I voted for Fluency medium, but whatever the style, I'd really like the ability to modify the background/accent color so I can keep all the blogs I administer straight in my head. :)
Moshe - 15 years ago
I really hope that none of the fluency styles win - that would be a matter of form over function. It looks nice, but is not nearly as user friendly - it takes away the nice groupings of menu items into different boxes.
I think Matt's looks nicer, but again, functionality wise I think it would be a step back.
Practically speaking - I think that this one is the best: http://andrerenaut.ovh.org/wp28.jpg.
Here are the reasons I gave why in the forum:
The reason why is that it streamlines the design and puts much more emphasis on the working area by moving everything up. Also, I like the idea of having different groupings of menu tabs (a post grouping, a user group, and a technical aspects groups) it makes it easier to work one's way around. I'd like it even more if plugins could have their own little grouping so as not to clutter up the Settings section (even better still would be if we could then further sub-group the plugins according to our own grouping, but that's another story).
I don't think it looks the best, but I do think it functions the best.
I voted for MT, though I'd like to see a mix of MT and DR1.
Ben - 15 years ago
DR1 + DR2 + DR3, which have same navigation style, totalize more than 30% ! No hesitation !
Personally, DR3 and AN.
Josh~ - 15 years ago
Fluency - because unlike the original design - it does save you clicks compared with the pre-2.7 versions since the menus pop-out when you hover them, not when you click them. Great design!
I agree with John, but he misses one point: if you sum the votes for distinguishing the nav from the content more clearly on the one hand and the votes for cutting through the header to let the nav start at the top of the page on the other hand, there obviously is a demand for some minor changes to the current layout.
@Tobias The "current" option is there, maybe you overlooked it.
Actually, I prever a horizontal menu system over a vertical one. I don't like to scroll down all the time for my options. It reminds me way too much of the cPanel/whm control panel (which I hate). I want as few scrolls and mouseclicks as possible and with the vertical menu, I'm always scrolling down and that's a time waster for me.
Looking at the poll results leaves me wondering if it helps you at all. Yes, there are three options that are ahead of all the rest but I reckon that they are so close together as yield an undecisive result. Personally, I am left wondering if the exercise is a worthwhile one. After the upheaval that was WordPress 2.7, do we really need the same thing again? The current arrangement works well for me and, from the poll, for a good number of others too. Can a change be made without alienating the community given that many like what they already have?
DR2: Fluency style is the one for me as it clearly distinguishes the navigation (not too dark with too much contrast like DR1) and focusses your attention on the content area. However, like Thomas, I'd like to see a right-side nav version/option.
"I don't think the right-side flyout menus of Fluency Dark is very usable. It makes it harder to select items, and it also obscures part of the content area when the menu is out."
Its not clear (and a little hard to demonstrate) on the mockup, but the menus are only visible on hover, they don't stay "open" so they wouldn't obscure any content. My reasoning is here: http://deanjrobinson.com/wordpress/design-tweaks-28/ Its worth mentioning that the Fluency design could easily work with the expand/collapse style of the current menu, flyouts just shown because thats what I currently have in the Fluency plugin.
Would be interested to hear why you believe it makes menu items hard to select though, I'm always looking to improve Fluency.
I think that MT looks just smashing. I don't understand why it's losing to the fluency set, which to my eye is nice but not as nice as MT or the current one. Fluency would be nicer with a little more padding on the left nav elements.
I agree with P. Coughlin -- the collapsing arrangement now is brilliant... hope we keep that functionality.
More contrast, please, or at least no less, for readability.
This vote-for-one kind of poll is a little misleading, since similar designs will split the vote for their common features. Some kind of ranking would be more useful.
J. Adam Morris - 15 years ago
I agree with JamieO's last sentence. I really think the current offering is a good enough base to work from and only requires minor changes, most of them cosmetic and honestly unnecessary. It's a good mix between usability and attractiveness and does a good job of getting out of the way when needed. That said, I'm only the most casual of bloggers and don't spend massive amounts of time logged in to the admin panel.
I don't think the right-side flyout menus of Fluency Dark is very usable. It makes it harder to select items, and it also obscures part of the content area when the menu is out. I voted for keeping it as is, because none of the other changes add to the user-friendliness, and is just another interface change for the sake of it.
I was hoping to see a horizontal nav option with dropdowns, similar to the Ozh plugin. It gets to be cumbersome and fiddly scrolling down the side.
Really wouldn't want to lose the current brilliant option of collapsing the menu across to the left and automatically getting icons with expandable menu items - so first three are good candidates.
Functionality is way more important than fancy styling to me :-)
I'm curious - how much was the header area looked at during the usability testing of Crazyhorse that lead to the current admin experience? While I do like the look that my vote (Fluency) presents over the current admin panel, I wonder if this isn't something bordering on change for the sake of change?
Looks to me like the Fluency-dark style is winning, and it wins hands-down if you combine all 3 versions; maybe there could be an option to set the color for the left-side band?
I voted for Fluency medium, but whatever the style, I'd really like the ability to modify the background/accent color so I can keep all the blogs I administer straight in my head. :)
I really hope that none of the fluency styles win - that would be a matter of form over function. It looks nice, but is not nearly as user friendly - it takes away the nice groupings of menu items into different boxes.
