Looking for examples of forums that don't look like the standard vBulletin forum

echamberlain · 02-19-2007, 11:23 PM

I'm setting up a new site and giving my graphic designer a lot of design freedom. He doesn't have any experience with vBulletin or forum design in general.

I view this as a good thing, as I am going after a non-technical audience and want a fresh look that doesn't look like a standard vBulletin layout with a new coat of paint.

Does anyone have any really impressive vBulletin forums that they can point me to? One that you can't instantly tell it's vBulletin.

I'm mainly looking for ideas to overcome my own bias of what a forum should look like.

G_Man · 02-20-2007, 11:09 AM

I'd go through the Forum Gallery here and just look at some examples. There are a few, but I can't recall the names off hand.

http://vbmodder.com/forums/f24/

Mine are pretty run of the mill, if not nice to look at, but they definitely count as 'examples' of how you can change some things.

Code Monkey · 02-20-2007, 02:04 PM

While unique is a nice concept, you need to be careful that you don't stray too far off the standard. It's real easy to design something that you yourself find wonderful, but useability is the key to any design.

People that frequent forums are accustomed to basic functionality that they worked hard to understand and master. So if you change too much they loose their knowledge base and feel lost doing simple things. Which means they will probably go back to other sites that are more familiar. Originality is cool but commonality drives useability which is what members want.

Content and useability are the driving force of any websites and especially so for those powered by complex forum software such as vBulletin.

echamberlain · 02-20-2007, 03:03 PM

Usability is definately a concern of mine. I'm going after users with not much forum experience, so simple is definatly what I am looking for.

I think vBulletin can be overwhelming to new users in its default configuration, both in terms of use and the amount of clutter on the page.

Wunderlust · 02-21-2007, 02:22 AM

My bits worth being a newbie at VBulletin. I have used phpbb many times in the past and I can easily say that vBulletin is the best forum for the ease of modifying I have come across... Support and sites like this most definitely make me choose this over any other forum software.

Loco · 02-21-2007, 07:52 PM

Just take your time and learn as you go

Make a test board that you can play with by adding hacks and tweaking the design.

echamberlain · 02-22-2007, 08:40 AM

Just to clarify, I currently manage a site with 25K+ members.

I'm just looking examples of creative style and template designs.

G_Man · 02-22-2007, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loco

Just take your time and learn as you go

Make a test board that you can play with by adding hacks and tweaking the design.

Quote:

Originally Posted by echamberlain

Just to clarify, I currently manage a site with 25K+ members.

I'm just looking examples of creative style and template designs.

Well, see... You aren't listening are you?!?! Loco said take your time and now you've got 25,000 members... sheesh!!

vgevolution · 06-18-2007, 03:31 PM

The least vBulletin-ish, yet highly functional vBulletin website I've come across is DaniWeb. Keeping those templates up to date must be a nightmare, but you must admit, they did a great job giving vBulletin a unique look and feel.

Soynot69 · 06-23-2007, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loco

Just take your time and learn as you go

Make a test board that you can play with by adding hacks and tweaking the design.

How easy is it to make a test board? Where would I keep it?
As you can tell, i'm a total noob when it comes to this stuff.

I'm fed up installing mods only to find they don't work right and that's on a live board, so you can imagine my frustration.

Thanks

m_k · 06-25-2007, 02:23 AM

Here's a really nice design I ran across yesterday ---> Astronomy and Space Travel Forum

the same designer has this forum as well ---> Eyedolize Designs Discussion Forum

DiverTree · 07-22-2007, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G_Man

Well, see... You aren't listening are you?!?! Loco said take your time and now you've got 25,000 members... sheesh!!

cool ... but how many of those users are actually active and participating in the forums?

michaeljvbull · 07-26-2007, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vgevolution

The least vBulletin-ish, yet highly functional vBulletin website I've come across is DaniWeb. Keeping those templates up to date must be a nightmare, but you must admit, they did a great job giving vBulletin a unique look and feel.

WOW! That site appears to be GROUP of full-timers doing nothing but excellent work!

skippybosco · 10-29-2007, 07:09 PM

a good example of a forum that does not look like the standard vbulletin forum is:

Stirrdup - Uncensored Social News / All

One of the better digg style sites.. a complete rework of most of the core sections of vBulletin, but somehow managed to keep the usability and experience the same.

Quality work!

Code Monkey · 10-30-2007, 07:42 AM

That's actually pretty darn good. Is that a mod?

skippybosco · 10-30-2007, 08:13 AM

Not my site, a guy off of VBulletin.org put it together (Vertigo Jones)..

From conversations with him, the site is built from stock vBulletin with only a heavily stripped out template and several customized add ons..

The more I play around with his site, the more there is to like..

He is up for board of the month over there if anyone wants to show support and throw a vote his way:

[BOTM November 2007] Nomination Thread - vBulletin.org Forum

Code Monkey · 10-30-2007, 08:52 AM

So it's not a mod that's available to purchase then?

skippybosco · 10-31-2007, 10:40 PM

No. He is working to package some of the mods up to be released though, so depending on what you are looking for that may be an option.

I am helping to package the category mod (based on post icons) right now.

DJ RRebel · 01-01-2008, 11:17 PM

I've always liked the look of mine .. nothing to do with graphics or "prettiness" .. lol .. but more because I much prefer single line tables (particularly in my forumdisplay page listings).

Homeofmusic Forums - Powered by vBulletin

I personally am not a big fan of big flashy graphics as I've always thought content was by far the most important thing (although you shouldn't have an "ugly" site .. lol).

But there are different types of sites out there, and sometimes image is more important than content for some .. just not for me .. I'd take functionality, usability and clarity before looks and image any day!

michaeljvbull · 01-29-2008, 05:46 AM

It seems that most vBulletin forums do not have a traditional web site home page. I'm wondering if you can have a PHPNuke home page that will of course have a link to the vBulletin forum. I was looking at PHP-Nuke themes by SiteGround.com and wondering if this would work. The most attractive feature I find on most of these is the "Recommend Us" link on the left hand side.

PROS ? CONS? or other suggestions?