Google said the changes reflected the growing sophistication of users' search habits
Google explains search page design overhaul
/v3-uk/news/2010616/google-explains-search-page-design-overhaul
07 May 2010, Dan Worth , V3
Google has provided more details about the recent changes to its search results page.
Jon Wiley, senior user experience designer at Google, said in a blog post that the new layout is an effort to meet the "rising expectations for search" from increasingly web savvy users.
"As the web has evolved over the past decade, people have been typing more sophisticated searches and seeking specialised search tools to match. Our goal was to take a design known by millions of people and make it better," he said.
Wiley also explained that Google had spent a lot of time working on the left-hand navigation panel in order to offer the best balance of additional functionality without distracting from the primary search results.
"Using the lessons from Search Options introduced last May, designers, researchers and engineers worked to explore a vast array of possibilities for a permanently open panel of search tools," he said.
"We made hundreds of prototypes and gathered feedback from user studies, Googlers and experiments. In the end, we came up with a design that provides dynamic, relevant search tools on the left, while lightening and updating the aesthetics all around."
Marisa Mayer, vice president of search products and user experience at Google, said at the unveiling of the new design that it "refreshes and streamlines the look, feel and functionality of Google, making it easier to pinpoint what you're looking for".
© Incisive Media Investments Limited 2010, Published by Incisive Financial Publishing Limited, Haymarket House, 28-29 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4RX, are companies registered in England and Wales with company registration numbers 04252091 & 04252093
Do you agree?
No
I'm a user experience designer and I think the new design sucks
Posted by Martin Shmabologgaaah, 07 May 2010
Google made a hash of it!
Googel should learn not to try and drive search technology to suit themselves or their advertisers. The have lost site of the original need for a search engine. just to find pages of relevence. The new layout is TERRIBLE. I dont like and and will now look at an alternative search engine.
Posted by John Sutherland, 07 May 2010
New search sucks
Bring back the old one. As Ray Kroc would say 'If it is not broke don't fix it"
Posted by jerry, 07 May 2010
Where's the streamlining?
This doesn't streamline anything. It clutters, gets in the way, and distracts. Not only that, but it does not include ANYTHING that helps me find what I'm looking for, that is not already available through the classic interface.
Posted by Coronus, 07 May 2010
Keep It Simple Stupid
Keep It Simple Stupid thats my suggestion to the so called designer..
Google has a clean interface just keep it that way. The new design was horrible.
Posted by Brett, 08 May 2010
Love it
I particularly like the "Fewer shopping sites" option. Lets see Microsoft introduce that in there advertisement filled search. Of course Google also now offers "More shopping sites" for when I am trying to buy something. A solid improvement.
Posted by Robert, 08 May 2010
Stop Complaining
I find it funny that some people are so against the new design that they're going to change search engines! Really?! It's such a bad and over the top change that it turns your whole world upside down huh? I for one only use Google for the search part of things and these changes work so transparently, that it doesn't distract me from what I've always used Google for. People just like to needlessly complain. Save your breath people.
Posted by Martin M, 08 May 2010
annoying
I don't like it and find it irritating and annoying. The biggest advantage of google was it's simplicity. You just got what you wanted and a click or two took you elswhere - if you wanted to go there. Just like Microsoft Windows, Google have decided to pre-judge and decide for you. I will search for another engine that doesn't decide for me.
Posted by William George, 09 May 2010
No Uk Search
Bring page "Pages from the UK only" on the main page not once you're searched. It's silly searching and when you've got your results then tell Google to only search the UK. Surely it should be the other way round.
Posted by James Green, 23 May 2010