DownSyn Forum

Tom · Posted: February 02 2006, 4:29 PM Post subject:

I made some changes to a couple of pages to get some comments.

http://www.downsyn.com/reading.html

http://www.downsyn.com/videos.html

The main changes are that I got rid of the roses along the left hand side and I changed the font used to be more of a typcial font. Getting rid of the roses makes more space available.

Also, do you think the site needs an overhaul in color scheme or name? Instead of "Down Syndrome: For New Parents" should the site simply be "DownSyn.com" with perhaps a catchy new slogan?

It has been a long time since I have made any changes to the site so should I try to make the site look more "modern" in design or does everyone like the way it is now?

Notice that I am talking about the site and not the forum, although if we do change the site's color scheme we will obviously want to keep that new theme in the forums as well.

Thanks for any comments. Cool

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Tom

Dad to Beth (15) and Mikey (10 - Ds and PDD-NOS)
My Blog - Random Thinking

What a difference a haircut makes! Wink

azvalerie · Posted: February 02 2006, 4:51 PM Post subject:

Tom,

I saw the changes to the site and they did make me stop and look around. Overall, I liked what I saw. Very clean - I'm not one for a lot of "things" on a website. If it's too busy, I hurry on by. This looked good.

On the name - I'll have to think about that one. Downsyn.com is nice and that's what I call it anyway. Can't help with a "catchy slogan" as I'm not that creative.

I like the colors. Maybe it's because I'm just used to them. If you really feel a need to change the colors, you might go with the blue and gold theme - just don't make it too bright, please! LOL!

I'll take a look at the pages and get back to you.

_________________
Valerie
Proud mommy to Jaymes Xavier 6/4/03 & Abigail Victoria 5/5/06

klem · Posted: February 03 2006, 12:42 PM Post subject:

I like the colors. If you did change, brown and beige could be nice and easy on the eyes. I like Downsyn.com and the original name. I'm niether here nor there on the roses. Looks nice to me.

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be sure to check the website www.rockincamel.com and read the news. I post some good articles there from time to time.

Stephanie · Posted: February 03 2006, 1:04 PM Post subject:

Tom, looks good. I like the new video section.

As for the colors, I would want them changed for purely selfish reasons...so it is not so obvious when I am checking the site while at work...LOL! The pink really stands out! Very Happy

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Proud Parents Stephanie and Joe
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gina · Posted: February 03 2006, 1:18 PM Post subject:

I'm with Stephanie on the color thing. It's very obvious at work that it's probably not related to what I SHOULD be doing. LOL As far as the rest, LOVE the book section. There's some titles in there that I just simply must check out.

Isn't it also true that you get somewhat of a "kickback" for ordering through this website? If so, would it be beneficial for people to recommend books so we can get them on there and make sure that the donation is made?

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Gina & Craig Parents of Tegin 9/3/99 & Koda 12/12/03

naomid · Posted: February 03 2006, 1:21 PM Post subject:

Personally I prefer no roses and the font looked good.

I think maybe the roses and colour scheme would put some people off (Dad's especially). The trend at the moment seems to be to use a white background to make things easier on the eye. I'd do a smaller font for the links and not make it bold (are you using cascading style sheets?)

BTW : On your video section - Callum recently got Elmo in Grouchland and he absolutley loves it Smile

How about adding the Signing Times & Baby Bumblebee links in there.

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Naomi
Mum to Callum (DS) 3/03 and Kieran 8/04
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Emdad · Posted: February 03 2006, 1:21 PM Post subject:

I like the focus of the "For New Parents" part - of course I'm fairly sure that you never dreamed that there'd be so many of us that would hang on like this Wink

I think that this site and forum fulfill both a needed and welcome "niche" for those looking for both info, acceptance, and comfort. I would certainly keep the "For New Parents" part on the page and in the META tags for search engine purposes.
As to "modernizing" it, IMHO that's up to your taste and energy to do so. I'd kinda like to see a few cherubs still hanging around, I've grown to like them.

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-Goethe

Tom · Posted: February 03 2006, 1:35 PM Post subject:

naomid wrote:

Personally I prefer no roses and the font looked good.

I think maybe the roses and colour scheme would put some people off (Dad's especially). The trend at the moment seems to be to use a white background to make things easier on the eye. I'd do a smaller font for the links and not make it bold (are you using cascading style sheets?)

