Rate my site header

[dpatel304]

Here is my design:


I feel like it needs something that portrays what the site is about.

My site is mainly a forum for discussing games. That is the message I want in the header.

This is what I am currently using:


Pretty much the same thing. It is being used on my phpbb boards, but I am switching to vb, and wanted to pretty much keep the header the same.

This is what came with my vb style:


to me, that orange background just seems too busy and takes away from the title. That spot on the left for the site name is also too small, which is why I pretty much just pasted my old header onto the new header.

Anyway, any suggestions from you pros? I'm not that good at this creative stuff, so I figure some helpful tips would be appreciated.

[dpatel304]

Also, I want to think of something to put in the top left corner, where that white space is. Is it fine like that? I do have a little logo, but my logo is really just that blue 'K' you see, and putting it again in the corner would be a bit redundant. Any other ideas?

Would it be good for adsense?
I was also thinking of just having some random text there, that I can chance frequently. I just had a little idea of having AFKAY: (insert definition here). Of course, there is no real definition for AFKAY, so I was just going to put random stuff there, such as AFKAY: The best tasting ice cream, AFKAY: the last digit of Pi, etc.

[dpatel304]

okay, well, ive been working on one that is more 'professional' looking and less kiddy:

[dpatel304]

this one was one someone made for me:

[paranoidandroid]

Well, my least favourite is the 'professional' version, the other versions are all fairly good, but if I had to choose one it would be the one someone made for you. It's more unusual than the other versions and I suspect it would look better than the others at full size.

[Tomassi]

I second that opinion. The afkay logo thingie in the orange version is pretty cool

[dpatel304]

thanks for the comments guys. I've actually gone with a completely different vB template, and now my header looks drastically different. I like it though. Let me know what you think:

[mastermemei]

I think its better but the 'game more, live more and afkray more" looks cluttered.

[Maxibon]

I like it very much, maybe its because i love orange . But it looks nice and clean.

[cldnails]

I liked the original the best..personally. BTW, awesome name for a gaming forum. lol

[snuzulooz]

Original in orange is the best IMHO.

[big drunk]

I like the one in the 3D speech bubble, clean and individual. Stays in the memory much more.

[Domestic Diva]

I love the new design and the colors are fantastic! A couple things: I agree with mastermemei about that diagonal text looking a bit cluttered. Have you tried stacking the text on the far right side like this?

Game More
Live More
AFKAY More

It might balance the design out a bit.

Also, the diagonal gradient stripes of the original design were so cool! I think they'd add some nice texture to the new design. If I were you, I'd add them back in.

[Karen_Harwood]

Looks great! Make sure the link text is large enough to be easily read though.

[bedby12]

Original is the best for me

Darren

[eshop600]

I like the new one, the small buttons look more better!