New site design being tested!

I agree, my usename titling this message is very light and grey and even GNHQs normal green is very pale. My description would be wishy washy- little stands out except the font size which I love.

I'm getting used to it. Scrap previous comment.

Less eye strain.

Can someone tell me why I no longer seem able to add emoticons from my keyboard list to private messages? Could do it before. And also, why the keyboard seems to have become backlit with a pink tinge in the private message function that it doesn't have when posting, as now? It's very strange!

To no particular poster but to GNHQ.

I previously said it is 'wishy washy' . So much so if it wasn't for the poster name the thread just reads as one long post almost. Little definition!. I appreciate we can use our 'setting' to enhance colour and brilliance but that throws the whole of what we view outside of GN into abnormality.

As for the 'size' issue I reiterate on my tablet a long post takes up the whole screen!

A genuine question , certainly not intended to upset anybody. On my tablet I can customize the font size by using 'setting ' is that not available on all forms of equipment ? If the previous format was difficult to read is that not a personal issue that could be easily remedied but now we have to keep scrolling to simply follow a thread that goes into more depth than those predominated by one liners because the print is large.

Sorry to repeat my point but I am left wondering what was wrong with the format before and why the colour change. If it was for 'modernity' I don't get it.

Obviously when typing our message to post we can see the difference in font size between that in the message box and the thread and I prefer the original font size for mostly the reason given 'you get more words per inch' , stating the b------ng obvious I know.

When I type in the message box Pogs my font is exactly the same as on the site, same font, same size

Day 2. Still do not like it.

There are a whole range of standardised tests that can be used to test websites on readability, usability and friendliness. I am sure those who redesigned the site know of them. Have they used them?

Why do I keep having this sneaking feeling that GNHQ aren't really taking our comments seriously because, "Oh well, they're all old, of course they're going to complain - old people never like change"?

But they say they're VERY EXCITED to be testing out the new design, and have been working really hard to make sure it's 'easier to use' (for us doddering old fools, presumably! )

I'm struggling to feel even a teeny bit excited about this new design, never mind very excited

To be honest, the mobile site doesn't look much different to me on my iPhone,tablet and Hudl. The desk site always looks a bit dated though.
I prefer Mnet though because it's easier to scroll down and catch up with the Ops' updates.

I have just been looking at the BBC sports pages. No interest in sport but the BBC have just had a new typeface designed to be easy to read online and it is being trialled on the Sports site.

I have had a look at it. On a 17 inch screen it looked as if it was slightly fuzzy and out of focus, but nevertheless I found it really easy to read and also to navigate from news item to news item and at a glance to absorb the essentials contained in each item. I note that the font is a non-serif font. I look forward to other BBC sites converting to this new type face (see, I am not against change when it is well done).

Look also at Bookerly the font designed by Amazon for use on the Kindle. there you can choose your own font size and line spacing.

GN may say that they are very excited about testing out the new design and that they have worked really hard, but being excited and working hard does not guarantee that the product is any good. In this case they have got excited and worked hard on a really poor redesign.

^I don't like this wishy washy grey
I prefer the typeface on Mumsnet - plain and straightforward^

Agree with Jalima, plus there's so much white that it's dazzling after a while. that could be a good thing, as it makes me take a break and get on with what I should be doing!

It's OK, and the logo is marginally better than the old one which somehow always looked a bit like a witch on a broomstick to me. (A first impression, but it stuck.) BUT, there are grandads too, so it does seem a little sexist. Can you change one of the ladies to a grandad?

The grey really shows up how few people are prepared to admit any details about themselves. Not many blue names at all. Perhaps it's time to rethink personal details and minimise them to sex (man or woman) and location (North/south/east/west England, Switzerland, south USA, etc) and ditch the rest?

M0nica your last paragraph says it all. I totally agree. I hope they're reading this. Properly.

Nfk, you can put as little or as much as you want to on your profile page - I only have number of grandchildren and my age on mine - and I've found I can be any age I want, even 250!

There's no compulsion to give any more details than you want to - I certainly wouldn't give my location.

I'm not keen on the new typeface, but am happy to stick with it if it's proven to be easier for those with impaired vision.

Today I think I've had success with bold but failure with italics. Let me demonstrate - bold, italics, underline , strikethrough .

I'd really like the option for the OP to be highlighted so that in the event of a very long thread I can at least see everything that the original poster has to say.

And (please correct me if I can already do this) is there a setting whereby I'm notified when there are new posts on threads I'm on or watching?

TIA

Just realised that my post of 18.13.24 didn't put the quote from Jalima in italics, but did manage underline and bold.

Sorry, do not like the logo either. It looks like an illustration from a 1950s women's magazine.

I feel the whole redesign is woolly and old fashioned and reinforces all the conventional beliefs about what old people, especially old women are. Old fashioned, living in the past, not comfortable with the modern world.

Why can't we have a site that reflects what we are or see ourselves as. Smart, in every sense of the word, still engaged with life and ready to come to grips with new technology.

I would like to see a redesign that has a cutting edge look with a striking modern logo. All this is entirely compatible with a site that is easy to read and navigate.

Quite so Ana and I'm guessing you're not a bloke. So why are so many people still in the black? It seems rude when you've been chatting nicely in a group to refer to someone as he/she or him/her. Makes for a stilted answer trying to work out a way of not saying it. And several contributors to Mick's good morning thread say what the weather is like but not where they are. UK or Australia? I'm not asking for your full address including postcode just an indication. I'm guessing Durhamjen may possibly live somewhere in the Durham area, but I don't think for a minute I'd be able to trace her/him.

Is there actually a box to tick to say what gender you are? I know there is when you join, but I don't think it asks for that information on your profile page.

Although both our profiles refer to us as 'she'...

I'm finding it really difficult to read two different fonts on here. Posts are in the awful new one but details such as Page 8 of 8, Next, Last etc are in the old font. I think writing my messages in the new font is even worse than reading them.

I've tried to get used to the new look but it seems to me to be change for change's sake and I don't like it. Italics is still not working I see, so I've gone back and underlined that bit. Is is because the ^ is in a different position - in the middle rather than at the top like the asterisk? Has this all been produced to look better on a phone? I use my laptop as I have 'fat finger' syndrome on a phone ...

Wow, looks like italics works for me. It never used to do, on my hudl.

Oh, spoke too soon. Now looking at "desktop site" but still on hudl, and there are no italics in my last message.

I mostly just read what others are saying but I'm really finding all this white way too much for my eyes. Even writing here on my iPad I realise I'm rushing because it's just too white especially on the right side where it's just plain and appears really bright.
The blue on some people's names is a pleasant relief.

I don't like the new font - it seems to me very old fashioned as does the colour. I don't like the logo either. It would be better to just have the wording without the strange silhouettes peeping over the top.