Design problem...how to represent a group of members, without using profile pics?

Cianos

Hey,
I have a bit of a design problem with a project I'm working on, was wondering if anyone could throw in an idea or two.

I want to visually represent a group of members, but can't/don't want to do so using profile photos. For example, the Facebook Like box gives strong visual reference to a group of real people, by showing a grid of member profile photos.

I want the same result, but don't have the resource of using photos as the members in this project won't have pics.

So I'm wondering would anyone have any ideas on a graphical design that would strongly show a group of members visually? The design doesn't have to be based unique to a particular group, simply be a visual way to say "there are real people here, using this".

Any help would be brilliant!

smash

By a group of people are you talking about a member list in a specified group or just a group of individuals with no association to each other?

Cianos

smash wrote: »

By a group of people are you talking about a member list in a specified group or just a group of individuals with no association to each other?

The latter. Just a way to visually represent that there's a group of people already partaking, ie "35 people have already joined" kinda thing, for social verification/reinforcement.

smash

Generic user icon with a count overlay using css?


http://findicons.com/icon/419029/user_group_count?id=419029

Cianos

Thanks for that, however I'm hoping to do something a bit different that would have the same message but not be as anonymous as that. I think the main thing is I'd like something that isn't reliant on using numbers/digits.

Thanks again

smash

If members won't have pics then it will always be somehow anonymous so you don't have much choice unless you just have a line of text selecting a random member. Like "Joe Bloggs and 39 other people like this"

S.M.B.

Would your potential users have gravatars?

p

You example is probably the best idea. Why not just go with that.
User 9292920 commented on a post.
200 people are active on the site right now.
etc...

Placebo

different color range for different range/type of users
or you can use shapes
or abstract shapes

can also use numbers, styled or un styled [think american football jerseys]

smash

Placebo wrote: »

different color range for different range/type of users

This was the first thing I thought of. Some kind of multi-coloured chart based on user groups, but there are none.

One Flew Over

Maybe you could design a grid-box, each square containing a green-light icon (like the "who's online now" icon) but in your case representing how many people haved joined so far. Use some red-light icons in the gird also. It may work to reassure visitors that you already have real members.

Food for thought...

Cianos

Thanks for all the input!

A problem is that there isn't necessarily a range against which to apply a empty/full visual as there isn't a cap on number of members per grouping.

I'm thinking of going with a custom designed icon to represent members, and then repeating that in a logical way somehow.

The Facebook style profile pics can't be beaten though I think, as they instantly communicate the participation of individuals. Replicating that effect graphically will be tough.

MOH

Some kind of person icon to indicate each user, maybe a larger one for every ten users? Or stacked, slightly offset in group of 5 or 10.

Though that could get messy if you start getting into hundreds of users. Personally, I'd still like digits as well if possible.