Brainstorm

Improving the Brainstorm layout

Posted on 2009-09-25 21:32 UTC by Quim Gil. Status: Implemented, milestone: Fremantle, Categories: maemo.org.

The layout of the Brainstorm is quite confusing and affects the overall usability of the site, not only for newcomers but also after regular use. There are some proposals already open - vote for them!

Add voting for the actual ideas would imply listings of proposals without listing the solutions proposed for each proposal.
Users tend to file solutions as problems into maemo.org brainstorm would help getting shorter proposals just stating problems, favouring shorter listings as well.
Watching brainstorm would direct regular users directly to proposal pages, bypassing the less efficient listings.
Brainstorm discussion split between Brainstorm and Talk would leave the proposal pages cleaner, only with problem and solutions being voted and the discussion happening elsewhere.

Here you can post solutions concentrating on the UI layout.

Solutions for this brainstorm

Selected solutions for this brainstorm

Solution #1: Put the Brainstorm navigation in the right column

Posted on 2009-09-25 21:36 UTC by Quim Gil.

The Brainstorm has a complex navigation eating plenty of space on the top of all pages. It's always in the way. In the meantime, the right column is a waste since offers the common items of the "Community" section. More noise for offering links that people probably won't even look. As a starter, let's get rid of the Community navigation in the right column and lt's put the Brainstorm specific navigation instead.

Not selected solutions for this brainstorm

Solution #2: Expand the list of categories

Posted on 2009-09-25 21:32 UTC by Quim Gil.

Many Brainstorm users will probably have more interest in certain categories. Currently they are quite hidden in a drop-down menu in the middle of all the cruft. Why not have them expanded in the nice right column, assuming that Solution #1 is considered good and that column is taken into use.

Solution #3: Follow the talk.maemo.org layout with text inside white rounded frames

Posted on 2009-09-25 21:46 UTC by Quim Gil.

talk.maemo.org makes a good use of those frames for posts. It gives the site a very conversational feeling. Brainstorm is about conversations as well and those frames would suit it better than the current text on top of plain gray, that reminds more to static texts. This idea is appropriate specially if we think that t.m.o is a good place for Brainstorm discussions.

Solution #4: hide casted votes

Posted on 2009-09-29 20:51 UTC by thomas p.

to avoid bias when voting for solutions, the already casted votes should be hidden until one has voted.

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