Microsoft Redesigns – Lessons on Marketing, Usability, and Code.
As many people probably have noticed by now, Microsoft has redesigned their homepage. It is a huge step from the previous table based design, which had more space but was horribly cluttered.
Constructive Criticism
Quick to criticize the Microsoft crew, many have shook their head at how the HTML has 4 validation errors, the css is worse, and they use a HTML 4.0 Transitional doctype. They spent all the time to redesign the site, and they couldn’t bother to use XHTML or at least a strict doctype? Is this the Microsoft we know that put all the effort into IE7 only to keep fonts set in PX unsizable, few additional CSS support, and security holes that are found days after it’s release?
What can we learn from Microsoft?
Microsoft is nothing if not a Marketing marvel. Those of us who are developing websites that have a marketing goal (and that is most of us) should take note of their new design. Lets break down the initial messages the average user will see when arriving at the site.
- Microsoft Logo – Tagline Your Potential. Our Passion.
- Zune – Now Available
- Try the New Office
- Windows Vista – What it brings to business.
- Microsoft and HP offer solutions for people-ready businesses
Now there could be something said about all the real content being below the fold, but for sales it is hard not to be impressed by the Microsoft front page. Those looking for the latest downloads/searches/etc will likely scroll, and everyone is getting a clear “LOOK AT OUR NEW PRODUCTS!” message.
Which websites can put all the content below the fold really depends on the target market. Microsoft’s homepage is more likely to be visited by techie/computer savvy users in actuality. Even though almost everyone has a Microsoft product on their computer, they have so many coded auto-updates or help references that the home page rarely will be one of their destinations.
From a strict holy “web design” point of view, the Microsoft redesign is still very lacking. From a sales and marketing point of view, we should all take note.
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- Author: Ross Johnson
- Date: Sunday, December 17, 2006
- Comments: 3 Comments
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Since inception, this blog has covered a plethora of topics. Excited by all things design, I spent six years with out a focus. A year ago I discovered my true passion... designing with psychology (primarily as it related to the web). Many thanks to my Web Design Agency, 3.7 DESIGNS that gifts me time to publish my findings.
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One thing I thought was weird I clicked on a link and it brought me here http://www.microsoft.com/shared/ and that uses a strict doctype.
I knew this would be like this if they did do a redesign because recently a friend of mine Dan Klyn wrote about how its the worse new product site ever I went there and checked out the code and was amazed at the code and how horrible it was.
I ment to say I knew it would be like this because Dan Klyn wrote about Zune was the worst product site ever, I forgot the Zune!!
Yeah, that site does make me shudder. It is pretty clear that Gates and the Microsoft crew have very little care for proper code and web standards. Check out the interview Molly did with him http://www.molly.com/2006/12/14/who-questions-bill-gates-commitment-to-web-standards/
very upsetting!