Reader UI of the week: Fabian
by Krystalle Voecks 
Aug 7th 2007 at 5:30AM
WoW Insider: So tell us a bit about you and your WoW character, Fabian!
Fabian: I just finished my 3-year apprenticeship as digital media designer and my daily work consists of the design and realization of complete websites. It should be obvious that I'm very interested in the graphical part of customizing World of Warcraft [UIs.] I'm on Ysera (EU) where I transferred. My main is a level 70 Feral Night Elf Druid named Feilas.
WI: So, what inspired you to create this fantastic UI?
Fabian: After a few months [of using custom UIs,] I became sick of those same-looking interfaces that were based on Skinner. I decided it was time for a switch. I won't say it's a bad Add-On but it's not really satisfying when 8 out of 10 Interfaces look like the same. You know: 2 colored gradient, a little bit of alpha and that's it? It was not for me.
WI: And once you'd decided that it wasn't for you?
Fabian: I launched Photoshop and made these graphics. [These graphics are] based on a little website layout i created about 2 years ago. After finishing up the graphical part, I had to figure out how to display them. From there, I modified the Add-On "XArt" by "Moonsorrow" and after maybe 4 or 5 hours it was finally done.
WI: What are all the mods you use as parts of your interface?
Fabian: A full listing? Ok, here you go:
- Atlas (Dungeon Loots)
- BarTender 3 (Action Bars with Stance-Change)
- BigWigs (Boss Warnings)
- Cartographer (World Map with coordinates)
- ClassTimer (Shows HoTs, DoTs and other things)
- ClearFont2 (Changes the WoW Standard Fonts)
- ClosetGnome (Switch outfits)
- Confab (My fav. Chat-Modification. Nothing more than i need)
- cyCircled with _Vol-Texture (Button-Style)
- FaTextures (Modified XArt with my own Textures)
- FuBar (well known)
- Grid (Raid Listing)
- KTM (Threat Meter)
- oCB (Very nice CastingBar)
- OmniCC (Displays the cooldowns)
- oRA2 (CT_RaidAssist Alternative. Shows MainTank Targets and a few cool-downs)
- Pitbull (Unit Frames)
- RatingBuster (Because i need to know if i really need an Item)
- SCT (Scrolling Combat Text, should be known)
- SellValue (Displays the Vendor-Sell-Price)
- TinyTip (Custom Tooltip)
WI: And what would you say about the different screen shots you sent in? What are we looking at in each?
Fabian: #1 shows the standard interface while playing solo. There's nothing special there, just that most of the stuff is displayed on the left. #2 just shows that there are 2 hidden actionbars with stuff that i don't need too often (mount, food, pets). #3 shows me solo in combat. There you'll notice that I display some stuff on the right side, too. Here it's ClassTimer, SCT Status (Rudelführer / Leader of the Pack) and the ToolTips for Buttons/NPCs). #4 is the Party View. Nothing special here. And finally #5 shows the 10-person Raid view including our really good mate Prince Malchezaar, the MainTank-Targets and KTM.
While I have to admit, this is a really attractive UI, and I really like what Fabian did with it -- I'm going to have to wait for someone to make the Horde version of it. I'd feel kind of silly running around with the Alliance banner smack in the middle of my screen while I'm sneaking around on my Troll Rogue.
If you'd like to share your cool and unique UI designs thereby giving us a gallery of them from all over the place, then drop a line to readerui@gmail.com with all the information and some screen shots! You never know -- yours might be the next UI of the week.
Filed under: Features, Reader UI of the Week
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Beaverius Aug 7th 2007 5:50AM
That UI is cool as shit!
zarende Aug 7th 2007 6:23AM
Amazing UI. I want it =D
Mikkel Rasmussen Aug 7th 2007 6:54AM
OMG that is a really great UI, you have put alot of time in it, I love it! ^^
Rahul Aug 7th 2007 6:57AM
Sorry to be a downer, but if you're going to be a Digital Media Designer and all you can do is decrease the visibility/clarity of icons whose primary purpose is to be easily identified, then you're not getting any points from me. And what's with the Alliance banner all over the UI? What does that have to do with anything? Do I really need a giant alliance banner on my UI to remind myself that I'm not a Horde player?
This UI brings nothing new to the fold other than basic UI improvements implemented earlier by other mods (eg. different sized icons and the ability to display them in different places). Just because it's "shinier" doesn't make it better.
MartinC Aug 7th 2007 7:02AM
Yeah, not impressed. Way too cluttered and inefficient use of space, if you ask me.
Kryptonls Aug 7th 2007 7:11AM
The main difference is the skin, from most other UI's. But is that really enough to make it better than most?
Paw Aug 7th 2007 7:29AM
If you like the result of the time you spent putting it together, and it works for you, then good for you. I personally don't like it much. It's pretty but I would have a hard time getting used to the configuration.
John Aug 7th 2007 7:48AM
i love it, but the real question is, what's Netherstoffballen?
trimmer52 Aug 7th 2007 8:09AM
Fabian, Fabian, Fabian, Fabian, Fabian, Fabian....this song's for you!
nice UI!
Kaylek Aug 7th 2007 8:29AM
Sure is purdy, but I'd drop the Alliance arms and put the minimap in its place, then pick up a buff mod that'll push the buffs into the upper right corner.
daniel Aug 7th 2007 8:45AM
functionality always wins over pretty in my book, and as a holy priest there's a lot to keep my eyes on. however, it is a really pretty UI and whatever floats your boat :)
Eztonic Aug 7th 2007 9:02AM
Good to see some stuff from the EU side! More please :-), and a very nice UI indeed.
Taeo Aug 7th 2007 9:15AM
I like the background textures! They look great! You have the makings of a really sharp UI. I would just try experimenting with the placing of some elements to avoid too much clutter in the center playing area. It looks like you have some room in the bottom panel if you wanted to move some things there.
I'll echo what some others have said about the Ally logo. I'd ditch it and put the minimap in it's place. It's the perfect fit.
ropax Aug 7th 2007 9:11AM
Looks great but it takes up too much screen real estate.
vlad Aug 7th 2007 3:32PM
prolly a mac user (fashion before function) :P its pretty and all but i do agree with #4. its pointless and wastes a good 15% of his screen space for thongs that arent vital to playing.
why people have the chat window take up so much space i will never understand. and that logo!! thats just as silly as the kids that drive around in hondas with the big honda logo on the back window, "ok you drive a honda, thanks for letting me know". at least with those kids theye are advertising to other people. this guy just advertizes to himself lol.
and 4-5 hours to edit a few pre-existing bitmaps? hope you improve your workflow or your not going to be in the fast paced graphic design business very long
The Cannabis Connoisseur Aug 7th 2007 10:55AM
terrible UI. alliance banner in lower middle is Rtarded.
Freehugz Aug 7th 2007 11:26AM
as far as funcionality goes, this ui is pretty bad.
Blau Aug 7th 2007 11:32AM
The mods you use are really a fantastic collection for the unexperienced modder to start with and adding custom banners makes it that much more special to you.
You're right about skinner though; they all look the same. at least I've changed my to a flat black background instead of the default gradient everywhere.
Nice custom design.
Alkureb Aug 7th 2007 11:53AM
Nice UI, I really love it. Some people forget that efficiency and functionality aren't the most important things if you enjoy how your UI looks when you play.
Argent Aug 7th 2007 12:00PM
Netherstoffballen = bolt of netherweave in german.