Working on a forum. Design tips?

[Florx]

Vanilla uses a different take on it:


Personally though, I prefer the common format.

Ahh, where as I prefer the vanilla one.

[Trigs]

Thanks Jamesy. That's good inspiration. I don't like how it's not catogorized at all though. Ill use some of those concepts though.

I was thinking maybe I'll keep the categories, but they're clickable and they link to a list of all threads in the forums under each parent.

[redtom]

I think you should keep the current format most forums use, its makes it easy for users to get used to the forum, people dont want to have to learn how to get around each site they go on so it might reflect on the amout of users who stick around.

[Irrorate]

redtom has a point, if it's easily used it might make users stick around... but the alternative is also true. If it's a good design that's not original it will attract people!

[Trigs]

That's what I'm getting at, a good, original design that attracts people. I won't change it up so much that people will get confused and won't know how it works though.

[peteyt]

I think you should keep the current format most forums use, its makes it easy for users to get used to the forum, people dont want to have to learn how to get around each site they go on so it might reflect on the amout of users who stick around.

Got to agree with you. You can try and make it different to VB but the problem is everyone understands the general layouts that forums use. Its like using a new system, it can be very confusing and take a while to get used to it.

While people like innovitation they also like things simple - some people can try and go to over complicated with stuff and the end result is a lot of users getting alienated.