What is Digg?340 Comments
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+11Login / Sign in buttons on the upper right is somewhat of a web standard as far as usability goes.
- GreenStop, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8The google Homepage is now iconic, redesigning would be a mistake
- bloodhound01, on 10/12/2007, -11/+17Thats a terrible redesign imo, simple is 100 times better. The explanation he has for the things he mentioned are really terrible. Everything is straight forward, so searching, no waiting for crap to load on slow connections, very little reading. Simple is better.
- n00854180t, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I think he made good points about the various links being tacked on. After all, they *were* tacked on.
- mightymouse, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5My version:
http://www.billcoindustries.com/googleredesign.jpg - sunimit, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I like his Ebay redesign though.
http://www.andyrutledge.com/ebay_redux.php - redrighthand, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4MSN search looks better, google works, but what the hell do they know about layout..... Google Video anybody
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3It could do without that blue *****, but as far as the positioning, I like this better than the present Google.
- GreenAlien, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Firstly, why must people jump on here and splurt out "terrible", "idiot", "retarded" etc. This guy obviously knows what he's on about - check out his eBay mock up which is infinitely better than the current eBay homepage, and the way he has reshuffled it around DOES make sense.
I agree with him. I have also noticed how messy the extra links look on Google's homepage. This mock up looks much better laid out IMHO. The dark blue makes the page look a bit heavy though; maybe a lighter pastel colour would be better. There would be nothing wrong with Google resigning along these lines - it's barely going to increase the size of the webpage, if at all. - redrighthand, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4This is all I normally see if google anyway,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dklimke/94265657/
so who cares what the homepage looks like anyway - jamelt, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2google NEEDS a link to GMAIL on its front site SERIOUSLY, drives me nuts.
- jknight, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2is it just me or does his redesign look like MSN's? At least that was my first impression.
- crazzy8, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I disagree that Google's links are poorly placed. The links surrounding the search box have to do with the search feature (advanced, preferences, etc). The Personalize and Sign In links are where most people would look for those links, and the other ones are separated to show they are different.
There's no question, your redeisn looks nice. However, the location of the links don't make sense. Why have the advanced search/preferences/etc so far below the search box? To me, that implies they are links that are not frequently used and are disassociated from the search box.
Why smush all the other links together? To me, this implies they are, in some way, related. But they're not.
Good analysis, but like somebody already said ... sometimes simple is better, and once they start changing things around, they'll keep doing it. - p5ych0, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I would like Google to have the option to change the background color to something darker to take some strain off of my eyes.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I coded my own GM script. That's the one I like. Everyone is well aware that Google's page is the most bland but yet one of the most visited sites ever. Even my grandmother asked "wheres the beef?". No news there.
Why is (almost) everyone seem to be on the pulse of tech, but yet act like children?
Your constant bickering "that's looks nice" or "that's not intuitive" or just grading and criticizing or attempting to score someones hard work does nothing to help anyone. If you don't like it, simply don't use it. Contact the authors and let them know
Developers and artists don't give a ***** what you think. And don't kid yourself into believing your opinion even matters to them.
There are *some* very intelligent users here on digg( and you know who you are), and this rant is not aimed at them. - inerte, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I think it's prettier. But that's it :)
Read a recent post by Joel Spolsky named "What is Design?"
http://www.joelonsoftware.com/design/1stDraft/01.html
Here's the relevant part:
"""
You know those gorgeous old brownstones in New York City? With the elaborate carvings, gargoyles, and beautiful iron fences? Well, if you dig up the old architectural plans, the architect would often just write something like "beautiful fretwork" on the drawing, and leave it up to the artisan, the old craftsman from Italy to come up with something, fully expecting that it will be beautiful.
That's not design. That's decoration.
""" - celtboy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2"Also, this doesn't take into consideration the most people don't even go to that page because we use built in toolbars or use Firefox."
Unfortunately, I don't think that is a quite true statement. Most people probably still use the reg home page. Firefox, Google Toolbar / Deskbar, et al are catching on, but they have a slower adoption rate than many. Heck, when I had the toolbar back in the day, I still used the main google page...just "felt right". Now I'm a firefox control+k freak.. ;)
What disturbs me most about the comments for this digg is the sheer amount of criticisim that has been flagrantly thrown around, without regards to the big picture.
Designer's Goal: Reorganize the main Google page into an aesthetically pleasing page, with logically grouped link sections.
Designer's Challenge(s):
-Use a color scheme that doesn't detract from the Google logo, yet keeps things appealing.
-Group links in places where they make sense, and still require little thought.
-Maintain the integrity & simplicity of an existing home page without alienating users.
