I collected some examples of how all different kinds of sites chose to display their SOPA protests and came across some pretty cool examples.

I’m sure Google’s design approach is no stranger to you. Still, I felt the need to include it.

Did you check out TechCrunch‘s form of protest? Their site remained pretty much the same but they changed the logo.

Wikipedia‘s black out was publicized days before it actually happened so I was interested to see how the site would look on Wednesday. They did a really great job with both their messaging and their call to action. A simple zip code and you’re on your way to stopping SOPA.

Buzzfeed supported the SOPA cause by using black censorship bars across all of the text on their header. It’s a great way to get the censorship message across while giving people a chance to learn more about SOPA and contact their representative if they choose to.

WordPress took a similar approach with the censorship bar but it’s all over their homepage. It sticks with their simple design and is definitely eye catching.

One of my personal favorite blogs, allthatinspires.me also blacked out its page. It was nice to see that even smaller blogs took the time to make a difference. (Unfortunately for me, I couldn’t get my daily fix. Anything for a good cause!)

Cheezburger went with a lightbox approach. The pop up tells you everything you need to know and when you close out of it, the site goes back to normal.

Chris Brogan, very well known social media marketer, took a simple and informational approach and even added a video on the movement which I thought was a great touch.

In case you’re wondering how this helped, check out this article from Business Insider.

What were some sites that really stood out to you? Were you surprised to see some sites not take action?

Now the Facebook community has another thing coming. With the timeline right around the corner, people have a lot more to get used to than just a few small changes. Timeline is going to change everything about how we Facebook everyday. Obviously this isn’t news, but it’s more so some motivation for people who don’t know how to deal with change.

“Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts.”

- Arnold Bennett

I thought this quote was a perfect one to think about how the Internet and Facebook is always changing. Sure, change is going to challenge your comfort zone. It always has and always will, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad. That’s why I think this video of Don Draper introducing Facebook Timeline is a great one. It shows how change is timeless and it’s something we have to get used to.

It also wouldn’t hurt if everyone had the presentation skills that Don Draper had, maybe then we wouldn’t be so hesitant whenever we heard Facebook is going to change everything that we’ve grown to know.

Video: Don Draper Presents Facebook Timeline

This post was written by Heath W. Black, poet, beagle owner, digital strategist and connoisseur of Lionel Richie records. 

The past week has been a pretty crazy one for me. I attended Facebook’s annual F8 conference with some of the Blueye Team. I had a golf match and football game rained out. I bought my beagle her first raincoat. I also bought a record player, bookshelf and paint for my living room remodel project (It’s less of a remodel than patching up things that need patched up, but I like how manly I feel when I say remodel). As I’ve been taping, painting, remodeling and assembling things I thought to myself, “Self- there’s something to learn here…”

But what could F8 and painting my house possibly have in common? A few things, really.

1. I’ve participated in both in the past seven days.
2. My wife has patiently listened to me talk about both in recent weeks.
3. Mark Zuckerberg was present at both (note: whether this is factual or not is still being verified by Snopes.com)
4. Most importantly, they both emphasize the notion of iterations or, as designers will say, iterative design (disclaimer: i’m not a designer or developer, so if this post is errant it’s because I think on a higher-plane than most individuals).

Here’s a quick QA about iterative design:

What is iterative design?

Iterative design is the cyclical process of developing a product (whether it’s a mobile app, website, facebook application, etc is irrelevant in this case) based on prototyping, testing, analyzing and enhancing a product. Simply put, it’s the idea that you can’t build Rome, or your mobile app, in one day.

What does the process look like?

Design/Develop your product with basic functionality and features. Launch it, and begin the “listening phase” by analyzing what your users are using the most, where your users are experiencing frustration and take this data to make your product better (whether by enhancing those features or by fixing bugs) with a new design/development round.

What is the intended goal of iterative design?

To improve the functionality, quality and features of a given product based on user-intent.

But, once again, how does Facebook (F8) and painting my living room connect?

Here’s how.

