Given the widespread familiarity of the user interface, redesigning Facebook has become a popular undertaking among designers; however, due to the strong convictions held by many of these designers on how best to improve the platform, this goal has become a contested issue.
When considering the challenge of redesigning Facebook, it is important to consider the implications of designing an experience that will be used by 1.9 billion people. This is a task that requires us to ask ourselves what it means to design for such a large and diverse population. With this in mind, it is essential that we create a design that is not only functional, but also accessible to all users, regardless of their technological experience or background.
It is up to Facebook to decide future developments in digital goods.
It is noteworthy to consider the current emphasis that Facebook has placed on its Messenger product, and how other companies from around the world are beginning to reflect this trend in their own offerings.
The redesign of Facebook presents a remarkable opportunity to designers, extending beyond the scope of simply experimenting with a new colour palette. Owing to the overwhelming presence of Facebook in the world of digital design, a successful redesign can have a significant influence on the future of digital design.
Given the widespread popularity of the Facebook interface, it is not surprising that it is a popular product for designers to work on. However, the design community has found the process of redesigning this platform to be contentious, as everyone has different ideas on the best way to approach the task. To provide some inspiration, we have compiled a collection of Facebook redesigns created by some of the top designers in the world. We invite you to apply your creativity and submit your own interpretations to this challenge.
Messaging and Facebook Feed
Zuri has proposed a bold idea to remove Facebook ads and has presented a redesigned version of Messenger. His large influence has caused a stir on Dribbble, with many members of the online community sceptical that such a move is achievable. However, due to the way that ads are now blended into much of the content, it is possible that Zuri’s idea could be legitimate. Furthermore, it is clear that Messenger is a key component of Facebook’s business model. Zuri’s redesign includes giving less importance to the notifications area, adding drop shadows and rounding the inputs.
Mobile Profile
What if Facebook’s user interface was designed using a circular structure? This redesign delves into this question while also stripping down the user profile. Currently, the Facebook mobile profile does not have an established aesthetic hierarchy or visual balance. Diana’s concept proposes a solution to this issue, by utilising a simple centre alignment for the text, in comparison to the mobile version of Facebook which appears to have no vertical alignment.
Mobile UX
Using the Facebook mobile app, users can enjoy a streamlined and intuitive experience with just one point of interaction. By simply pressing the “+” symbol, they can quickly update their status, check in to their current location, or start live streaming. Furthermore, Manoj has added the Marketplace option to the bottom navigation to facilitate Facebook purchasing and selling.
Messages and Biography
This new design offers a more comprehensive approach to both the personal Timeline and the messenger. By condensing the messenger sidebar and eliminating ads, the Timeline content is afforded more space. Furthermore, in order to create a more user-friendly interface, large text used in the conventional design is replaced with new, easily recognisable icons. This new design is also likely to be compatible with mobile devices, ensuring a consistent experience across multiple platforms.
Streaming Video
Facebook has recently implemented a new video streaming feature, however, Yury Smirnov, the lead designer, has stated that the design team did not complete the product to its full potential. Smirnov’s redesign has added a second colour to the Facebook user interface, in order to emphasise the elements that are exclusive to the live broadcasting feature. The videos now occupy the majority of the screen’s space, with other forms of data being pushed to the outskirts of the display.
Cellular Timeline
Varenya is focused on improving the user experience of the Facebook notifications page by enhancing the call-to-action (CTA) sequence. He has designed a user interface that is both straightforward and uncluttered. The text box and image have been placed together in order to maximise the available space, and comments are only revealed when the user selects them.
Cellular News Feed
Michal is taking a calculated risk by proposing a new typeface and colour palette for this revamp, which would eliminate all unnecessary visual information, leaving only the most essential elements. He is also suggesting the placement of the status update on a separate page, thus allowing users to focus on one piece of material at a time by adding pagination to the interface.
Facebook News Feed
The most significant change in Facebook’s recent facelift is the introduction of a second column to the News Feed. This is a departure from the conventional approach of keeping the focus on the essentials, and instead offers a more expansive view of content. Masum Parvej has suggested that this layout offers a more tailored experience, both for casual users and those who use Facebook for business.
Cellular Messenger
Sahil Vhora has proposed a slight alteration to the existing mobile device by incorporating a material upgrade. Although there will be no changes to the architecture of the interface, Sahil has taken advantage of the redesign to explore new icons and revitalise the colour palette of Facebook.
Creator’s Page
Ramil Derogongun proposed an innovative concept for an artist’s page, featuring an integrated music player, which garnered positive feedback due to its clean interface. The design was well-received, with several people expressing their appreciation by ‘rebounds’ (a term used to describe the act of sharing content on the web).
