The Nu Nu Plaza: Redesign Megathread

[Narv]

Hi everyone, glad you made it! As you can see, things look a little different around here :)

It's been such a fun couple of years playing on this Old-Plaza-simulacrum with you all, but as time has gone on I've become increasing frustrated with the outdated, 2003-era browns and beiges and the deeply uninnovative formatting of the Plaza overall. Don't get me wrong - in its time, the "classic" Plaza made sense, and it's been kind of a fun bit of nostalgia to keep that same look here on Plaza 2.0. But 2 years in, it's clearly time to bring the site into the 2020's, and I'm proud to say that after much effort, we've finally done it. Welcome to The Plaza 3.0 - redesigned, reimagined, and ready to take on the 21st century - finally!

I've been working closely with some UX consultants on updating the site colours and styling to achieve maximum beauty, engagement, and ease of use. This process has been neither easy nor cheap, but as you can tell, it's been completely worth it. In one of our brainstorming meetings last year, one of them asked me to describe my Vision for the site. What did the Plaza mean to me, personally? What did it mean to the people here? What stories could I share about how it's impacted us, how it's shaped us, helped us, been a light in dark places for all of us for so many years? What was the Plaza really all *about*? And I thought about it for a long time, and I replied, "I want you to make the whole website blue." And that's really been our vision the whole way through, the North Star that's guided us through all the struggles of implementation and I'm SO happy we can finally share it all with you.

Thanks so much to each and every one of you all -- and you're Welcome!

[Chrysophylax Dives]

[Eldy Dunami]

Woah, it's like we're all in Vali now!

[Romeran]

[Adulas]

Narv you're amazing! Who knew blue was the right color!

*I would've picked green which is so totally wrong!*

[The Good Hunter]

Has the Plaza not always looked like this? I'm confused

[Pele Alarion]

*brings out the map and compass to find the way*

[Rior Laegiel]

[Aikári Salmarinian]

Just the original skin as a Fool's joke on 1 April.

[Chrysophylax Dives]

feeling bad that i gave the April Fool's away with my rofl. the irony is that i had forgotten the day and thought that the inner troll of nuplaza had awoken.

[Moriel]

[Winddancer]

Of course my vote for all black was denied.

[Fuin Elda]

My first thought was Ohhh did John Howe tell us to piss off with his art? And then I realized what day it was

Good stuff.

[Aikári Salmarinian]

Chrys: You gave nothing away. I have since a few years a son in law, who was born today 44 years ago. So Fool's day can't be forgotten. That is how I know.

[Lail]

so gullible I legitimately thought this was a real thing til I scrolled down.

[Silky Gooseness]

Given that I use Plaza solely on mobile, this is, of course, a great improvement to me. Apparently on the old version there were all sorts of sidebars and shenanigans I had no idea about. Apparently we have a points system?? Amazing.

[Aikári Salmarinian]

This blue is far more quiet to the eyes than all the brown of Mandos. Let's keep it. A memory of old. There were off course a lot of special colours:
{The normal colours speak to themselves)

1. Morgoth Black
2. Eru White
3. Yavanna Peach
4. Ulmo Blue
5. Vana Red
6. Oromë Green
7. Vairë Orange
8. Tulkas Silver
9. Mandos Brown
10. Nessa Green
11. Varda Blue
12. Manwë Gold
13. Estë Purple
14. Lorien Red

[Narv]

Important update

Thanks everyone for all the kind words and positive vibes about the update, I'm very glad it sparked so much delight. Unfortunately, I have some (temporarily!) bad news to share.

Due to some financial miscommunications with the UX consultants, we are in a position where we need to take a step back in the redesign process. This being a Lord of the Rings Fanatics Plaza, it was always very clear to me that all invoices and quoted fees were in the currency of Fanatic Points -- apparently the other party was under some apprehension that the currency involved would be dollars. No amount of patient explanation on my part seems to be getting through to them, and so unfortunately I have received legal advice not to continue using any of the code or designs produced by the consultants until this misunderstanding can be fully resolved.

So, it's a step back for sure and I sincerely apologize on the consultants' behalf for not understanding how remuneration works on the Plaza. But I promise you, we will not be stuck with all these browns and beiges and sidebars and mobile accessibility for long. We WILL find a way to proceed, and the redesign WILL be back, bigger and better and bluer than ever before. Stay strong everyone.

[Fuin Elda]

1. Morgoth Black
2. Eru White
3. Yavanna Peach
4. Ulmo Blue
5. Vana Red
6. Oromë Green
7. Vairë Orange
8. Tulkas Silver
9. Mandos Brown
10. Nessa Green
11. Varda Blue
12. Manwë Gold
13. Estë Purple
14. Lorien Red

Ohhh man I remember when those colors came out it was massive and awesome lol

[Drífa]

Haha, thanks, Narv! Will try to stay strong!