BTW : On your video section - Callum recently got Elmo in Grouchland and he absolutley loves it Smile

How about adding the Signing Times & Baby Bumblebee links in there.

Do you mean the old font looked good or the new font?

The changed pages use CSS. The original pages are so old I don't think CSS was even around. Wink

As to Elmo in Grouchland, with Vanessa Williams in there, it even has something for Dad! Very Happy

I'll take a look at the two videos you suggested.

_________________
Tom

Dad to Beth (15) and Mikey (10 - Ds and PDD-NOS)
My Blog - Random Thinking

What a difference a haircut makes! Wink

Michele · Posted: February 03 2006, 1:36 PM Post subject:

I think it looks great! I agree with Jeff a couple of Cherubs hanging around would be cool...the new video page I think I will have to make my way back there before I leave my computer. As far as the slogan-no creativity whatsoever-but I guess there are some def. older members here who are not new parents-but still so many new parents. I am so amazed at how huge this has gotten since I joined a short 3 years ago...Bravo!

_________________
Michele
Mom to Marty (7/3/02, DS) and Marissa (10/22/04)

Tom · Posted: February 03 2006, 1:37 PM Post subject:

gina wrote:

I'm with Stephanie on the color thing. It's very obvious at work that it's probably not related to what I SHOULD be doing. LOL As far as the rest, LOVE the book section. There's some titles in there that I just simply must check out.

Isn't it also true that you get somewhat of a "kickback" for ordering through this website? If so, would it be beneficial for people to recommend books so we can get them on there and make sure that the donation is made?

Maybe I need two color schemes... work friendly and regular? Wink

I get about 5% of each amazon sale. Even if you use the link and then buy a lawn mower, I still get something. Maybe I should run a banner ad for the Book Recommendation page on the forum.

_________________
Tom

Dad to Beth (15) and Mikey (10 - Ds and PDD-NOS)
My Blog - Random Thinking

What a difference a haircut makes! Wink

southernbelle · Posted: February 03 2006, 2:07 PM Post subject:

I like it Tom. I think it's easier on the eye. Less is always more when it comes to design. I think the font is much easier to read. Good work.
AMY

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Austin's sibs...Kristin(23), Jessica(20),Rebecca(17),
Rachel(12), Hunter(7) and Sarah(11).

naomid · Posted: February 03 2006, 5:17 PM Post subject:

Tom wrote:

naomid wrote:

Personally I prefer no roses and the font looked good.

I think maybe the roses and colour scheme would put some people off (Dad's especially). The trend at the moment seems to be to use a white background to make things easier on the eye. I'd do a smaller font for the links and not make it bold (are you using cascading style sheets?)

BTW : On your video section - Callum recently got Elmo in Grouchland and he absolutley loves it Smile

How about adding the Signing Times & Baby Bumblebee links in there.

Do you mean the old font looked good or the new font?

The changed pages use CSS. The original pages are so old I don't think CSS was even around. Wink

As to Elmo in Grouchland, with Vanessa Williams in there, it even has something for Dad! Very Happy

I'll take a look at the two videos you suggested.

I meant the new font Smile

A banner ad for recommended books and videos/dvd's sounds like a great idea.

_________________
Naomi
Mum to Callum (DS) 3/03 and Kieran 8/04
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Tom · Posted: February 03 2006, 5:25 PM Post subject:

What is annoying is that the fonts look different in FireFox and Internet Explorer when you use CSS. So you have to compromise and make sure it looks good in both. What a pain!

_________________
Tom

Dad to Beth (15) and Mikey (10 - Ds and PDD-NOS)
My Blog - Random Thinking

What a difference a haircut makes! Wink

lespring · Posted: February 03 2006, 5:26 PM Post subject:

I like the no roses part because when I'm somewhere and I *must* check the forums on my cell phone they take up a lot of space and take forever to load. Yes, I wear a sign around my neck that says, "Addict".

As for color schemes, I am very resistant to change, so it doesn't matter what it would change to I'll freak out. LOL

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naomid · Posted: February 03 2006, 5:31 PM Post subject:

Tom wrote:

What is annoying is that the fonts look different in FireFox and Internet Explorer when you use CSS. So you have to compromise and make sure it looks good in both. What a pain!

FireFox is just a pain, we've given up on supporting it at work for the moment as the testing took so long because FireFox would behave strangely. You generally have to stick to a very small number of fonts in order to get them looking the same.

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Naomi
Mum to Callum (DS) 3/03 and Kieran 8/04
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