I have this tendency to try to do everything at once. It’s a tendency I need to shed immediately. I try to tape the crown moulding, install the new record player, mount the television and paint all at the same time and needless to say, I don’t get a lot accomplished. Just bits and pieces of a lot of things. I want to start redecorating the guest bedroom before I’ve finished painting the living room. I want to plant grass in the backyard before I’ve mowed the grass in the backyard.

Annoying, huh?

If I tried to live my life with the same philosophy that I encourage entrepreneurs and brands at Blueye to implement in their product, I’d probably be more focused and effective.

Facebook is a great example of a company who has utilized iterative design throughout the years to enhance their product. They launch the wall, see that individuals are using it a lot and then they add commenting. They add photos and watch uploads increase, so they add albums. Facebook’s new timeline is a great example of this. After creating the Facebook profile, watching how users were doing it and seeing the holes that existed in the product, Facebook enhanced their product by creating an actual place where individuals can share their story and experiences with individuals rather than simply posting what a user’s solitary experience is. Facebook ITERATED on something they had to make it more effective.

Here are a few perks of iterative design that I think we should adhere to technologically, that hopefully I’ll adhere to at home as well:

1. It allows for earlier adjustments. - It’s easier to adjust and enhance a product when you’re only adjusting a piece of the product rather than the product five-years in.
2. It encourages user-feedback.- I’m a big advocate of beta-testing. If you aren’t asking your users for feedback, you’re probably missing out on some of the most importance product development ideas on the market.
3. It saves you money.- It’s said that 50% of all product design is never utilized by frequent users. Having said that, wasted code is money OUT OF not IN the bank.
4. Scrum means control.- The reason I got a beagle is because she will only weigh 12 pounds, not 120. When I walk her down the street, it’s much easier to control her frantic leash pulls because of this. Scrum/iterative design is the same way. When you work in small spurts, you are able to control, solve problems and prevent catastrophe at a higher ratio.
5. Inconsistencies disappear- As you iterate over and over, you are able to see inconsistencies in your product and address them as such.
6. Team Workload- I’m big on keeping my team happy. Iterative design is one way to do so. By spreading their workload out over an amount of time, I enable the employee to get his/her task done more effectively.
7. Investors Need To Know- If you have investors in your product, they want to know progress. In my humble opinion, one of the best ways to update an investor is through weekly or biweekly SCRUM meetings, to show them what enhancements/features have been implemented over the past seven-to-fourteen days.
8. Complexity Isn’t Muddling- Complex problems aren’t bad problems, but when you have hundreds of complex problems they often become muddled. Iterative design helps limit the amount of complexity on a given task.
9. Evolution DOES Exist- This isn’t about whether man was once monkey, but rather about the idea that the flexibility of product is a defining feature in the lifecycle, growth and survival of that given product. Simply put, evolve with your users. Learn from them and make their lives better.
10. Keep People Excited- I love Facebook. I’ve always loved Facebook. But every time Facebook launches a new product, design change or enhancement I REALLY love Facebook. it keeps me really excited to come back and use the product. I don’t get bored with what they’ve made and neither will your users. If you don’t iterate, you’re a Myspace. If you DO iterate, you’re a Facebook.

Next time you’re planning to build a website, mobile app, social app or even decorate your house. Do it in iterations. Take things one step at a time. You’ll find yourself more focused, saving money and enjoying the process so much more.

Now that I’m done writing this, I have to head home and paint my living room while simultaneously mounting my tv. Wish me luck!

Okay but really, where do you turn when you lose something? Well, if it’s something tangible – a scarf, your keys, your cell phone, your cat – most likely you’ll start with the lost & found box or hop on the phone to the nearest location where it may have been last seen. But what about those intangible, untouchable things? What about losing your ideas, your inspiration? Well lucky for us, the internet has created a vast outlet for gathering inspiration in addition to the things we may take for granted every day like merely being outdoors. Here are a few sites I like to refer to for inspiration (your mileage may vary).

Flickr: Just jump in and head straight to the Explore page. The internet wouldn’t exist without links, and this is a great place to just start clicking around. Flickr is nice because you have a wide variety of users and contributors, from professional photogs to the everyday Joe with a camera phone.

