redesign Archive

I’m going to start the post off with a well-supported premise: the advent of intelligent search (or, if you like, Google) has fundamentally altered the way users navigate the Web.  If I want to find hardcover copies of Dashiell Hammet novels on Amazon, I just give Google my syntax-free request, and voila. I don’t even need to click on the link to see what’s on the page — Google provides a page preview to the right-hand side. I can browse results from Amazon without ever visiting the page.

It isn’t really breaking news to say that navigation has changed. The question I want to ask here is: what does this new behavior mean for page design and web-based user experience? Web design is a field where methodology and best practices are in constant flux. Not only does user behavior evolve with new trends (like search and social media), but each project has its own priorities, such as visual aesthetic, intuitive functionality, lightweight utility, and so on. Usually, one of the main considerations is how easily a user can find the information he’s looking for. Over time, common practices like breadcrumbs and the “mega nav” have become prolific because they help users navigate. So I will ask again: if search has changed navigation, what else should change?

Picture a typical website in your head. What do you see in the top right-hand corner? I see a search bar. If you’re anything like me, you never use that bar because in your experience, it’s not very well implemented, and doesn’t return what you’re looking for. My proposition is this: what if we put less time into menus, and more time into perfecting that search box? If we categorize and label everything perfectly on the back-end, we can use something like Google Site Search to help users navigate through content. Site Search is to your website what Google is to the Internet, and the best part is, you don’t have to change behavior — it has already changed. This has its own implications for SEO and PageRank, but just go with me here. Why don’t we move the search bar out of that tiny corner and put it front and center?

In terms of design, I believe this loosens some of the constraints imposed by traditional navigation and allows page architects to get a little more creative. At the end of the day, the most important part of any business strategy is differentiation, which breeds memorability and repeat visitation. An innovative interface will set you apart from the masses. All that’s left is making sure it aligns with your brand message and doesn’t come at the expense of functionality. With in-site search optimization, it won’t. My prediction is that this approach will become more common, ushering in a much broader range of functional page design. What say you?

Digg Patriots

Digg.com has always been a steadfast niche network. While it was arguably one of the pioneers of social networking, it is largely overshadowed by bigger players like Facebook and Twitter. For those unfamiliar with the site, Digg is a community-focused website where users post links to funny, interesting or socially relevant content from anywhere on the Internet. Members of the community have the ability to either “Digg” or “Bury” each piece of content; posts with more Diggs get featured more prominently on the site, whereas buried stories fall off the radar. You might call it democratic.

There is a lot of mindless entertainment to be found, but Digg users also show an interest in public affairs. Browsing through this year’s most popular stories, you will find screenshots of awkward Facebook moments nestled next to an article about Obama’s healthcare bill passing through Congress. Recently, a so-called conspiracy was uncovered in the Digg community, bringing the website into the spotlight.

Enter the “Digg Patriots,” a small, covert group of Digg members whose objective was to bury left-leaning stories posted on Digg to shield them from view. A group email containing a list of targeted posts was revealed to include a variety of perceivably liberal stories, including an article titled: “How Global Warming and Capitalism are Deeply Intertwined.”

While not widely damaging outside the website, the news has been a cause for concern among Diggers. Digg is in the midst of redesigning its interface (much to my excitement), and members of the community are now pointing to a need for more controls against gaming the system. New features might also help Digg regain some lost ground in the social media sphere.

Twitter and Torrents

Peer-to-peer (P2P) networking, a term used to describe a method of direct file sharing between individuals, often carries a negative connotation. This is because file sharing clients such as BitTorrent are often used for the illegal sharing of pirated files, such as movies and music. With the quick and simple download of a .torrent file, individuals can connect to peers across the world and be well on their way to hearing the latest Coldplay album.

The widespread adoption of Twitter may exacerbate this problem. Traditionally, if an individual wanted to download a copyrighted piece of content, he had to actively search it out. With Twitter pushing endless amount of information unto users, illegal file sharing becomes more passive.  There are plenty of handles on Twitter that regularly post links to .torrent files (both legal and illegal). Users following these handles will be exposed to files they would not have seen otherwise, and may be tempted to download them, much in the way that many users are compelled to read endless streams of Tweets.  This could potentially fuel the already growing problem of content piracy.

Caution is Key

The brief history of social media so far has shown a tendency toward altruism and collective goodwill. But when social networks become big enough, its users and moderators need to be more wary of potential threats, both internally and externally. Because social media is still a young industry, these threats are likely to be unfamiliar and unforeseeable.

Extra Bits

MTV has officially chosen its first Twitter Jockey. Follow her @MTVTJ

Social news site TBD is rethinking how to do journalism

Google adds to its acquisition spree with the purchase of social application site Slide.

RFI Studios has launched the new digital presence of the International Peace Institute, an independent global not-for-profit think tank dedicated to promoting the prevention and settlement of conflicts between and within states by strengthening international peace and security institutions.

In replacing IPI’s antiquated website with a more robust digital platform, RFI Studios took into account the Institute’s goals of increasing their profile in the foreign policy set and generating buzz among future policy leaders. RFI developed a user-centric application allowing visitors access to content that suits their needs.

To view the new site, visit www.ipinst.org.

We here at RFI Studios are very excited and proud to launch the new website for PARC (Palo Alto Research Center). PARC, which was founded in the early 70′s as part of Xerox Research, was tasked with inventing the “office of the future” and in 2002 PARC was incorporated as an independent research business. As celebrated leaders in industry breaking innovations such as laser printing, the graphical user interface (GUI), ubiquitous computing and the like, PARC required a new web strategy to display its history, expertise and capabilities in helping businesses realize the potential of technology.

It’s an amazing experience to be part of a process that starts out rooted in web development but quickly becomes something bigger.  Conducting a comprehensive discovery period (usability testing, user research, web analytics, brand assessment) RFI learned that external site users were not aware that PARC is open for business, let alone, all of the services and expertise that the institution contains.  This became a core focus of the strategy.

As a result, we developed a unique and streamlined architecture, devised to display the entire content offering at one glance, effectively displaying the PARC universe for all to see. From here, contextual cues were utilized to engage users direct questions: How do I work with PARC? What are PARC’s areas of focus? What has PARC contributed to the Industry? The overarching goal was to ensure easy access of content and promote PARCs prominence.

The visual design is intended to display a cartesian layout, mimicking the strict rules of science and at times allowing the content and visuals to break the mold – a perfect metaphor for PARC, its scientists and the result of their innovative research.

Today concludes an intense, several month technology development process. Throughout each stage, from inception to completion, the website redesign process has involved an intense QA and usability review. The visual design, taxonomy, platform, code and related assets have all been tested time and time again. The end result is what we believe to be a fantastic website which will enable future growth and flexibility for PARC.

View the new site here: www.PARC.com