# Alternative display modes for topic list

**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/alternative-display-modes-for-topic-list/86978
**Category:** UX
**Created:** [May 8, 2018, 7:40am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/alternative-display-modes-for-topic-list/86978 "2018-05-08T07:40:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![erlend\_sh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/erlend_sh/32/119475_2.png) [@erlend\_sh](https://meta.discourse.org/u/erlend_sh)
#### Post date: [May 8, 2018, 7:40am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/alternative-display-modes-for-topic-list/86978/1 "2018-05-08T07:40:54Z")

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Continuing the discussion from [Facebook Groups - Zuck is coming for us](https://meta.discourse.org/t/facebook-groups-zuck-is-coming-for-us/64437/43):

> [@Facebook Groups - Zuck is coming for us](https://meta.discourse.org/t/facebook-groups-zuck-is-coming-for-us/64437/43):
>
> I did some user testing a while ago. The first comment was “it just looks like an Excel spreadsheet.”

I’ve heard this a few times before. Now that we have #Customization > Theme component I think we should offer a few alternative display modes by default, such as [Sam's Simple Theme](https://meta.discourse.org/t/sams-personal-minimal-topic-list-design/23552).

This is becoming very common in apps with lists of content.

#### Gmail

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/3X/9/2/92a7fe9d984b43a3eb87063c696d3df98cd26df4.jpeg)

#### Inoreader

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/3X/6/7/67cd3ad04b88abce2f8de83a91472d587e1fdb05.jpeg)

#### Reddit

 ![56](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/3X/0/9/091fa29cce4d549f960e32e86b75a1be3b917d78.png)

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Related:

> [@Better theme settings on user front-end](https://meta.discourse.org/t/better-theme-settings-on-user-front-end/78477):
>
> Continuing the discussion from [We need a "large fonts" and "small fonts" theme to ship with Discourse](https://meta.discourse.org/t/we-need-a-large-fonts-and-small-fonts-theme-to-ship-with-discourse/60879/35): Our themes now support dark/light/{any-color-scheme} toggles as well as variable font sizes tada But user interface for changing these settings is currently very basic: We should have something closer to this (from GitBook): I don’t have access to my usual image editor so here’s a cruder mockup than usual:

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### Author: ![merefield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/merefield/32/176214_2.png) [@merefield](https://meta.discourse.org/u/merefield)
#### Post date: [May 8, 2018, 10:19am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/alternative-display-modes-for-topic-list/86978/2 "2018-05-08T10:19:51Z")

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Haha, funny, the same exact statement was resonating with me all morning.

Of course there is already [Angus’ Topic List Preview plug-in](https://meta.discourse.org/t/topic-list-previews/41630)? I was just about to try this out because of that thread.

But agree, this is ultimately Core stuff!

Powering this with Themes would make sense 🚀

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### Author: ![Stranik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/stranik/32/85638_2.png) [@Stranik](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Stranik)
#### Post date: [May 8, 2018, 10:43am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/alternative-display-modes-for-topic-list/86978/3 "2018-05-08T10:43:51Z")

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I think that’s a great idea! You can make the switch using the internal capabilities of Discourse without third-party plugins.

Working examples where third-party plugins were not used.

 ![d](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/meta/original/3X/6/b/6b7e8ac3ed97247f88bf67af1336ebcba2cb41d3.jpg)

Users are very fond of it. A lot of people, and we all have different tastes. Not necessarily of course to meet all, but that is not possible. But being able to choose is a good idea. And since the engine allows it, it’s great.