To change or not to change

Ch-ch-ch-changes

* Image by the Obama-Biden Transition Project

So it’s finally happened. Matt our resident technical wizard guru man has moved me onto Zimbra, our new e-mail server.  It isn’t really shiny and new anymore; I’ve just been trying to avoid the move for so long.  A designer scared of change… surely not!

This life changing experience has inspired me to write my second, yes second blog. It’s been a little while since you wonderful folk have been given the chance to read my rambles, so aren’t you in for a treat!  Change is my topic of choice my friends.  Enjoy.

Why so scary?

Surely change can’t be that bad, can it?  Instead of embracing it, why do we fear it?  Hundreds of protest groups started to fall from cyberspace skies petitioning about the new Facebook design.  Dooming it they were, and threatening to leave and the like.  If the customer is always right, why was the new design still pushed through?

I still struggle with some of the shiny new bits and bobbery on Facebook.  Today I was trying to jiggle the thumbnail for my profile picture which took far too long to try and work out.  Being the stubborn individual I am, I persevered until my little thumbnail box consisted of more than a peeping pair of eyes, but not everyone is ‘blessed’ with this trait.  Some people would have yelled abuse at their poor monitor, others would have taken the high road and hit close.  Does this mean we shouldn’t change anything to avoid having frustrated users leave our websites?

Do it right

Last year, the Beeb unveiled it’s new look website to the world, and how lovely it was.  The BBC kept the website in Beta whilst they tested and developed, leading to a wonderful warm welcome.  It’s intuitive, easy to use and I can find what I want with minimal effort.

Frustrated users tend to crop up when change has not been properly planned. Instead of testing and seeing what they do, assumptions are made.  Correct assumptions equal good times.  Incorrect assumptions equal a dark cloud surrounding us, a swarm of locusts, and Barry Manilow playing on loop (or just bad times).

A loss of a few users won’t hurt the mighty Facebook, but to other web folk, this could really harm their businesses.  Leaving your users’ reactions up to chance is something you should avoid.  Find out who your users are, they’re the ones that will be using your website so their voices should be heard. Try and opt for a lo-fi to hi-fi approach to test and observe them.  See what their actual reactions are and use them to help implement your changes.  Change, when planned properly, can actually be a good thing that your users will embrace with open arms.