Hi everyone!
Recently, we have had someone take an interest in our web community software after looking at this site, and they have decided to contract our company to develop a web community for them.
In order to ensure the success of our client's community, we will need to add several features to our software. These features include:
Page redesign which includes Chat system.
Profile System
The ability to split the thread list into Sections & Sticky threads
Private Messaging System
The profile system isn't difficult. It will start out generic, and users will be able to modify their profiles. Also, the private messaging system, though certainly a development challenge, isn't difficult design-wise.
For the ability to sticky threads, and create sections, this will be interesting for the forum. I've read in recent threads that the community believes we should have the ability to sticky threads. The question is, without a moderator, who chooses which threads get stickied? Also, the idea of having different sections on the forum has come up. Who chooses what sections are added? These are things that will need discussion.
The largest effect these improvements to our software will have on this community is in the design. Previously, our only objective use of page space was to display a thread list, and a list of online users. Now, we are adding into this a chat. We currently have a crude design which gets in the way of thread lists and thread posts. For this reason, we need to redesign the page to include the chat in such a way that it looks aestheticly pleasing, and idealy doesn't draw too much attention away from the forum itself.
I believe that the Chat has gained popularity recently, and it has resulted in a small drop in the creation of new threads, but we have seen a large increase in the time people spend on the site. It seems the community has split into several groups. Those who enjoy the chat, and those who enjoy the forum, and those who enjoy both. I think this is a good thing. Our community now has the potential to attract both those who enjoy live chat, and those who enjoy forums.
I'd like to introduce the idea of the community coming up with some designs for what they think might be cool. I think it's not really that common to have a community such as this, and even more so, to have a developer and design team so involved within that community, and this creates an opportunity for those who have an idea. I don't think creativity is something that one person has more than another. I think it depends entirely of the mindset of the individual, and I think we all have equal capacity to produce quality, and valuble creative content.
So there you have it! Feel free to submit designs in anyway you like. Personally, I've drawn out 2 wireframe designs of how I personally think the website should move in terms of design direction. If at the time we begin working on this project no new designs have been agreed upon, we will likely use of the two shown below.
Design 1:
Design 2
So as you can see, the first design includes the chat at the top of the page. The Chat area can be collapsed-- which will then bring the thread list to the top of the page.
The other option is to create a new link next to "new topic" called "chat", and this will link to a new page which will include a chat as well as a list of recent posts, and an easy to use tool which allows you to quickly read through posts and responses without leaving the page.
So please feel free to submit your ideas, or discuss!
Long Live Luna!!!! 