Show Me Your News!

OK, here's the situation. I'm working on coding up a new layout for the core SMYN site. The problem is that I am an extremely talented programmer... but I struggle when it comes to design ideas. I can code any web layout under the sun, but I cannot choose a good color scheme to save my life. In other words, if I know what I want to code, I can do it no problem, but I am just NOT a designer.

So, here is my request to all of you. Anyone can do this. If you have a general idea of how the home site should look, open up Photoshop, GIMP, MS Paint, or whatever else you use and draw how you think the site should look. If your idea is amazing, I'll probably develop it exactly as is. If your idea is great, I'll combine elements with other great designs to make one masterpiece. I want as many ideas as possible.

As you come up with them, just post them here. If you're shy about it, PM it to me.

Thanx!

Hows this? (click for bigger image)

Me and negi were approached by Buzz in the AJAX chat to come up with what we could for a design. Now, im not the creative type at all but i really wanted to contribute. so here's my idea.

this was done with MS Paint (no photoshop here...>.>), which isnt perfect like photoshop but it'll do. this is just a general make-up...anything like images or colors can be changed around and i could release a 'patch' (lol)

hows it look?

It's definitely a good start (and more creative than anything I could come up with).

Just to clarify though, this is not a design for the forums. It is a design for the main SMYN site. I do not have the time/ability to skin the forums.

ah, ok. i misunderstood you and thought it was for the forums (but the design can work for the main site too)

so these forums wont be changing...or at least anytime soon? just curious.

Correct. The forums won't be changing in the foreseeable future. Custom templates are extremely time-consuming. Pay me money, anyone?

That photo is only 5.45kbthumbnail size so it cannot be opened up any larger than the thumbnail. When you click on the photo the number of times viewed does increase even thought the photo does not open larger.
The photo below is 40.51kb so it can be opened up larger than a thumbnail.
Does that help?
Thanks
Peta