You are on page 1of 18

8/23/13

New Facebook Design Hits Your Browsers July 2013 - Nova Digital Media

JULY 25 2013

New Facebook Design Hits Your Browsers July 2013


That me that the Nintendo Genera on relishes is back again and at this very moment a very small percentage of your friends and maybe those lucky few that have stumbled to this post and unwi ngly have it already. There are 1 billion of us that use it and we are all subject to it being forced upon us and without the need to u it up further I give youThe latest incarna on of the Facebook interface! As we did our a ernoon login to check our Facebook accounts at the Premier Essex Digital Agency that is Nova Digital Media, primarily a Web Design Agency from the UK, one of our Developers jumped from his chair and yelped almost like someone had stuck a thumb tack on his chair and yelled I have the new Facebook!. Well I recall the last incarna on and the hype that it caused with the new meline or wall or whatever you want to call it. However, this me round there seems to be a more all round version update that has taken the Graphical User Interface of the worlds most
www.novadigitalmedia.com/new-facebook-design-hits-your-browsers-july-2013/

social website and I for one am glad its here.

1/18

8/23/13

New Facebook Design Hits Your Browsers July 2013 - Nova Digital Media

social website and I for one am glad its here.

I am ashamed to say that it wasnt me that got the update and of the 5 of us, only 1 received the new glorious graphics of Facebook Design so should you wish to be considered for the new interface early you need to get over here: h ps://www.facebook.com/about/newsfeed and register your interest.

What is New for Facebook in July 2013

www.novadigitalmedia.com/new-facebook-design-hits-your-browsers-july-2013/

2/18

8/23/13

New Facebook Design Hits Your Browsers July 2013 - Nova Digital Media

The largest altera ons have been made to the way we use Facebook for search and naviga on which would suggest that Facebook have been one of the rst to act on the data freely available on the Internet which is the Tidal Wave of browsers now using Mobile Devices to connect to their favourite websites. Mobile Devices have long been considered a possible future permanent solu on for browsing the internet and I believe that this conrms that the Web Designers of the future Facebook are considering this too, If we consider the Apps Facebook has released and the large number of people that are using the Giant Social Pla orm now for Local and Na onal Searches doesnt this seem to be a natural move for all web sites? I dont mean to blow my own horn here, but Ive been saying this for years. This is simply the rst me I have put my opinion in the public domain. Mobile and Touch Naviga on Web Design has been at the forefront of Nova Digital Medias repertoire since its reincarna on as a Small Web Design Studio in Essex to a Full Crea ve and Digital Agency in 2013. Think about it. Whats happening all around you on the morning or a ernoon commute today? Look around when your next on the train, People browsing their phones, tablets or laptops right? If not, then chances are they are playing Candy Crush, Farm Ville or some other Facebook Game. This latest interface altera on seems to bring a sense of alignment between the Mobile Version people are becoming accustomed to and distancing the old Desktop Browser Version, which as you can imagine seems to lead us to consider that Facebook are one of the rst to consider that Mobile Design is more important than Desktop Design.

www.novadigitalmedia.com/new-facebook-design-hits-your-browsers-july-2013/

A New Header for a New Facebook

3/18

8/23/13

Facebook

New Facebook Design Hits Your Browsers July 2013 - Nova Digital Media

From the top of the page we no ced immediately that the icons that assist site wide naviga on have been given a shue, possibly to op mise site design more in line with standard design prac ce of having naviga on on the top right and the logo in the top le . I would hasten to add that the biggest brand change is that the word FACEBOOK no longer sits upon the page like a Logo king on the throne. Instead Facebook have opted for the more Social Media Icon style Logo that has been plastered over websites on the internet like a Social Rash and in our humble opinion is a more no ceable and recognisable brand image than the wri en and custom font that is the old Facebook logo. The font in the search bar seems slightly larger and the search bar has a so er and rounded border. The icons informing us of new friends, messages and no ca ons have been cast aside over to the right where we think they belong. the privacy se ngs icon is separated by a small pipe and then a small downward poin ng arrow which signies more op ons in the furthest right hand side which opens up the menu that was hidden behind a cog icon before.

