BBC /programmes Mock

The BBC's /programmes sites are perfect in their function - they provide show data in an easy to use and understandable way. However their design, whilst much better than what we have seen previously, is not as perfect.

For starters, the background image on each /programmes site is a measly 1136x489 in size. With today's bigger monitors, that is small. And whilst this is usally compensated for with a background colour, sometimes there is none, leading to a white background, making the site look cheap and more generic. If the image size should stay the same, with CSS we can stretch the background to fill the browser window, and keep the image static whilst scrolling (although obviously you can't see this in the images). This unfortunately means the image has to be graphical only - no presenters, but as you can see in the mock there is a picture in the middle of the page that usually has a shot of the presenters anyway.

I've also adjusted the channel logo badge to adjust the new design, and the description box to match the height of the 'Latest' box next to it, but apart from that nothing much else has changed, yet it looks much better IMO.

The mocks were designed by taking this site and modifying it in Firefox 13 using the Firebug development tool, under Windows 7.

Warning, large images

Current design:



My mock design:



Thanks and I look forward to your response

I genuinely prefer the current. The white box, far from looking generic, breaks it up and makes the BBC's site look unique. I like the consistency between BBC sites too.

Have to agree with Joe. It's an integral part of the GEL design and experience. You can recognize a BBC site from the background, font weights etc and to remove one of the main elements would be a step back.

???

Obviously I respectfully disagree, I don't see how a white 'box' as you put it makes the BBC site look unique. I see it more as background than a 'box'.

While I agree that the white box doesn't look great - I wonder if CSS background scaling is the best way? That could end up looking ugly and reduces what you can do to change it. I'm more in favour of larger images that fade/reach a solid colour after a bit might be better, so at least it's smooth/matches the page.

I like the idea - I really think it looks better without the white gap and could be a definite improvement done right, it's just how you go about it... I would have the same reservations as Jonathan about what you've proposed.

I have mixed feelings about this one... I like the fact you have a proper background as the current BBC programme pages feel like the background is incomplete. At the very least the background should continue down the length of the page even if the white/colour side bars remain...

However i do think that would be a slight problem on the pages that use images, as shown on the following variations...
Have I Got News For You
Silk
I think a keyline across the middle of the screen just above the "related links" box would be better to break it up.

A respectful mock, but I think back to the drawing board Phil, you can do better.

Incidentally, the programme title should be in Gill Sans, and the pages look a lot better if you have that font installed. For example, the top of this page: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0072ky7 looks a mess unless you have Gill Sans installed, which is required for it to display correctly.

Well if you don't mind I'd rather not buy the font just to make a few headers look nicer.

Gill Sans comes with Microsoft Office 2007 and 2010.

and is easy to find anywhere on the web for naff all, though I'm more shocked a member of this site didn't have it installed!

I've got Gill Sans MT which came with Office 07, but my headers look like Phil's.