I think Matt's looks nicer, but again, functionality wise I think it would be a step back.
Practically speaking - I think that this one is the best: http://andrerenaut.ovh.org/wp28.jpg.
Here are the reasons I gave why in the forum:
The reason why is that it streamlines the design and puts much more emphasis on the working area by moving everything up. Also, I like the idea of having different groupings of menu tabs (a post grouping, a user group, and a technical aspects groups) it makes it easier to work one's way around. I'd like it even more if plugins could have their own little grouping so as not to clutter up the Settings section (even better still would be if we could then further sub-group the plugins according to our own grouping, but that's another story).
I don't think it looks the best, but I do think it functions the best.
I voted for MT, though I'd like to see a mix of MT and DR1.
DR1 + DR2 + DR3, which have same navigation style, totalize more than 30% ! No hesitation !
Personally, DR3 and AN.
Fluency - because unlike the original design - it does save you clicks compared with the pre-2.7 versions since the menus pop-out when you hover them, not when you click them. Great design!
About AN
menus are divided in three parts
Content
Users
Settings (settings, appearance, plugins, tools)
I agree with John, but he misses one point: if you sum the votes for distinguishing the nav from the content more clearly on the one hand and the votes for cutting through the header to let the nav start at the top of the page on the other hand, there obviously is a demand for some minor changes to the current layout.
@Tobias The "current" option is there, maybe you overlooked it.
I really miss the "current" and "none of the shown" Option in the vote!
From this collection, I would prefere to keep the current design!
Actually, I prever a horizontal menu system over a vertical one. I don't like to scroll down all the time for my options. It reminds me way too much of the cPanel/whm control panel (which I hate). I want as few scrolls and mouseclicks as possible and with the vertical menu, I'm always scrolling down and that's a time waster for me.
Looking at the poll results leaves me wondering if it helps you at all. Yes, there are three options that are ahead of all the rest but I reckon that they are so close together as yield an undecisive result. Personally, I am left wondering if the exercise is a worthwhile one. After the upheaval that was WordPress 2.7, do we really need the same thing again? The current arrangement works well for me and, from the poll, for a good number of others too. Can a change be made without alienating the community given that many like what they already have?
DR2: Fluency style is the one for me as it clearly distinguishes the navigation (not too dark with too much contrast like DR1) and focusses your attention on the content area. However, like Thomas, I'd like to see a right-side nav version/option.
"I don't think the right-side flyout menus of Fluency Dark is very usable. It makes it harder to select items, and it also obscures part of the content area when the menu is out."
Its not clear (and a little hard to demonstrate) on the mockup, but the menus are only visible on hover, they don't stay "open" so they wouldn't obscure any content. My reasoning is here: http://deanjrobinson.com/wordpress/design-tweaks-28/ Its worth mentioning that the Fluency design could easily work with the expand/collapse style of the current menu, flyouts just shown because thats what I currently have in the Fluency plugin.
Would be interested to hear why you believe it makes menu items hard to select though, I'm always looking to improve Fluency.
I think that MT looks just smashing. I don't understand why it's losing to the fluency set, which to my eye is nice but not as nice as MT or the current one. Fluency would be nicer with a little more padding on the left nav elements.
I agree with P. Coughlin -- the collapsing arrangement now is brilliant... hope we keep that functionality.
Would love to have the fluency dark but we should have the option to choose in the admin panel.
KD is by far the best option. It looks so sleek and really, it does give a fresh feeling to the dashboard. I like it :)
More contrast, please, or at least no less, for readability.
This vote-for-one kind of poll is a little misleading, since similar designs will split the vote for their common features. Some kind of ranking would be more useful.
I agree with JamieO's last sentence. I really think the current offering is a good enough base to work from and only requires minor changes, most of them cosmetic and honestly unnecessary. It's a good mix between usability and attractiveness and does a good job of getting out of the way when needed. That said, I'm only the most casual of bloggers and don't spend massive amounts of time logged in to the admin panel.
I don't think the right-side flyout menus of Fluency Dark is very usable. It makes it harder to select items, and it also obscures part of the content area when the menu is out. I voted for keeping it as is, because none of the other changes add to the user-friendliness, and is just another interface change for the sake of it.
I was hoping to see a horizontal nav option with dropdowns, similar to the Ozh plugin. It gets to be cumbersome and fiddly scrolling down the side.
I’d love to see a bar navigation in the header !
I’d love to see a right hand navigation!
Really wouldn't want to lose the current brilliant option of collapsing the menu across to the left and automatically getting icons with expandable menu items - so first three are good candidates.
Functionality is way more important than fancy styling to me :-)
DR2: Fluency style - This really hits the spot for me. Not too dark/light in contrast, more like the way the contrast is currently.
I'm curious - how much was the header area looked at during the usability testing of Crazyhorse that lead to the current admin experience? While I do like the look that my vote (Fluency) presents over the current admin panel, I wonder if this isn't something bordering on change for the sake of change?
Looks to me like the Fluency-dark style is winning, and it wins hands-down if you combine all 3 versions; maybe there could be an option to set the color for the left-side band?
(I voted for Fluency-Dark myself) :)