The New Face of the New Facebook a Contrasted Icon?


A small quirky change, but for a me something that is no ceable as a highly improved GUI altera on is the Facebook Icon / Logo next to the search bar. This alone is enough to make me excited without all the other altera ons. But to the less Interface Design inclined I thought Id point out a a great use of contrast design to highlight the companies brand and a clear and easy way to highlight the brand. But in line with their internet domina ng goals why not use the community adopted icon to show their brand dominance, this is the visual equivalent of someone googling something. There are more versions of this Facebook brand than any over online (maybe
www.novadigitalmedia.com/new-facebook-design-hits-your-browsers-july-2013/

with excep on of the thumbs up coming in at the rear) as its a subtle icon that Web

4/18

8/23/13

with excep on of the thumbs up coming in at the rear) as its a subtle icon that Web Masters arent too worried about using to distract there visitors. Cleverly making this the focus of the branding isnt this reversing that thought process and causing all of those icons to be the actual brand logo of the magnum opus brain child of Mr Zuckerberg.

New Facebook Design Hits Your Browsers July 2013 - Nova Digital Media

Side Bar Navigation


A much neater and hidden away side bar naviga on allows users to get the full screen
www.novadigitalmedia.com/new-facebook-design-hits-your-browsers-july-2013/

eect of their Tablet or Phone while s ll having access to the all important News Feed,

5/18

8/23/13

New Facebook Design Hits Your Browsers July 2013 - Nova Digital Media

eect of their Tablet or Phone while s ll having access to the all important News Feed, Messages, Events, Pages, Apps and nally Groups. Im imagining in a few years when all monitors are Touch or Gesture Enabled and a simple, ick of the nger will, show or hide the Naviga on allowing the content in the main part of the page to remain the dominant focus for the viewer. Home Services Work About Team Blog Contact

Chat Sidebar
To some the best feature of all, hide the chat is s ll possible but with a slightly op mised look and integrated feel to this area of Facebook, previously this was achieved with a single icon in the lower le corner of the chat area, now this is part of a menu system that includes addi onal Filterable chat features like; Chat with Lists allowing you to select only a group of people that you would like to chat to. How fun, No longer do you need to set up advanced privacy se ngs or completely go oine to avoid someone you may s ll owe money too from that hazy weekend bender!

Post Search Feature


This is a complex piece of code and styling here to complete again another simple method of keeping a large menu at bay. In Interface design we call this an accordion, as like its namesake the instrument that delights some on the busy streets of Camden, London every now and again it is a small object that can on demand become a much larger object. Clicking a menu item will expand that item to reveal sub sec ons or child naviga on sec ons if you like hidden like a Russian Doll gleefully popping open a ny menu within. Each item also gives you a great indicator of its usefulness by showing you new
www.novadigitalmedia.com/new-facebook-design-hits-your-browsers-july-2013/ 6/18

8/23/13

Facebook Design Hits Your Browsers July 2013 - Nova Digital Media Each item also gives you aNew great indicator of its usefulness by showing you new

informa on that has been posted or updated within the interface in again a clever and subtle drop shadow style. The same great List features are available for you to use, there just seems to be a be er design around presen ng the lists / likes and page feeds to you in this shiny new version.

Post / Wall Filters


Once youve se led on a wall item, your also given a wonderful punch in the eyes with a new way of displaying the content to you in a Metro Style organisa on of the images and posts using a style we are accustomed with from the previous Interface Update that we now all enjoy. There is however a new banner that is customised with a personalised image to your interests adorning the top of the new ltered wall, indica ng as clear as glass that you are on the lter that you selected.

www.novadigitalmedia.com/new-facebook-design-hits-your-browsers-july-2013/

7/18

8/23/13

New Facebook Design Hits Your Browsers July 2013 - Nova Digital Media

Click the boxes below to see screenshots of how the filters work
Photo Filter Music Filter Games Filter

