Comments on: Can we avoid redesign backlash?

By: Scot

Scot — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:25:10 +0000

I couldn’t believe some of the hateful comments that were posted when we re-launched, but from a commercial point of view do you really want to listen to customers that can’t spell ‘web’?

The squeaky wheel only gets the oil if it isn’t completely retarded.

By: David Hamill

David Hamill — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:06:14 +0000

I prefer to steer clear of redesigns altogether. I’ve wrote an article on the subject a while back:

http://www.goodusability.co.uk/2008/11/do-you-really-need-to-do-that-redesign/

By: Cliff Notes on a Website Redesign - Tips and Thoughts from the Creattica Inspire Design | Web Design Abyss

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:48:48 +0000

[...] UX designer Cennydd Bowles has an interesting article about how users react to redesigns, where he mentions the five stages of user reaction – denial, anger, bargaining, depression, [...]

By: A Tim Called Oak » Hilarious

A Tim Called Oak » Hilarious — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:43:48 +0000

[...] just finished reading this great article about the perils of redesigning major websites. The author illustrates the [...]

By: Carly

Carly — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:21:33 +0000

What a unique and wonderful thing to address – I love your application of Kübler-Ross – that made me laugh out loud! It’s so true, I guess if you think about it, people are actually grieving for the older design!

By: Christian Dalsvaag

Christian Dalsvaag — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 15:33:14 +0000

You are a genious. I have never seen such a great description of a backlash. The five stages are simply beautiful, and ingenious.

By: Cliff Notes on a Website Redesign - Tips and Thoughts from the Creattica Inspire Design - PSDTUTS

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 18:51:21 +0000

[...] UX designer Cennydd Bowles has an interesting article about how users react to redesigns, where he mentions the five stages of user reaction – denial, anger, bargaining, depression, [...]

By: Findings 12.05.08 | 8164

Findings 12.05.08 | 8164 — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 07:38:39 +0000

[...] Can We Avoid Redesign Backlash? – Cennydd Bowles makes some good observations about what to watch for when it comes to web site redesign. [...]

By: Cennydd

Cennydd — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:56:36 +0000

@Gez: Like it a lot. Great colour scheme, good type (although perhaps a point or two too small?). Two things I’d look at:

- tag cloud. Visually cute but not exactly usable if smooshed together (although are tag clouds *meant* to be used?)
- comments kinda stream into each other. Maybe just an indent on the “Comment by Cennydd” line to group off individual comments?

By: James Wheare

James Wheare — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:13:43 +0000

It’s hard to judge user reactions. First of all, it’s a vocal minority that actually say anything, and usually you’re more likely to say something if you’re angry than if you feel pretty much ok.

Also, different sites are better suited to accommodate the feedback loop. Social networks with forums and group features built in are more likely to attract clusters of dissenters than a platform that’s mainly about playing games with your existing friends, rather than creating new communities on top of it. The XBox community is a meta-entity spread across fan sites and forums, merging in and out of game specific communities.

There’s also the self-referential angle. A newspaper site relaunch is likely to garner far more comment from the echo chambers of the web design community.

I’d agree with many of your observations, there are just some obvious data skews you have to be careful with.