Results:
-I feel the color scheme is close, though as pointed out a bit over-whelming. I like it, but then I'm colorblind and enjoy the high-contrast. I do feel that the Google logo doesn't stand out enough.
-Page load time? Who knows without seeing it.
-Alienating users? This one is hard to judge. Obviously by the comments many people feel the simplicity of the Google page was lost. As was pointed out, however, a page that's basically been the same for 6+ years has a habit of growing on people in a certain fashion, and change will not always be welcome (example: the Yahoo.com redesign). I will say that I believe this redesign was a bit drastic. It certainly contains quite a few break-outs from the standard page. Perhaps if the gradients were lost, and just the rearranging of the links...
- Link layout regrouping. I think he was mostly successful on this one. The sign in and personalize section would be better placed on the left than the right, but I'm not sure how that would be visually. The key to any good design is "Don't Make Me Think!" (a great book, btw). This new layout is well-thought out, and I think the volume of information (or lack thereof) lends any design with logical groupings to a good design.
My point? If you don't like it, that's fine! Just try and consider the points that Andy was attempting to make, and take it for what it is -- his concept of how google could be redesigned to improve your visit (however short) to the main Google.com page. - LooterMcBeer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I wish they would put a damn link to gmail on the frontpage so when i start my browser i could just click the link
- mutantmagnet, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I do love Google for its simplicty and fast loading but the layout is terrible. I've stared at the google front page for years and the personalized settings never registered to me because they are too far in the upper corner. Might as well make the links invisible requiring you to highlight the entire page to find them if you are going to draw so much attention away from them.
One thing that I seriously want to be changed about Google's interface is a method to personalize the four main links we can see. Sometimes I need to use Scholarly Google as opposed to Froogle.
FYI everyone harping on his usage of the blue at the bottom missed this point.
"The subtle use of color allows for relevant structure and interactive feedback when hovering on links. I chose blue for the primary color, but others might be as or more effective."
The point is that the redesign (including the usage of colors) is still a suggestion to Google, nothing more. - blong, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1
This might have been covered already so please forgive, but the question of 'why there' still exists with the redesign. More so really.
For instance, changing the background color of the "search type" is enough. Why also bold the text, and add a red arrow? Why the buttons on the left instead of the right? Why put personalized home on the bottom? Will it be at the bottom for gmail, and history, and maps, and froogle? The links on the bottom left (advertising, etc) take you to a new application, while the links on the bottom right (personalized, sign in) leave you in the same application?
I think Josh Davis's redesign was cooler (although equally subjective)! joshuadavis.com
Cheers! - theone3, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"a gradient to load every time.."
What? can't handle 300 bytes? - bobb243, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"(Sorry, Had to remove the full-size version due to bandwidth issues)."
digg-effect :) - Terrin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I like it. It's retained most of googles main design aspects but has added a touch that makes it look a bit different.
My favorite version of google still is http://www.google.com/firefox - wulanshout, on 11/14/2008, -0/+1http://www.wulanshout.com/seo/busby-seo-test-seo-c ...
Busby SEO Test has been released! The next Busby Web Solutions Search Engine Optimisation Challenge, start on October 1st, and Finish on January 31st,2009. Get join and wind $ 5000 grand prize - MartyMcFly, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Very good use of design concepts. Please, look at his site younger designers can learn alot from core concepts. Instead of, the "this is good this is bad" concepts that are so pervasive among individuals that consider themselves designers. Layout is an after thought (if it's a thought at all) to a kid and his photoshop pack. It is important for people to understand, that your not special or a good "graphic designer" just becouse you own the latest Adobe product, it takes education.
- andreux, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"If it ain't broke dont ***** with it"
The problem is that Google already has by haphazardly tacking extra stuff to it. - jasutton, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1If anyone wants to actually use a google search that looks like that, I recreated it in HTML/CSS so that it's usable. It's not exactly the way he has it looking, but as close as I can make it in a reasonable amount of time :)
- eatasandwich, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I think that the redesign is totally crap! I'm amazed that it even made it into the pages of digg.
I am certainly no web/graphic designer but even I could have thrown together the completely uninspired look of the suggested redesign. Google's search engine may be looking a little dated now, but it did when it first appeared too. I believe it was something that actually drew me to google in the first place - it was SUPPOSED to load quickly and display results quickly and was therefore about as simple and uncluttered as it could be. I think that while the design of the page has maybe shifted in the wrong direction, the suggested design is worse, and that a return to form would be much better than an image overhaul that is drenched in unoriginality. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I'd like to see it coded though, anyone can photoshop an image together.
- camtheloser, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I really like this design. Being a Graphic/Web Designer myself I think it is a step up from what google is now. They are getting so big they need a redesign.