Tab Content

www.novadigitalmedia.com/new-facebook-design-hits-your-browsers-july-2013/

8/18

8/23/13

New Facebook Design Hits Your Browsers July 2013 - Nova Digital Media

The New Timeline Wall for New Facebook

www.novadigitalmedia.com/new-facebook-design-hits-your-browsers-july-2013/

9/18

8/23/13

New Facebook Design Hits Your Browsers July 2013 - Nova Digital Media

www.novadigitalmedia.com/new-facebook-design-hits-your-browsers-july-2013/

10/18

8/23/13

New Facebook Design Hits Your Browsers July 2013 - Nova Digital Media

Profile Icons
The rst no ceable thing for me was the adjustment made to the Prole Icons, the rounded o corners and more complete images seemed to leap out of the screen at me and without trying draw my a en on to the relevant wall post. Whats more is the use of the icons to signify the post type, events are presented with a snazzy almost iOS style date icon and other Facebook pla orm features seem to have a newer more polished look about the icons, but the personalised and commercial posts look be er too, this design really brings the wall sec ons into the iPhone age and give the posts a look that is akin to a customised bu on for an iPhone App.

www.novadigitalmedia.com/new-facebook-design-hits-your-browsers-july-2013/

11/18

8/23/13

New Facebook Design Hits Your Browsers July 2013 - Nova Digital Media

Emoticons
Emo cons gleam from the page like a Super Nova Star in the cosmos on a dark night, like a beacon of emo on they signify to us that someone dear and personal has requested something now Im not saying this is a new feature at all. But again with a polished look the new icons seem to be brighter and much more appealing, I only glanced at the li le hear emo con but I would be very surprised to nd that Facebook have only updated one icon. Ive no ced 2 already and Im looking forward to discovering a whole new icon set that Facebook have recreated giving one Essex Based Graphics guy a li le pixel pick up!

Friend Likes on Posts


This is a great new feature for those ego s cal wall addicts or conceited post people among us (in a nice way, of course), with this instant visual cue youll get to see not only how many but who liked your wall post allowing to you to con nue your rant or informa ve post to the masses most interested in your ramblings. Also youll see who your real fans are by ge ng a quick glimpse of their face on the wall
www.novadigitalmedia.com/new-facebook-design-hits-your-browsers-july-2013/ 12/18

8/23/13

New Facebook Design Hits Your Browsers July 2013 - Nova Digital Media

rather than several clicks and a lot of guess work!

Enhanced Post Images


Looking at the new image, its possible that Facebook have spent some me op mising the image used on their launch page but a er closer inspec on it does seem that most of the images that are on the site being viewed on the latest incarna on are a bit, higher deni on?

Is this down to the image engine that powered the billions of images on the site and is this also taking into account overall global increases in broadband speed? I think so, further more with faster speeds the Light-box (pop-up image viewer) that displays the images upon mouse click, which seems to also be slightly more generous giving us, larger monitor folk, more image by drawing the box closer to the edges of the screen. This is not fully tested as we rushed straight to word processing once we saw the New Facebook so
www.novadigitalmedia.com/new-facebook-design-hits-your-browsers-july-2013/ 13/18

8/23/13

New Facebook Design Hits Your Browsers July 2013 - Nova Digital Media

please excuse us if this turns out to not be the case. However Im sure youll agree that the way gallery posts are displayed is very much an improvement with an almost Windows 8 feel in the new led layout. Also allowing you to skip the rst image and also get a bit of informa on about the gallery within the post le before you need to click it. This almost seems like Facebook no longer want you to stray from your wall giving you the lters and led informa on posts excerpts with as much informa on as possible making the New Wall a more informa ve place to be in Facebook.

Video and Multimedia Posts


Video Posts have also seen an overhaul of the design of the post le showing o the video with the new customer integrated video player instead of the YouTube feed of old and also giving us the same cap oned le that we have seen with the Image gallery posts. Im wondering if there is a audio or sound only version similar to sound cloud in the making allowing music to be streamed from the wall of a ltered user giving us an almost playlist for our favourite music. You hearing me Facebook?

