Profiles on Gaia

In late 2006, Gaia Online implemented customizeable user profiles. Profiles could be altered using custom CSS. A little while later, they implemented a new version of the user profiles, without getting rid of the old version. The older version became known as "old school", and the new version became known as "v2". The v2 concept allowed much more customization of content without having to know css, and provided a way for those of us with css skills to expand our profiles even further.

I personally always felt that a user's Gaia Profile needed to be a way for the user to tell Gaia about themselves, but look good doing so. I always aimed for a good end user experience for those viewing the user's profile, while also trying to make the page look clean and snazzy. I gave my clients a list of things I could do, but also a list of things that I would not do. My clients were perfectly fine with my list of "I won't do this".

Below is a sampling of some of the Gaia Profiles I have designed. To see what an unskinned Gaia v2 Profile looks like, click here.

**Please note** due to Gaia's security settings, some images may display initially as a "policeman" emoticon, but you can simply click on this emoticon to show the image.

My Personal Profile

Generally when I change my Gaia Profile, I change my website layout, or vice versa.

[NPC] Rufus the Cat

Rufus the Cat is an NPC on Gaia Online. A few years ago, the moderator team was given the opportunity to create profile layouts for various NPCs. I created this one for Rufus, and the admin team chose to use it.

[NPC] Moira

Moira is an NPC on Gaia Online. A few years ago, the moderator team was given the opportunity to create profile layouts for various NPCs. I created this one for Moira, and the admin team chose to use it.

Merumiharu

Meru provided me with the illustration in the center, and asked for a three-column layout. The layout was designed to be flexible so she could add or remove content from either of the latter columns, and to flex as necessary for the comments in the first.

Moonblossom

Moonblossom requested a layout that looked like a desk with things strewn about. Generally, I prefer to create layouts that use small repeating images and can flex to fit a wide variety of resolutions, but this was what she wanted. The image on the far left changes when you reload the page.