Answerbank Redesign: Update

[AB Editor]

Good afternoon AnswerBankers!

As you know, we've been talking about the new AnswerBank designs. Here's what we're trying to do:

* We're making the site work on any device, all the time
* We're making it easier to read and clearer to use
* We're making the site friendlier to new members

We've chosen a new font and run through a couple of version of the designs.

So we're now at a point where we can show you some fairly "final" designs.

So, let's go through the designs. I'll try and introduce each of them, and then provide links to each image for desktop, tablet, and mobile. These should open in new tabs of your browser, and you may need to click the image to zoom in to full size.

If you're not a member already, you'd go sign up on a page like this: (This is the tablet design - the layout will be similar on desktop and mobile). If you forget to log in you will be reminded by everyone's favourite AnswerBank message! (tablet - but the pop-over will look similar on all devices )

Here's asking a question from the homepage (desktop / tablet / mobile)

And here's just the normal logged in homepage: (desktop / tablet / mobile)

The menu will look like this: (desktop / tablet / mobile)

And here's the category listing page (desktop / tablet / mobile)

When you visit a question it will look like this (desktop / tablet / mobile)

Here's a page with a poll you've already answered: (on a tablet, other devices will look similar). And this is the homepage with a poll still to answer: Although, we might change how that looks, making the choices more obvious and removing the a/b/c

After you answer a question, it might look a little like this, on tablet (the message box to let you know you answer was posted, or in other cases, that something has gone wrong!): tablet design, but they'll all look quite similar to this.

Here's an article: (desktop / tablet / mobile)

And here's a search: (desktop / tablet / mobile)

[ummmm]

I knew as soon as I seen your name in latest posts that you would be saying that, Jordy :-)

[jno]

because other people aren't happy, Jordyboy? Apparently it doesn't work well on all devices at the moment.

[Tilly2]

Read the three bullet points in the OP, Jordy.

[ummmm]

People moaned and moaned when facebook changed it's layout. I bet they can't even remember what it used to be like...

People moaned on here when the introduced the latest posts box.

They moaned when they introduced sub-categories.

When they took away stars.

They moan about badges being updated.

People like to moan.

[chrissa1]

It looks ok and I'm sure we'll all get used to it. Please don't let it become as confusing as the Moneysavingexpert site, though.

[Mamyalynne]

Course they do, is it were change for changes sake then I'd agree.


It isn't broken for me but for many it is so we have to improve.

[Mamyalynne]

Chrissa, I think you can see from the examples given it won't be anything like as confusing as that.

[-SharonA-]

Can you explain about the 'articles'?? What are these and are they submitted by Aber's?

[Arksided]

'The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few'

Charles Dickens... not Mr Spock ;-)

[sandyRoe]

Looks good.

[hc4361]

SharonA, we have articles now and have had for a long time

[AB Editor]

-SharonA- - we used to produce articles or have them submitted by others to the site. We'd love to publish an article you've written - you can always send something over to theeditor at theanswerbank dot co dot uk.

Here's an example of how the articles look now:

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/How-it-Works/article-list/

[AB Editor]

"Please don't let it become as confusing as the Moneysavingexpert site"

A noted and noble goal!

[AB Editor]

Hi Jordyboy9 - like last time (and the time before? :) ) - we're doing this so that everyone can use the answerbank, whatever device they're on.

While you're ok on your desktop PC, others struggle with it on their tablet.

And even you on your PC might find the larger font, clearer text and bigger buttons useful. I know I will!

[pixie374]

I never knew about the articles either... looks great on a tablet. Not sure about the banner adverts in between answers, but otherwise, perfect.

[AB Editor]

Thanks for all the positive comments! Any feedback, even if you're mostly happy, would be appreciated. If you think something some be moved over a pixel, let us know!

[Messalina]

Blimey. It's different but I'll get used to it:-$

[bluebird34]

All looks good to me. As I have often said I love this site, informative, often funny and some sarcastic posts but never (as far as I am aware)rude or nasty. Thank you all.

[wordyone]

Does anyone else have the same problem that I do on my desktop in that the animated ads and the ads that constantly refresh slow things down to a stop. At times I have had a look at Task Manager and found 100% CPU usage. One of the reasons I do not use it often these days is this problem. On a bad day it would have taken me about 15 minutes to type this in. As it is today seems to be a good day and it has only taken me about 5 minutes.

[Pullman]

Looking forward to being involved in the new look, like the bigger print and though I didn't really have any problems before this looks as though it will all be very straightforward.