Facebook Image Search


Filtering the wall for images seems to be a great way to also get rid of the stu you dont want and is possibly a game changer for family members that simply want to nose through other family members images to catch-up without making that social interac on that used to be called a phone call. Dont get me wrong Im a Facebook enthusiast but as more features like this come into play is makes me wonder if this sort of lterable op on will push families further apart by
www.novadigitalmedia.com/new-facebook-design-hits-your-browsers-july-2013/

telling stories of thousands of words without the need for a conversa on of, How was

14/18

8/23/13

telling stories of thousands of words without the need for a conversa on of, How was the wedding? or Did you enjoy your holiday? Gallery updates, improved imagery and lterable searches through the inbox of wall posts that we are presented with allow us to focus our a en on on what ma ers to us at the me and leave the tangents and misgivings of the old melines a rm shove to the knackers yard as we strive for op mum use of our me and a more focussed experience on Facebook between breaks at work or on the 30 minute commute home.

New Facebook Design Hits Your Browsers July 2013 - Nova Digital Media

Messenger for Windows


The best for last? Finally the new Messenger for Windows, Is this the doing of the Windows 8 or MSN squad over at Microso ? With the Skype envelopment with Windows 8 it seems possible that the strong connec on between My Zuckerburg and Mr Gates as the 2 giants of so ware have teamed up in another area with Bing Search being just the p of the Iceberg. Whats next Skype Calls on Facebook? Why Not? Well hey maybe thats how the Facebook Video Calling works with Skype Mechanics? Well whether this is the latest a empt to revive the old dying Windows Messenger (MSN) via Facebook it is en rely possible, a er all who are we to speculate on the possible alliances and so ware collabora ons that have taken place at camp FaceSo (you see what I did there!FACE- book, micro-SOFT!). No ce however that MicroSo only pla orms are not the only place Facebook wants to play on this new So ware. Messenger is available also for Mobile and Firefox, look closely that seems to be an android phone! Hey who are Google to stand in the way of progress right!?

www.novadigitalmedia.com/new-facebook-design-hits-your-browsers-july-2013/

15/18

8/23/13

New Facebook Design Hits Your Browsers July 2013 - Nova Digital Media

To Sum it all up
To coin a phrase, innova on is 99 perspira on and 1 inspira on and it seems in the back rooms of the Facebook Factories like The Wonka Chocolate Factory, the wonderful minions and powers that be behind Facebook have worked very hard and furiously hammered out this wonderful new toy and I love it! So from us at Nova Digital Media, THANK YOU! But what will this Facebook Revolu on mean for the likes of You and Me as users? Ease of use, Mul Pla orm Compa bility, Responsive Design for Mul ple Screen Sizes and much more Of course, Design and Interface Improvements are all that le for the Facebook Crowd, making it pre y and easy to use is a long overdue version update that we were all needing to refresh our pale es for this tapering o growth session that Facebook has been enjoying for the last few years. The road map now for Facebook with a fully Touch and Gesture friendly interface is good, the possibili es are now open to all sorts of great new tools, ideas and updates; Oce 365, Outlook Accounts, Adobe Facebook Apps maybe?
www.novadigitalmedia.com/new-facebook-design-hits-your-browsers-july-2013/ 16/18

8/23/13

New Facebook Design Hits Your Browsers July 2013 - Nova Digital Media

Hey thats great for us, we work in Facebook every day so having our Oce in here with our preferred crowd would be a great idea. For now though all I can do is sit and be jealous that my Web Developer is si ng perusing the new features and Im s ll on the wai ng list.

COME ON FACEBOOK GIVE A MAN A BREAK! LET ME IN!!!

Leave a Comment
Name *

Email *

Website

www.novadigitalmedia.com/new-facebook-design-hits-your-browsers-july-2013/

17/18

8/23/13

New Facebook Design Hits Your Browsers July 2013 - Nova Digital Media

SUBMIT COMMENT

Copyright 2013 Nova Digital Media

www.novadigitalmedia.com/new-facebook-design-hits-your-browsers-july-2013/

18/18

You might also like