MSN Homepage Redesign Critique

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1. Here is the current MSN homepage. A couple observations:

   1. The links on the top are more about corporate divisions than users needs. The new design removes this feature.
   2. The Bing search feature area has little context.
   3. The search box has all the filters and popular searches- the new design removes these little used items.
   4. The overall page does not have a clear focus or message.

   

   

   Bryan Zmijewski added this 8 months ago
2. Some interesting research reveals:

   • - 45% of Bing traffic comes from this page
   • - 600 Million visitors a month (world wide)
   • - 8 designs we're narrowed down to this design
   • - Bing Integration was a key business goal
   • - "D'clutter" was the key user need (it will be the new buzzword of 2010)

   Here are a few news outlets that covered the redesign:

   All Thing Digital: MSN’s Bob Visse Talks About Homepage Redesign (Kara Swisher does a video interview and jabs a few at Bob).

   ClickZ: MSN Homepage Redesign Comes with New Ad Options

   CNET: Microsoft gives the MSN butterfly a makeover

   

   Bryan Zmijewski added this 8 months ago
3. Based on the coverage, everyone kept saying that this was the largest overhaul in the last 10 years, but a quick scan of the archives shows that there have been quite a few smaller attempts to change the design.

   Here is snapshot from 10 years ago. A couple observations:

   1. The page design was focused around MSN business units.
   2. Fixed width design was much narrower
   3. Links we're still the primary navigation form

   

   

   Bryan Zmijewski added this 8 months ago

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