Colour Schemes/Themes

[Yoda]

We all know that the design and aesthetic play a huge part in a websites success/appeal.

How much importance do you place on your design/theme? I’m not talking horrendous designs that have been given no thought whatsoever but more along the lines of, how do you decide to go with a modern blue theme over a cosy red theme etc?

 

[Ravenfreak]

I usually like to pick themes that have multiple color options for members to pick. Though I also tend to go with colors that either fit my niche, or colors that I enjoy. I personally use dark themes on any forum I visit, that also includes my own forums so I always make sure there's at least one dark theme installed.

 

[Felly]

I always liked to have options for people to choose from. I personally prefer dark themes, but I know others prefer light themes and some prefer something in between, so I always liked to try and have at least one of those options available for everyone. From there, I just tried to stick with the theme of the site if I wanted to do anything different. Definitely very easy with a Pokemon site since there's a bazillion Pokemon these days, so there was always room for inspiration and theme creation.

 

[Bryn]

I usually go with light themes, because I personally find them attractive. I only ever had dark themes upon request from one of my members (and even had him to recommend some for me to stick in).

 

[Shawn Gossman]

I used to be all about the latest and greatest back in the day.

However, I notice that people (your traffic) aren't really looking for nicely designed sites anymore, unless they're webmasters like us, LOL.

Most people just want a simple to navigate structure and has a great UX.

I go for some coloration on themes but simplicity is what I am after the most in my choosing.

 

[zappaDPJ]

Most people just want a simple to navigate structure and has a great UX.

I agree. If you check out all the posts in this thread I would be surprised if anyone used any of the editor functions other than the odd smiley.

In my view noisy themes create the same issue as a bloat of function in that they don't serve the content. As a generalization a good theme should provide a laser focus on content and the generation of that content.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

I agree. If you check out all the posts in this thread I would be surprised if anyone used any of the editor functions other than the odd smiley.

In my view noisy themes create the same issue as a bloat of function in that they don't serve the content. As a generalization a good theme should provide a laser focus on content and the generation of that content.

Exactly. I'll go for certain colors but aside from that, I like it to be as simple as possible. I don't even like sidebars anymore. I remove them to make it friendlier.

 

[Page]

I always let the members have the option of what they like, keeping with a good base theme that you can be happy worth with and use that 🙂 and with options to add seasons also baby 🙂

But at the end of the day, you not always going to please people, even with a dark or light theme 🙂 and so have a theme that supports to have an option to have a dark or light sector.

Now I keep what I have, not worrying about the greatest and latest as that can be very costly, I keep things as cheap as I can afford while having a nice-looking place.

 

[Nomad]

I like to keep it simple and use soft colors and light theme

 

[Cory]

My theme was designed long ago on ZetaBoards and was meant to be exclusive to a ZetaBoards coding forum I created, but I abandoned that forum and we then proceeded to release the theme for other ZetaBoards users to use. Since the impending doom of ZetaBoards, I moved to Jcink, and since I created a new coding forum on the platform I decided to keep it exclusive to my board and it has been that way since 2018. After the move to Jcink, a dark version of the theme was created exclusively for my board.

 

[Yoda]

I think as forums have evolved the theme and design has become less and less important, I’d say this is even more so true as more and more people move to mobile browsing, it’s important to have a fluid and responsive theme that works well on desktop but also mobile.

 

[KnownSyntax]

I usually will only have two themes, a light/bright one for more daytime like viewers and than a dark mode for those who want to appreciate or use it. Now with browsers passing that information along, I automatically switch it for you (as a Guest) and you have the option to turn this off/on as a registered user.

 

[BeautifulAngel]

Design and theme play a crucial role in shaping user experience and setting the tone of a forum. While functionality and content are key, aesthetics can significantly impact engagement. Personally, I prioritize themes that align with the forum's purpose and target audience. For example, a sleek, modern blue theme might work well for a tech-focused or business-oriented community, while a warm, cozy red theme could be better suited for a lifestyle or creative space. Consistency in branding, readability, and accessibility also factor into my decision-making process.