weren't there previously for mobile users). Thanks for letting us know your thoughts about that - we'll keep an eye on the data to see if it's having a wide impact, and have a rethink if it is.

Do keep your comments coming, we appreciate it.

Cheers
MNHQ

[WhatTheFuckeryIsThis]

Please rethink quickly.

[Bimbop5]

Oh I don't like this at all. It is too busy now with ads everywhere and not user friendly at all. It jumps around and zooms in and out. Ugh please change it back!!

[Monty27]

It takes ages to upload pages.. flashing moving stuff remove it at once

[sashh]

Not only annoying, particularly the footer but the DDA was passed in 1995, it's 2018 and you have no accessibility options, if you are doing some sort of redesign then surely you could have made it accessible?

Human Computer Interaction 101 - make it easy for your users with disabilities and it is easier for those without too.

[ParellelReality]

Come on MN, you know whatever you do you'll have pages of moans.

[Piperallie]

I can no longer load the Mumsnet page on my ipad as it takes forever. I also had an advert appear on the right hand side for donations to my local hospice where I volunteer. I have reverted to desktop PC.

[PanPanPanPing]

Even though I posted on this thread last week, the new format only kicked in for me today.

What fresh hell is this? Dear god, I despair.

[PanPanPanPing]

And WTF don't you have Site Stuff on your Top Talk Topics drop-down?

[Bimbop5]

Omg it is back to normal for me!!! Yahooooo!

[SnigglePiggle]

I want it back to normal for me.