Total redesign using Vortex (Slideshow and Tabs, too)
-
-
- Cubfan
- Sr. Rocketeer
- Posts: 192
- Thanks: 0
-
The verdict is in and the church loves the new design. Best features...
- Before, people couldn't find the login, and now it's right at the top. Was able to modify Community Builder's cblogin module to fit nicely, and I even get PM notifications in there.
- Search used to be buried in a column, and now it's right at the top
- The banner without buttons not only looks clean, but I can use "inset" to put in an urgent message or use it for banners in the future.
- Slideshow and Tabs makes it possible to pack in a lot of changing information without using much room. And it's easy to customize each in the backend.
- The bottom module locations are great for some additional features pointing to inside content
The site is here: www.wesley-umc.com . I would welcome any comments or suggestions.
-
-
-
- Andy Miller
- Preeminent Rocketeer
- Posts: 9919
- Thanks: 96
- Web Kahuna
- nice solid implementation!
-
-
-
- noblecode
- Sr. Rocketeer
- Posts: 141
- Thanks: 0
-
I agree..well done...
Did folks have an issue following the split menu? Or did you put the added instructions to see the left menu in for added help?
Just curious....
All in all nice site!
-
-
-
- Cubfan
- Sr. Rocketeer
- Posts: 192
- Thanks: 0
-
noblecode wrote:
Did folks have an issue following the split menu? Or did you put the added instructions to see the left menu in for added help?
Churches tend to have some of the most technically challenged people ever. Every bit of instruction helps them. In fact, after login, there's a "member menu" that appears along with a page explaining all the stuff they can do as a logged in user.
Admins get a menu with screenshot documentation and a style guide online... so they don't mess stuff up with tons of bold type, centered text, and multiple exclamation points and question marks. I've got a Wysiwyg editor that limits their options, too... such as no smileys!
Initially, I tried the big buttons, but people couldn't see the second level under the buttons. And that nice "inset" area is great for critical announcements using the "notice" style. So the buttons were out. Still doing a reorg of the menus so I can eliminate the final level and have articles in category tables instead (like the Wedding Info is). That will take some time.
Now the rest is adding content. All the features are there, and I've added a few styles for typography... a light-bulb, a target, a pencil and other bullets to go along with the question, info, mail, download, etc. Modified "notice" to take out the (!) icon, that I wasn't fond of. Other css tweaks will come over time as they're needed.
This is the best template yet, and the staff and members are amazed at the new look of the site. I know what's going to happen, though... Andy will come up with a better template next month and I'll want to do it all over again!
-
-
-
- John Sanchez
- Hero Rocketeer
- Posts: 327
- Thanks: 0
- Thanks for a great idea! I am going to have put up a section just for "what can I do as a member?" content. That will probably help a lot with getting people comfortable with the new site. Looks like I have my project for the day!
-
-
-
- Dave Goodwin
- Elite Rocketeer
- Posts: 1472
- Thanks: 4
- Howdy!!
-
I'm glad to see that Joomla and RocketTheme has offered the church community a more powerful alternative. Good work in putting the site together!
dave - "I'm an individual, just like everyone else."
-
-
-
- Cubfan
- Sr. Rocketeer
- Posts: 192
- Thanks: 0
-
John Sanchez wrote:
Thanks for a great idea! I am going to have put up a section just for "what can I do as a member?" content. That will probably help a lot with getting people comfortable with the new site. Looks like I have my project for the day!
It works great with Community Builder, as there's a setting for a page to show after login. I redirect to the "Member Content" page following a successful login, and have created a top menu item called [MemberContent] (brackets around to make it stand out).
Admins get extra items on the menu and a module on the bottom tells them the extra stuff they can do, too. In that module are links to the style guide and other documentation... or will be when I'm all finished.
A church member works in the "Usability Lab" where I work (one of the top US insurance companies), and his feedback helps with such things.
-
-
- What event calendar are you using?
-
Time to create page: 0.059 seconds