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BBC Redesign
07 Jan 2003 by Scott Upton
We’re probably a bit late to the table with this, but the BBC have redesigned. Their old site is available from the Wayback Machine for comparison. The changes are generally nice overall — better visual hierarchy, more functionality available in a meaningful way. The “Popular Searches Right Now” feature is a nice touch — a kind of automatically-generated FAQ that more sites like this should adopt.
If you’re so inclined (or have a thing for voluminous documentation), you can read a detailed account of the redesign process in this PDF document from blackbeltjones.
The most refreshing thing about the BBC site has nothing to do with the design, though. Their cover story tonight? “Is the Future Green?” — a forum to discuss your thoughts on the environment. Cruise on over to CNN or MSNBC and you’ll find “Bush: Urgent need for ‘bold’ plan”and “Bush unveils economic stimulus plan,” respectively.
5 comments so far (Post a Comment)
07 Jan 2003 | Steven Garrity said...
Interesting feature of the design, explained by Adam Greenfield of v-2.org:
"Here's how it works: the background color of boxes containing links that you click frequently darkens a little every time you do so. Over time, those options that you use most often will stand out against the background: a thoroughly individualized map to your path through the space, left as a consequence of your own choices and with no further input required."
07 Jan 2003 | JF said...
Great thinking.
08 Jan 2003 | pb said...
Wow! That sounds very clever and possibly quite useful.
Also impressive are versions of the site in 43 languages! I didn't spend enough time to figure out if they are 43 individual sites or if they are somehow all related.
08 Jan 2003 | Steve said...
The BBC Design Process Document is a good read.
09 Jan 2003 | Paul said...
For me the BBC is the benchmark site - particularly the news - but it should be for the amount invested in it. I think it's worth it - others can compete but they really have to get their acts together - but I doubt it would go down well in the States??
"The 100m pound, publicly-funded start-up. (article 7)
The BBC currently spends just over GBP100m a year online... Commercial competitors have long complained about the BBC's dominance online, and its cross promotional activity...The short answer is that probably 95 per cent of what the BBC does online is already provided by the private sector... Unfortunately, there remains the small problem that some businesses just can't compete easily with the beeb leviathan in the mean time. There are - count 'em - 25,000 different BBC web sites."
