Need Opinions On CGC Site Layout

I'm considering changing the layout(just layout, not color scheme) of christiangeekcentral.com to be more like The Spirit Blade Underground to better showcase the new logo and more clearly "brand" the site.

The current layout has a small, thin header at the top, which I'm not sure would be best for our new logo. I like the clean look of the current CGC layout, though.

What do you think? Should I make the change to better showcase the new logo, or should I try to modify the logo to fit the long, thin header allowed by the current layout? Any other thoughts or ideas?

If you have a logo you like and you plan to use it other places than the site, then I wouldn't change the logo. If you do it likely won't work as well with everything else you have planned for it. I can't see how it would hurt changing the site layout. It is simple and I have no issues with it but as long as by changing it you don't make it worse I think it would be fine. Maybe you can just change one sample page to get a feel for it. Then post that as a poll or something? Good luck!

I like the clean look & feel of CGC. I find it easier to navigate than Spiritblade Underground, although that has nothing to do with the position of the logo but rather with the different overall layout (more "clutter") and the darker color scheme of SBU.
So as long as you keep it clean, I think repositioning the logo to a more center stage position is fine.

CreatorsPixels wrote:If you have a logo you like and you plan to use it other places than the site, then I wouldn't change the logo.  If you do it likely won't work as well with everything else you have planned for it.  I can't see how it would hurt changing the site layout.  It is simple and I have no issues with it but as long as by changing it you don't make it worse I think it would be fine.  Maybe you can just change one sample page to get a feel for it.  Then post that as a poll or something?  Good luck!

Making a sample page might be tricky, but the layout would look very similar to The Spirit Blade Underground but with CGC color schemes. And this at the top:

ComiKate wrote:I like the clean look & feel of CGC. I find it easier to navigate than Spiritblade Underground, although that has nothing to do with the position of the logo but rather with the different overall layout (more "clutter") and the darker color scheme of SBU.
So as long as you keep it clean, I think repositioning the logo to a more center stage position is fine.

Okay, I've "de-cluttered" the SBU blog a bit now. Can you guys take another look at it and let me know what you'd think of the CGC site having the same layout(but with CGC colors and the above CGC logo at the top-center)?

Wow, that's some de-cluttering you did there, that's a great improvement!  

As for your question, I still think your original idea is fine, as long as the nice clean look of the CGC homepage won't disappear into virtual nothingness…   

Try it. Shrinking the logo I mean. Don't shrink the words, just the image. If you can adjust the height of the header bar, you might be able to find a compromise you like.

mindspike wrote:Try it. Shrinking the logo I mean. Don't shrink the words, just the image. If you can adjust the height of the header bar, you might be able to find a compromise you like.

I can't adjust the height of the header bar. A notorious limitation of the current layout. But when I find some time I'll try shrinking the image and re-positioning the text of the new logo(the stacked text wont fit) and then I'll see what you guys think. Thanks!

I really like the current CGC layout. Like Kate said, it's clean, simple and easy to navigate. There has to be some way to modify that header to give us some better real estate for the graphic. I'm gonna look around and see if I can't offer a better suggestion.


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