- GeorgeZimmer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1From a graphic design stand point the redesign is much better than the current google design. You whiny bitches complain about wanting "old school" google design, unfortunately with the features google keeps adding the main page ends up with a bunch of hyper links tacked on and that looks like *****. Maybe if the so called "web developers" who think they are better than us designers took a course of two in design then their web pages wouldn't look like *****.
- sixside, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"Color is used to provide context in this design."
He fails to address how it looks/feels/works for color blind users. - jasutton, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Oh, and the link to my version is http://jaredsutton.com/google
- shadytrees, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"He fails to address how it looks/feels/works for color blind users."
Blue and white are heavy contrasts. Even if the entire website was in grayscale (or redscale or unicornscale), you'd still be able to distinguish out colors. - ronaldpoi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Google frontpage is horrible... i like this new interface...
- a1programmer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Too bad google will never look like that.
- caseb, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1lame. hundreds of students have used google as a redesign study. not news. not interesting. headline misleading. etc.
- blakholephysics, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1umm... ok. so we redesign google. i think google research marketers > this guy.
- mightymouse, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1the gradient is too darn distracting. I'm a graphic designer, and i don't like his design at all:
-The white contrast with blue is not pleasant to the eye, a grayscale aproach with red or blue highlights would be much more pleasant.
- There is too much emphasis on the advertising solutions etc. links. The reason why google put them on the top right corner is to take emphasis away from it and allowing it to be in a constant position throughout searching (so the user can refer to them any time he/she wants)
-Moving everything to the center for the first page and then having the buttons dispersed around while searching will confuse the viewer
- buttons should remain in center- the page is centered, so the buttons should be too
- gradient is graphic, and we want simple old school google
-his design only looks nice because of the anti-aliased text, (accomplished through photoshop), but it will not look like that in reality on the web unless it is made with flash
- he is a GRAPHIC DESIGNER, not a developer. Thus, he does not know how to make designs that will be best optimized for browsers and speed - snownskate, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1i dig it for the fact that everything is better placed than before, while i'll admit the color scheme sucks the language tools, advanced search, etc. links probably don't get clicked by half of the users just because of lack of design.
- LouisC, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1i don't like it. at all.
I - gol706, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I kinda like it, but I don't think google should do anything that drastic (by google standards). Mostly I just want the login links at the top right moved somewhere less distracting, I don't care if that's where they often go, it just plain looks out of place on the google webpage. I thought it was ugly and out of place from the moment they added it, and it still bugs me to this day.
- SirNuke, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Interesting, but not googlish. One of the things I have always like about google is that the front page has so little horizontal height (and will pretty much show up exactly the same regardless of screen resolution). His redesign takes up too much space.
- GreenPuyo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Looks like a modest improvement. All I'd change are the dark blue fields at the top and bottom of the page; a lighter shade of blue would look far more pleasant.
- masterdebater, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1riancurtis (0) said "it is google. you are not. their shares are about $500."
Laff. Forgot to check your stocks this morning? Last I checked I think were hovering at a nice $380 a share after dropping over $70 bucks a share today. The nearest window is exist stage left. - ecchichuu, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"This "new design" is nice, but it looks too "corporative".
When I look at Google It still looks like a college dorm company design... maybe they wannat keep it like that to separate from Microsoft and Yahoo!."
I agree. The designer completely missed the point. - ubiquityxx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1A bit anemic in his analysis and solution - but an interesting idea to say the least.
I would have liked to seen some exploration beyond the homepage. For example, results pages and addressing the influx of new tools and applications Google constantly releases and bubbling them up and out of the 2nd or 3rd level where they live in now.
Dug. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1BTW, the way he "redesigns" the page makes it look like a microsoft product. Don't believe me, check this link:
http://search.msn.com/
Every goddamn corporate website has to have a blue motif. A large percentage of logos and campaigns are blue in this country. Hollywood directors have overused the blue filter in the last 6 years (look at underworld or any other vampire movie); it's become so cliche and gratuitous to the point where it's masturbatory. Google has kept its distance from that and created its own unique look and feel. If it were to become more microsoft-like, people would see it as a sign of weakness.
the fact that this "graphic designer" succumbs to this fetid cliche makes me wonder just how creative he really is. or maybe his intention is more subtle; maybe he is trying to send Google a message by saying that they have ALREADY become Microsoft-like by agreeing to censor Chinese websites in order to turn a profit over there. if that's the case Mr. cliche graphic designer, then my hat's off to you. - DudeGuy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Interesting, but terrible, redesign.
- kiheimac, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I like the placement of things, but drop all the color back to white and it would feel more "googleish".
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