Method & Craft: This is a new one for me, and I believe my first click-through was via a mention about how beautiful this website is. M&C has a bit of everything – articles, interviews, tips & tricks – even if it is fairly heavy on the design side. Nevertheless, one of the best ways to find inspiration is to remove yourself from your everyday life and learn something new.

Design.org: Apparently the web address www.design.org randomly became available one day and the fine folks that snatched it up probably thought, “Well, I guess we need to do something with it now.” I’m sure glad they did. A huge selection of subject matter from photography to home accessories right at your fingertips, well mouse tips at least. Big photos, easy to read text, and a ton of tags make browsing simple to do. Check it out.

Kids: Okay I lied. This one isn’t a website but an actual living, breathing thing. Kids have super active imaginations built right in, so take some time and just watch them. Listen to the what they have to say, the questions they ask. Watch them draw, and draw with them. At the very least it may teach you how to simplify your thought process.

The way objects/products are designed is not too different from the way websites should be designed. That is just one point taken from Objectified—a film on design and designers around the world.

“That’s what we’re really always looking for whenever we design, ways we can improve the way people do things without them even knowing or thinking about it.”
-Davin Stowell, CEO & Founder of Smart Design

This quote is one of many in the documentary that relates to any functional product and a well designed website. The usability with a product and a website are similar in that if there is a problem, people will be quick to complain about it. No one likes dead links or pictures that don’t ever upload. On the other hand, if the product or website is designed well in both function and form, people will have nothing to say about it, and in this case, that’s a good sign.

Take a look at your website (or your favorite brand’s website) and see whether or not the easy to use feel is there.  What are some of your favorite easy to use websites to visit?

A major point of rebranding is to change your audience’s perception of your brand in a positive way. The cool new graphics and colors come next.

Sometimes rebranding is wildly successful. Remember these?

Old Spice: Almost overnight, Old Spice’s rebranding became a viral campaign that everyone was talking about. Those creative videos that were all over Youtube were such a hit that consumers took the reigns with promoting the brand. From zero to hero.

Chicago Tribune: There’s a new website for the Chicago newspaper as of today. Personally, I think it looks great and pretty easy to navigate. Take a look at it and tell us what you think of the new look.  Will it be enough to save the paper?

Blueye Creative: Or at least we’re in the process of it. Everyone in the office has been really excited about the launch of our newly designed website. We hope you’ll love it too.  There will be more information on that pretty soon.  Soon to be success ; )

Obviously not every rebranding effort is going to be such a success (see here), but with a killer strategy and the right tactics, anything is possible.

Which brands stand out when the word rebranding comes to mind?

AMANDA:

Trade Gothic Std Condensed No. 20

Kewl Script Regular

Adobe Caslon Pro Italic

BRICE:

Helvetica Neue 45 Light

Ohrada Regular

Electra Regular

And, just for fun, some fonts we’d love to have:

Costa from Veer

Cyclone from Hoefler & Frere-Jones

Mercury from Hoefler & Frere-Jones

Adios from Veer

Have you seen a font you love? Please share it with us and add a comment below.

Okay, so this topic has the potential to become a lengthy post, and/or debate, so I’m going to keep this brief and use one example for now: skype.com .

Skype is one of the simpler, most user-friendly websites I have seen in quite a while. Personally, I don’t need to know how they got started or the technology behind their service. My main goals in coming to the site are: 1. download the service and 2. find information on using the service. Right away, I see a button to download and a navigation tab that will take me to another page about using the service. In addition, there’s even a little blurb about what Skype is, a true revelation (sarcasm). Please notice, there are not endless paragraphs about voice-over IP service, or VOIP applications that contain repeated catch phrases just in the hope that a random international college student or a small global business will search Google for ‘United States voice over internet phone service’.

Don’t get me wrong, search optimization can be vital to the success of your business but what use is search optimization if the user never gets past the first page of your site? At blueye, we put a lot of thought into the designs that we present to clients. We want our clients to not only be happy with the look and feel of the site, but we want them to be happy with the results once the site goes live. As a designer, the biggest compliment a client can give me is telling me that they are making sales and that clients and customers are telling them how easy their site is to use.

Remember, simple can be a really good thing. History speaks for itself: the tuxedo, chocolate ice cream, the bicycle – all simple products, with plenty of users worldwide.