Customisable sites

Customizable social sites

Lessons learned and questions unanswered

What is this presentation about?

• A look at the current best practices• What I’m currently working on• Things to take into consideration (aka lessons

learned)• Discussion

Current best practices

• Microblogs• Blogs + social networks

Flavors.me – simple styling

All about styling

Tumblr.com – beautiful themes

typepad.com – photo colour generator

typepad.com – simple action = great result

Lessons from microblogs

• Editor can be placed where-ever wanted• Give users the ‘feeling’ they are in control of

the design• Blow them away with great pre-made styles

Myspace.com – editor on top

posterous.com – smallest of them all

Blogger.com – using templates

Blogger.com – customize template

tumblr.com – css, do it all yourself

Lessons from blogs + social networks

• Editors preferable small and on top• Work with templates, make sure the defaults

look great• Gradually allow users more control

1. Pick a template 2. customize template 3. edit css

Current work at Webjam

• Focus on different user roles• Encourage users to customize themes• But keep them away from ongoing editing

sessions• Make it a visual appealing ‘fun’ experience

webjam.com – editor framework

webjam.com – simple choices

webjam.com – make it visual

The more flexibility you offer the more complex the interface of the editor becomes (the harder your usability test are going to be).

Complexity curve

Try to keep make your themes and customization options so good looking that users won’t request editing the site themselves.

How to deal with complexity

6 guidelines for RIAs

1. Make It Direct 2. Keep It Lightweight3. Stay on the Page4. Provide an Invitation5. Use Transitions6. React Immediatelysource: http://www.insideria.com/2009/09/50-most-usable-rias.html

Questions + discussion

• sjors@webjam-ltd.com• http://svirsk.org• @sjors

• More to read:http://uxmag.com/design/rich-internet-application-screen-design