Amidst the stack of articles I save as possible fodder for this blog was this one about how Netflix uses a fast iterative design process to continually improve the service. It’s another one the many things newspaper Web sites can learn from Netflix.
Over time, newspapers tend to let their site’s original design scheme slowly retard itself in a manner akin to urban sprawl. What was once concise or purposeful loses meaning as the latest priority, which absolutely has to be featured more prominently on every page of the site, is posted and then replaced or amended.
Netflix doesn’t do major redesigns. Instead, they slightly redesign every two weeks. Yes, two weeks. Changes sometimes last only as long.
At first it sounds a little kooky, sure. But the article outlines worthwhile benefits:
- Fail fast, so bad changes are eliminated more quickly.
- More experimentation leads to more productivity.
- Learn quickly from experiments instead of arguing over theories.
- Reduce risk with small, proven changes instead of big, untestable ones.
- Culture change is inevitable.
Sometimes the benefit of a major redesign is just getting everyone – and I mean everyone from top to bottom – onto the same philosophical page.
Comments (2)
I wonder if newspaper site readers will go for something like Netflix's constant design changes. After all, these (possibly) are some of the readers who throw a fit when something gets moved in the paper. It is an interesting concept, nevertheless.
Posted by Danny Sanchez | January 31, 2007 7:53 AM
Posted on January 31, 2007 07:53
Indeed. You are right.
I think what holds back many newspaper Web sites is the tendencies for newspaper execs to forge print redesign mentalities onto digital media. I have redesigned newspapers and news Web sites and they are different media, have different expectations and serve different needs. I know that I am designing Web sites far differently than I was two years ago because social media, video RSS, message boards, and blogging have changed the experiences and expectations of news consumers.
Newspaper Web sites have to evolve and adapt and to adopt to new digital forms as a matter of everyday habit and purge the status quo thinking from their operations.
Good luck with your redesign!
Robb Montgomery
CEO, Visual Editors
Posted by robb Montgomery - CEO | February 18, 2007 4:27 PM
Posted on February 18, 2007 16:27