Twitter redesign with a focus on trends

Twitter has been testing out a new design. Apparently they are running A/B trials, restricting the design rollout to only some users.

Here's an overview of the changes:

New navigation

In the global nav, they've added a dropdown list of top trends. Also, profile and settings links have moved next to the profile picture.

Trends dropdown

Top trends are listed as links leading to the search results page for that keyword.

Search results

The search results page has changed to include more information about users, which shows that Twitter is increasingly looking to enable discovery of new people to follow. Something that has been a labour of love in the past. They've added two new modules on the right hand side:

Matching users

Users real names or Twitter usernames are matched against the search query.

Featured user

It's unclear what algorithm is driving the featured user. Possibly the same mechanic behind the "suggested users" feature seen upon registration.

 

The Future of Information Architecture

I wrote an essay for the online magazine AGIT8 – a journal of technology and social change.

Read it here: The Future of Information Architecture

 

Another example of Knobb's Law

Knobb's Law
Anything digital that becomes popular will eventually be used to draw a cock.

Again, Twitter is no exception, as this Techcrunch article proves.

 

Twitter has an image problem

image courtesy of vikavalter.com, (c) 2007 All Rights Reserved.

[reposted from a comment submitted to a Telegraph article, Twittering is for Twits]

Twitter has an image problem.

This is clear from this article, where Bryony [Gordon] voices many of the common misconceptions about the service.

People think it is about *broadcasting* your life's minutiae.

Not true. Twitter is about *listening* to what other people have to say, and, when appropriate, joining in the conversation.

For an online journalist to say she ignores Twitter, is a bit like a political journalist saying she has no time to listen to what the MPs are 'blathering on about' in Parliament.

It's conversation, plain and simple. You can participate, or you can plug your ears and let people talk around you instead of with you.

 

May day - Television off

I'd been thinking about doing this, and after watching Clay Shirky's inspiring talk -- it cinched the idea.

No watching television (or downloaded shows) all month for me.

I'll try to download anything I don't want to miss -- to watch in June.

Let's see if I can make better use of my cognitive surplus!

 

Got a brand new bag

Lately, I've been fairly vocal about how Information Architecture and User Experience Design practices need to evolve to keep pace with the changes in the industry. (Call it Web 2.0 if you must)

Well, after a meeting of like-minds at Agency.com, I've accepted a position as the Head of Information Architecture for the London office.

It's an exciting opportunity to breathe life into some of these ideas and see how they work in practice.

 

The iPhone Collection

The iPhone Collection
Originally uploaded by kaioshin

I've started a collection of iPhone app screenshots.


www.flickr.com/photos/kaioshin/collections/72157604342363507/

 

Information Architecture is Broken

Information Architecture is broken (on Slideshare)

Following on from my Wireframes are Dead post, I've put my thoughts together as a presentation.

I'd be interested in any feedback.