2009 – Year of redesigned logos

With the changing dates through the year, 2009 witnessed Web2.0 as a common word in our design discussions, client briefs and our design communities. Everyone wanted to upgrade their company’s image either through logos or websites with “Web2.0 look”.

I complied a collection of few logos for the companies which dared to jump into Web 2.0 wave and got themselves wet.

AOL logo rebranding – teasers

Exactly what was AOL thinking when they redesigned the new bunch of logos instead of one. It makes me feel either the brand identity got lost somewhere in too many meanings or they are simply not worried into ‘single brand identity’ and wish to capture all the possible things in the world, which does not go well with the users.

• How does ‘Aol.’ expect users to remember so multi-facet brand?
• What impression it leaves in the mind of users?
• Above all what kind of users are they targeting at? (maybe the answer is not even clear with the AOL team)

Are we ignoring user experience or the users have become smart enough?

Recently noticed most of the sites nowadays have moved away from marking the form fields as mandatory or required. Is this the change in design trend or there is a reason behind it? Are we ignoring user experience or the users have become smart enough?

Attribute of a designer

Provide a design to user which is self awakening and user-friendly. A user should be able to complete an activity in minimum clicks and it’s the responsibility and power of a designer to straighten out the complexes. In a project which is not conceptualized by a designer goes nowhere in the long run, we all know this with our own experiences. Fortunately, user experience and designers are now becoming essential for any good web designing firm that targets to reach the heights and survive there for long.

Power of good design

An intelligent design can change the perception of users. When the web world is facing North, only a designer can make web users turn to see towards South, such is the power of designer!

A quick peek into the user experience forms of the most appreciated sites during 2009, which have become a point of reference for most of the design boutiques

Beanstalk – Here I submitted the blank form to test what all fields I actually need to enter data and which ones I can avoid. Surprisingly all fields are mandatory to create an account excluding the Discount section. The instruction below Coupon Code field is very supportive for user ‘If you don’t know the code, just skip this field’. Similarly if a single line instruction was added above the form saying

3G in India – It’s a new world!

Nowadays technology is entering into all parts of our lifestyle. It’s no more just about checking emails and chatting with friends. Internet technology has now moved on to a new level where you think about an idea and bingo! its already available in market or is in the incubation stage. The technology now allows us to compile multiple gadgets and provide some unbelievable results. You simply need to snap your fingers in right way to experience the magic.

This sometimes amazes me how naturally we adapt to this magnificent world, do we realize what all must have gone behind making it the way it is?