Fast Talk

Facebook is set for a facelift, aimed at making the site "simpler, cleaner and more relevant". The BBC reports: "Critics say a big increase in the number of free gifts, games and quizzes has left the site looking cluttered and confusing… Facebook's answer is to split the main profile into five separate pages, all accessed by clicking on tabs at the top of the screen. It is likely that the 'wall' function, which lets users post comments and messages about their friends, will be moved off the main page and onto a separate tab. A single 'publisher' function will let users add video, photos and links to the wall. Applications like games and quizzes will also be moved on to their own dedicated page." The reviews have so far been mixed, with some users supporting the redesign, and others being completely against it. Facebook is consulting its users before the gradual roll out of the new design, which is set to begin next month.

I've worked on several major website redesigns (like The New York Times and Fast Company) and have come to accept that there will always be some vocal dissenters. When people use a product frequently and grow accustomed to a particular layout, any change can be hard to get used to. But that's not a reason to just let designs stagnate. Another common response: "I hated it at first, but once I got used to it, I realized I really liked the new design!"

Facebook often alienates and upsets users upon first look. People were furious by the onset of the news feed, saying it was an invasion of privacy. However, most users cannot live without it now.

I think Facebook's profile redesign will rejuvenate current users and attract new users. A simpler profile design will help separate Facebook from MySpace. I hardly ever visit Facebook on my actual computer - I much prefer the extremely simple iPhone version.

I meant this to be a response to the Wii question on the homepage. Sorry!

honestly. how does this question make any sense. decluttering is put in "scare quotes." why? what is the writer trying to communicate? Is it the concept of decluttering a word that is questionable or atypical? is decluttering some sort of specialized terminology borrowed by the questioner from someone else? does the questioner actually trying to distance himself from the concept of decluttering while leaving blank his view of the meaning of this concept? until these questions are answered i just don't know what this questioner's question is. this leaves aside the problem of answering the following questions ... like "what facebook redesign?" add a link to some sort of information about this redesign. but despite these problems i will answer the question ... yes it will.

I would like to see an "Facebook" (and others) add button so I could automatically add my article to my facebook profile.

alienate since the familiarity and ease of navigation will be missed there is order in clutter too

Yeah I agree with Karen that there will always be vocal dissenters. I'm a self-confessed Facebook addict and I myself really don't like the clutter especially when several of my friend have unwittingly dumped huge masses of weird applications (which I term rubbish) on their pages. However, we've come to accept these and work around them. Quickly minimise all the useless applications on their profile pages or if they're really so many that crash my really slow computer I just don't visit their pages anymore and give them a talking to in real life. The thing is that, even with vocal dissenters like myself, we can live with it and may even come to like some stuff like the news feeds.

Premature question, it depends on how useful the changes perform and the only way to answer that is to experience them.

The novelty is wearing off Facebook. Facebook's best days are behind them, and their job is to lose users as slowly as possible. Personally, I think this move will help. Less clutter the better.

What redesign? There's no significant leap in their approach. It's just a cosmetic change. The needs of people are changing when it comes to SNS - they are clamoring for that careful balance between being able to connect with others freely and easily - and at the same time, maintain their privacy. That's the core of the issue - not a cosmetic change. Sure, de-cluttering is good. But it's too cosmetic... A bigger, more significant change is necessary.

I don't see much of a difference in terms of design, but I'm finding that there is so much spam (I don't want to be a part of a home based business, PLEEZE don't ask) that I'm rethinking my view of the medium. Seems like FB is getting the same disease that hit and killed in my opinion MySpace...

Saabira wrote: > ... Facebook's answer is to split the main profile > into five separate pages, all accessed by clicking > on tabs at the top of the screen... I was not aware, and have not seen the redesign, so I cannot answer. It seems a bit premature to ask, as the redesign has not even been implemented yet. By that description, I don't think I will like it, but perhaps I will. I'll have to see it and use it first. On a similar note, I think Linked[in]'s somewhat recent redesign was done very well.

Who cares! Why is what facebook does or does not do so important right now? For all we know they might not be around in five years. We should be looking at startup companies and innovations not existing businesses and services. The internet moves to fast for that to matter.

Rejuvenate it. Only the die-hards use more than a couple applications. To serve the mainstream, Facebook has to return to its clean roots.

I think it's a "wait and see" situation. It's hard to predict without first seeing the redesign.

I think it will be a good move. It keeps all the stupid application stuff out of the way upon initially viewing someones profile.

Difficult to say at this point. Product Life Cycles in cyberspace out pace those of the more traditional scope. I nip and tuck here, a tweeking there, can be and probably are cosmetic, at best. Yet there is the sense that Facebook's primary mission may be evolving to meet the needs and expectations of its stakeholders. It's that One-Size-Fits-All-mentality that often shapes the needs of the majority of its End Users. Comparatively, The Ladders.com, the $100K job board for paid members, changed just this week in response to feedback from its users and they have already chosen to shape their function to the specific fields of inquiry (HR, Sales, Marketing, Legal, etc) rather than focus on all catagories at the same time. Facebook is just keeping face with the needs of its users (I remember being part of the Beta Group at Fast Company doing the same earlier this year), so I guess "yes" is the answer to the question. Yes, it may be rejuvenated and, yes, it may alienate some of its users (collateral damage and acceptable risks?).

A bad redesign is a bad redesign, a good redesign is a good one. Facebook seriously needs decluttering and has to solve its usability issues.

I think the general population on Facebook will welcome the changes but some hardcore users might feel alienated by the new design because the things they are used to are changing.... again

rejuvenate - can't stand the clutter, overwhelming, the interesting stuff gets lost in the garbage. kind of like a video store with mostly trash, but some gems; you don't want to sort through all the crap, so you just don't go to that store. i haven't hit my facebook half as often since all the useless apps started crowding out the interesting stuff. yay for minimalism.

How is a slight alternation to facebook's design making headlines around the world? Apart from that, yes I think the design change is definitely a good idea.

Hopefully, a 960px grid! Their current 800px wide layout is a bit outdated. Can't wait to see what they do with their redesign. Also, does anyone know who's heading up the design team at facebook?

They removed the network portal pages also which i think is a bad move on their part.

Of course some users will be alienated -- they always are -- but I think this redesign will be a good thing. As a habitual Facebook user myself, I already know how to streamline my profile page and get rid of the clutter... but when old friends become newbies on Facebook, they often find the whole thing confusing, and can't figure out where to post a message. I think the changes, particularly if the tab option is implemented, will smooth out the learning curve for new users.

The popularity and pervasive commenting the proposed re-design is probably one of the biggest beta feedback sessions that the web has seen. Like it or loathe it, the new design has certainly kept the Facebook buzz going.