Navbar update

[JustineMumsnet]

Morning folks, and a happy 2016, one and all.

We will shortly be releasing a new version of the navbar across some areas of the site on desktop view.

The idea is to have something clearer and more streamlined and that is more in line with the mobile version (which is where the bulk of MN users are) and standard web formats. It also allows us to accommodate a larger ad format at the top of desktop site - which advertisers are demanding because that's what most other sites offer.

We've done a first round of testing on a with some users (many to them) and the response was largely positive, so we're now testing it on parts (talk, reviews) of the live site. The plan is to introduce it everywhere if all goes well.

This is very much a beta version; and we'll be continuing to make a few design tweaks to the nav bar as needed and to the rest of the desktop site to accommodate it (at the moment on Talk it looks a bit jarring for sure but we are working on improving that). We're also looking at way to fit in the angels logo at least at the top of the page (it will disappear as you scroll). So, they'll be a few more updates over the next few weeks...

Do post any thoughts, concerns, feedback here. (Bear in mind it's a work in progress and all change takes a little getting used to )

Many thanks Justine

[ouryve]

Thumbwitch, a little bell or something similar appears on the bar when you have a private message.

[Fiderer]

Huzzah! The drop down evil photos have gone!

Spaghetti dog & pregnant plaity woman and stupid rollers shaving woman and the glasses girl - have gone.

Oh thank feck/Tech for that.

[Skullyton]

now i have that out of my system, a more considered response.

I like that the rollover things are gone, i never liked them. However.

Its too bare
The icons are too simple
The colour looks weird
I dont like the text

the new drop downs are vile. Why that nasty blue?
The inbox for messages should still be on the navbar, not in the drop down.

[SoupDragon]

I like the cleaner look.

It's not like using the mobile site (which I dislike).

[Skullyton]

Look, screen shot. How can you think this looks good?

Its not even slightly in keeping with the rest of the site set up.

Its vile.

[ThumbWitchesAbroad]

OK, thanks Ourvye, having tested that I see the bell :), it is cute, BUT I liked the red splot.

I remember MNHQ tried to change the colour of the splot before and there was general outcry and begging for it to be changed back to red... what are the chances of having a red bell instead of a purple one, if you insist on keeping the bell rather than the splot?

[Skippedthelightfandango]

Why is it calling me eric? When I click on "my mumsnet" at the top it calls me eric. I am not eric honestly.

[Atomik]

Did it change only after I clicked this thread ? Or did I just not notice it had changed ?

Will there be a red bobble on the mumsnet icon if a PM has arrived ? I get them so rarely that it's not something I'll go and check for unless something is waggled at me to let me know there is a reason to and look.

[SoupDragon]

I think it's what you've put as your name in your profile. Mine says Supreme Commander.

[ThumbWitchesAbroad]

Oh, and while I'm whinging and you're changing stuff, can you please make it so that sending PMs can be done using Ctrl and Enter as well, same as posting on threads? I used Ctrl and Enter ALL THE TIME when posting, and it's a PITA that it doesn't work to send PMs that way as well.

Thank you

[SoupDragon]

That "nasty blue" is standard MN blue.

[Skullyton]

we dont usually massive great walls of it though soup.

I'd much rather the pale blue on the background of trending with the darker text.

Some people on here have sensory/visual processing issues, including myself.

Giant walls of dark colour like that actually hurt my eyes.

[AnchorDownDeepBreath]

I like it. But I don't really want the logo back. It looks clean now.

It's an efficient UI, and a much cleaner UX.

[ScrambledSmegs]

I'm the Saviour of the Universe. Obviously.

I'm not sure I like it, but I'll get used to it I suppose. As long as it's functional.

[SoupDragon]

I still don't see great walls of colour though. The times I need to use any of the menus are very very rare.

[Skullyton]

honestly, the amount of 'streamlining for mobile users' you're doing, you might as well ditch the desktop site.

apparently we dont matter any more!

[JustineMumsnet]

@Skullyton

Look, screen shot. How can you think this looks good?

Its not even slightly in keeping with the rest of the site set up.

Its vile.

Yes, there are certainly a few things that jar, 'tis true but, as said, we are working on them. In general we think it's better to adopt a gradualist approach rather than a big bang design change. Ultimately though, we are moving to something called responsive design which means that the mobile, tablet and desktop versions will be more attuned. The reason for this is that otherwise we have to make three versions of everything, instead of one, which as you can imagine is very inefficient/ liable to lead to code errors etc. which none of us want. But sorry you find it so vile - hopefully it will improve for you with forthcoming updates!

[Skullyton]

and i use adblock because i hate adverts and like that new drop down, the visual 'noise' of them hurts my eyes.

[SoupDragon]

Generally, I do think it's better to avoid white text on a coloured background.

[JustineMumsnet]

@Skullyton

honestly, the amount of 'streamlining for mobile users' you're doing, you might as well ditch the desktop site.

apparently we dont matter any more!

We'd most likely be streamlining the desktop site irrespective tbh. Tis the way of the world and most people would agree, I think, that MN is rather "busy" compared to most other sites. We don't want to lose the richness, obviously, but think there's probably a middle way solution that overall improves it.

[Skullyton]

it works on the mobile/tablet site because it all matches and your fonts are the same..etc

The only was i can describe it is that at the moment this new one just looks like its been cut and pasted and stuck there.

[Sparklingbrook]

It's alright. Have spaghetti dog and pregnant water woman really gone for good?

[Skullyton]

"We'd most likely be streamlining the desktop site irrespective tbh. Tis the way of the world and most people would agree, I think, that MN is rather "busy" compared to most other sites. We don't want to lose the richness, obviously, but think there's probably a middle way solution that overall improves it."

But Justine, you've taken most of our customisable options away, you've taken our purple floaty bar away, and now you've ditched the nav bar.

By 'streamlining' for mobile users, all you're doing is turning this desktop site into your mobile site. What considerations are you actually making for your desktop users? It really does feel like we don't matter.

[JustineMumsnet]

@Skullyton

it works on the mobile/tablet site because it all matches and your fonts are the same..etc

The only was i can describe it is that at the moment this new one just looks like its been cut and pasted and stuck there.

Yes I agree, but as said in op, we're working on that
"This is very much a beta version; and we'll be continuing to make a few design tweaks to the nav bar as needed and to the rest of the desktop site to accommodate it (at the moment on Talk it looks a bit jarring for sure but we are working on improving that)."

[magimedi]

I think it looks fine & the whole site seems to work faster now - probably coincidence.

Am on desktop & firefox.