Imagine logging into your Face Book account. The first thing you notice is a new friend request from five people. Instead of seeing the words friend request, you see “five sorry lots think they’re your mate”. This lingo is an element of Face Book known as pirate talk. The pirate talk application is an interactive design feature to establish a unique world within the social network environment.
Interaction design is defined as the behavior of a product or system and the user that interacts with it. The goal of interaction design is to minimize confusion and create an accurate and efficient way of connecting with people and corporations. Today with the increase of social media interactive designers are going one-step further.
Designers are developing new ways to make social networks more appealing to users. Corporations are even implementing design features into their blogs and personal social networks to draw in more users and cater to stakeholders.
When social networks were first established the design was minimal. Creators focused on the site and its functions rather than the attraction to keep people returning to their site. Even though interaction design is not necessarily conversation between people it is the returning of users that will initiate interactivity between other users.
As networks such as MySpace, Face Book, and LinkedIn continue to thrive, the design elements continue to increase. Designers use their talents to create an environment within the site. Each network has different characteristics that create a unique world. Designers work to make this world more real to users.
Social interaction design is reflected through a variety of elements. The Social Degree blog archive explains the importance of implementing interactive designs into social networks. Everything in a site right down to the labeling of buttons is used to create the interactive environment.
Even though social interactive design is more prevalent among social networks, blogs and corporate sites are beginning to implement unique designs to keep users returning. Also social network applications can be used to connect users to corporations and navigate them to a company’s blog or website.
A website created by Adrian Chan is called a Social Interaction Design Consultancy. This site describes in detail the importance of social interaction design and how it differs from conventional software designs. The website also describes and gives advice in creating interesting design elements and features. If you’re looking for interesting ideas for your own company site, check out what Chan has to say.
I am going to begin looking into different case studies and how social networks and corporate blogs are using interactivity to the best of their ability.
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March 4, 2009 at 4:27 am
Heather Thoreson
Nicole, I definitely agree with you. So many corporations are adding in elements of design to let you interact with their service in the way that you want to. People can take things and cater it to exactly how they want it to be. Like Google and Yahoo!, you can customize your homepage for when you access your e-mail account. On this page you can create your own theme and how you want it to look. You could even base it off the seasons, the holidays, or your mood of the day. Companies are letting you pick your own design specialized just for you. On this page, you could even have your RSS feeds, your favorite daily newspaper, comics, or whatever else pleases you. The company does not have as much control over what you do with their service anymore. They are just creating the opportunity for you to interact and to attract you to connect more with their corporation.
March 4, 2009 at 11:51 pm
Mandy Smoot
Nicole,
First of all, I really enjoyed reading this post. As a big fan of Facebook, I am now glad to know that they offer pirate talk. I never knew such a thing existed! I am definitely going to have to check it out.
I completely agree with you about how design in new social media is becoming more personal and appealing for users. Design is of particular interest to me personally. I love when Facebook, for example, adds a new application. I can personalize the theme around my top friends or organize my information in a way I want it to appear to my friends. It just goes to show that more and more companies are aiming to satisfy consumers’ individual needs.
The website that you mention, http://www.gravity7.com, is very useful. I took a look at it and especially enjoyed Adrian Chan’s slideshow on “Social Interaction Design.”
When you begin looking into different case studies, you may want to start by looking at http://www.vimeo.com/2776663. Will Evans talks about two cases studies in his video. One is on how Kayak.com failed and the other is on how Gather.com succeeded.
March 5, 2009 at 2:07 am
Sarah Lokitis
Arrr, me hearties! Pirate talk was a great addition to interaction design for Facebook. Facebook published Pirate translations for National Talk like a Pirate Day. I’ll admit I used that translation for over a month to the extent I was not even fazed by reading “Arrrrplications” (Applications) or “Abandon ship” (Logging off). Here’s the link when the translation occurred on Facebook’s blog staffed by CEO Mark Zuckerberg and several employees — http://blog.facebook.com/blog.php?post=31137552130.
Social interaction design is a component of the user experience. According to the User Experience Network, user experience is the satisfaction a consumer or audience has when experiencing a particular design [http://uxnet.org/]. The interactivity and design can combine to promote a stakeholder driven website and memorable experience for a user. Interactivity can improve a user experience. Facebook was able to understand its audience and found an interesting way to integrate an interactive design idea into their social network. When you are looking for future case studies, look around for websites or blogs where the interactivity supports the objectives of the audience.
March 5, 2009 at 4:09 am
Nicole Fiorella
Hey everyone!!
Thanks so much for your advice and input. In my next post I mention Carnival and ended up coming across their social interaction design along with their use of social media. It was really interesting to see it being utilized. I also checked out that video, Mandy, and it is really helpful. I am planning on investigating those companies further and hopefully I can find even more information about their strategies and technologies.