Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Usability/Main Page/Draft/Talk for Draft 4

message: The overwhelming response last time was that the redesign was too busy, and that the box bottoms didn't line up.  This draft has been simplified, getting back to basics.  Two side-by-side boxes are used, which line up at the bottom like the current Main Page.  If Pic of the Day is to be added every day, rather than just on weekends, then one of the column boxes will have a lot of blank space.  Therefore, if the POTD is to be added as a regular daily feature, another regular feature needs to be developed for the adjacent column.  "Tip of the day" might be worthy.  Any ideas? Go for it! 16:59, 7 January 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: I don't think we need another feature.  The solution would be to expand ITN and the featured picture caption, and make each feature in the left column slightly shorter/more condensed.  Alternativly, it might be possible to swap the position of ITN, with DYK or On this day (and adjust the length of them, accordingly). —--Aude (talk | contribs) 00:49, 8 January 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: See about importing Quote of the Day from WikiQuote, perhaps? GeeJo (t) (c) •  07:04, 8 January 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: Picture of the day, and column balance

message: Another recurring theme of critiques has been a negative reaction to pastel colors and too many colors. Comments included comparisons with a nursery, easter eggs, and M&Ms.  So the color backgrounds have been removed, while the color borders have been retained and reduced.  Go for it! 17:10, 7 January 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Without the backgrounds it looks bland :p porges 20:30, 7 January 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: I also think the background colors are okay, but just not so many as were used in the previous draft.  Keeping the two colors used currently (pink/blue) would be good. See User:Kmf164/Main_page_draft. —--Aude (talk | contribs) 00:51, 8 January 2006 (UTC)

text: I agree with those who commented on the whole "nursery" theme being a bit too much to bear.  Therefore, hopefully no pink nor baby blue.  Go for it! 09:29, 8 January 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: Drab backgrounds removed

message: I thought a little more color would be nice, so I tried adding heading background color, and it looks even better than the current draft.  However, the "In the news" template and the additional feature template below it both have the headings built-in, so I couldn't gain access to change them because those pages are protected.  Therefore, I created 2 new templates, and placed the news and picture in them respectively, without the headings.  Unfortunately, these 2 templates will have to be updated every day.  Go for it! 19:04, 7 January 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: This design is a lot nicer than the previous one. However, the coloured heading bars need adjusting. Would it be possible to make them extend the width (or very near it) of the box, and increase the padding between the heading bar and the actual contents of the box. Perhaps more like this.--cj | talk 02:35, 8 January 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: I took care of the padding, and I'm looking for a way to extend the heading bars.  Go for it! 12:18, 8 January 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: Had to make 2 new templates to accomodate colored headings

message: Why is there no linkage to these newcomer friendly pages?  --hydnjo talk 19:23, 7 January 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Yes, we'll see how the desks do without the current linkage from the Main Page. Thanks for your response, hydnjo talk 01:25, 8 January 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: I'll have to agree about making links to the help desk, more prominent.  (also to the community portal, as done in the Italian Wikipedia).  A possible solution is to tweak the items listed in the browsebarmain, (and add the community portal icon, to draw the eye to it).  I also suggest adding "Donations", as is currently on the main page.  See User:Kmf164/Main page draft for these possible ideas implemented.  —--Aude (talk | contribs) 01:45, 8 January 2006 (UTC)

text: I'll put some more thought into it.  There's a lot of requested features to integrate.  This is going to take a rethink.  Go for it! 09:28, 8 January 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: [[WP:RD]] and [[WP:HD]]

message: I was pointed here from Talk:Main_Page, so I’ll copy & paste my comment :) "I think [the images] would look better with a thin 1px black border around them, something to separate them from the rest of the page." porges 20:32, 7 January 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: I agree that a border might look nice, so I'm asking on Wikipedia_talk:Picture_tutorial#Borders.3F.  From what I've found in all the help pages here and on metawiki, I don't think the border is possible with current wiki syntax, but maybe I'm missing something.  —--Aude (talk | contribs) 00:45, 8 January 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: The Dutch Wikipedia has a template that creates borders around images. See here for an example. We have an equivalent template on en: but it doesn't seem to work.--cj | talk 02:27, 8 January 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Thanks.  I'll look into how they implemented it on Dutch Wikipedia.  —--Aude (talk | contribs) 03:05, 8 January 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Regarding pictures 

message: What drew my attention to the original draft was the second search box in the yellow heading.  I have tweaked the draft I mocked up a few days ago, to use the original draft header, with the search box.  It also differs from the current draft, in that the browse topics, as well as the Almanac, Categories, FAQ ... links are below the yellow box — not in it. See User:Kmf164/Main_page_draft.  —--Aude (talk | contribs) 00:55, 8 January 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Second search box 

message: * I agree with Flcelloguy above who says that the page is too bright. The contrast of the headings with the white background for text makes the page seem too bright to read from and thus makes the current main page seem freindlier.
* Everything looks very rough and unprofessional due to its not using enough margins. That is, there is no margin left of heading text, nor beneath these heading bars when above a picture.
* The category bar at the bottom of the page seems fairly useless to me...
Although I do like some things about the Italian version, I'm not sure about the snowflakes...
jnothman talk 02:55, 8 January 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Colours, margins, categories 

message: A user on Talk:Main page suggested putting the "other languages" on the left side, as is done with all other articles.  I think it's a good idea, making good use of available white space on the left.  We could then either remove the "other languages" from the bottom of the main page, or still keep those links at the bottom to double-reinforce the point that Wikipedia is in so many languages.  Any thoughts?  —--Aude (talk | contribs) 05:05, 8 January 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: I agree. This is done with most other-language Wikipedia's, although some restrict them to the five or so "major" language Wikipedia's. There's no reason to remove "other languages" from the bottom of the page, but it might be better reformated.--cj | talk 08:53, 8 January 2006 (UTC)

text: The white space on the left serves an important role in balancing the busy body area of the page. The main pages that include the complete other languages list on the left contain much less visual structure. On other hand, it's good for consistency and not a terrible idea. But I'm inclined to think there would be slightly more lost than gained. Aapo Laitinen 11:37, 8 January 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Other languages 

message: I added a slight bit of background color for those who mentioned it was too bright.  Go for it! 10:12, 8 January 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Adjusted brightness down a notch or two 

message: Added spacing under headings, so that pictures no longer touch the heading background.  Go for it! 11:03, 8 January 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Spacing under headings fixed 

message: According to the article on the nuvola icons, there are 600 of them.  I can only locate about 35 of them.  Can anyone help me out here? Go for it! 14:20, 8 January 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: commons:Category:Nuvola icons. Loads of useful ones there. You could also look at commons:Category:Icons for other sets, though we should try and keep to a consistent style as much as possible. the wub "?!" 15:17, 8 January 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Where are the Nuvola 600?