Our current design:
Potential redesign idea #1:
We go from two columns to three columns.
Category navigation is added.
The "Connect with TGN" moves to the bottom of the page from the right column.
Potential redesign idea #2:
Similar to the current design only it goes to a two column layout for the main news.
*I would adjust it from 11 items to 10 so that there wouldn't be an extra article hanging off on one side.
Potential redesign idea #3:
Another three column design.
Category navigation is added to the left.
*Quickhits will NOT be at the top. Instead, I would make a new section that would display two of the latest "important" topics at the top, such as reviews, exclusive content, or hot news (like today's Microsoft announcement).
*Quickhits on the right column in this picture would actually be Quickhits and it would be as it currently is (last 8 items posted, not the 2 shown).
Potential redesign idea #4:
Two column variation of the above three column design.
*Quickhits will NOT be at the top. Instead, I would make a new section that would display two of the latest "important" topics at the top, such as reviews, exclusive content, or hot news (like today's Microsoft announcement).
*Quickhits would actually appear on the right side under the "Sections" area and it would be as it currently is (last 8 items posted, not the 2 shown).
Now, I'm open to suggestions. I'm open to ideas. I'm open to you telling me they all suck and our current design is fine. Do you just want something like the Category Navigation section added to the current design? Let me know.
Think the layout in a particular column needs adjusted? Let me know.
Like one of the redesigns but think something small needs tweaked like two hot topics at the top down to just one? Let me know.
Think I should have fewer total news posts per page? It's currently at 11. Too many?
Think I should reduce the preview size for each news piece but keep it at 11 articles per page?
Think I should increase the preview size for each news piece yet decrease the total number of posts on the main page?
Let me know!
Ideal - Fluid
I agree that the wider design should be the default as nothing is actually wrong with it. But having the fluid option available to switch to would really be convenient for me, despite being the only reader who doesn't have widescreen and therefore not many people will use this. Thanks for going through the trouble to accommodate my obsolete screen resolution. Much appreciated!
(I still think you can get away with two Google text ads with one on the bottom of each sidebar.)