Pinterest is perhaps one of the best examples of a rich user experience in a Web 2.0 platform; incorporating a layout that is both pleasing to the eye and functional.
According to Anthrosites, a web design company, one of the most important aspects of user experience is that your website or service will run on any device. Pinterest is an excellent example of this as the site displays perfectly on any device and in any way a user chooses to uses it. An app is available for both Android and Apple devices, however the service can also be accessed through a standard web browser on a smartphone or tablet with the same functionality. The window used to display the site on both Windows and Apple computer can also be re-sized based on a users preference and the icons within the site will re-arrange themselves so that none of the features on the site are cut off by the smaller window. This encourages use of the service by more users as everyone's preferences are catered for, thus creating an environment people would be hesitant to leave.
Another thing worth noting is that Pinterest utilises new technologies to achieve this rich user experience but also manages to avoid overuse or using a technology just because they can. Professional web designer Don Peterson talks in an article on his website the importance of keeping a design simple. By keeping a design simple people will find it easier to use. While Pinterest has clearly put a lot of effort into making their website visually appealing but the focus is on usability. It is tempting to make a website look as nice as possible in an attempt to look professional however if it is hard to use barely anyone will continue being users.
A rich user experience therefore contains a mix of usability and visual appeal, but with a much greater focus on usability. Pinterest is the perfect example of this mix done right.
Hello Nathan,
ReplyDeleteYour entry about rich user experience and Pinterest is worth reading indeed, and I appreciate it quite much. I agree that visual layout is becoming a major concern in user experience design nowadays. For these traditional webpages, the layout cannot fit to the resolutions/devices automatically, and it is really frustrating to open a desktop webpage on a mobile phone, as we need to zoom in and out several times to browse. We've been already fed up with this kind of dull HTML+PHP designs. On the other hand, we may not expect to install a great number of apps on our devices, which will make the popup menu too overwhelming, and take up too much storage space. Web Apps are an ideal solution to address these problems. Self-adaption of layout and fast response to request improve the user experience greatly, while you don't need to spend even 1 MB to run it. I believe these light applications will be more and more popular in the near future.
You've done a good job and you are a qualified blogger:) Hope you will enjoy commenting as well in the coming weeks.
Cheers
Eric
P.S. My blog address: http://ishenqiwei.wordpress.com
Hello Nathan,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that consistent visual interface is one of the most important parts in enhancing user experience. As people nowadays have various terminal devices and more likely to access to service cross devices, it is important to service providers to make their service available cross device and show consistence in visual interface.
Pinterest is a good example by showing the consistence and actually I think their app interface is more organized and user friendly.
Pinterest is beneficial for visual businesses such as interior designers, fashion companies and lifestyle magazines to promote their products and inspirations. By creating mood boards around their different influencers or projects, these companies can engage with their potential market and drive interest to their corporate website.
ReplyDeleteWhilst the benefits to creative and retail companies are clear, the business case for many organisations is not. Pinterest’s growth has been rapid and as a result, successful cases are limited. It is definitely, at this stage, more relevant to companies selling products – and in someways creates more of a catalogue than social experience.
Hi Nathan,
ReplyDeleteI think that Pinterest is a good example of ‘rich user experience’ in a Web 2.0 platform. No matter what kind of photos users are interested in, they can find those photos in Pinterest. Users will post photos on bulletin board. If you are interested in one photo on bulletin board, you may be attracted by the other photos on it, because there are some similar photos in the same sector. Users can also browse photos by category. The author of a photo can be showed by clicking on the picture. Also, we can see other photos of this author. Operation process is very smooth, and the loading speed of the webpage is very fast. All the photos can be commented or stored, so after a period of time you can easily find them. Users can also share photos to other social networks to have some communication. These factors make Pinterest achieve the object of having rich user experience. That is my opinion. Thank you.