Meet the Groups Design Team
Last week when I introduced the Groups PM Team , I briefly mentioned the User Experience team, whose members work to make sure Yahoo! Groups look good and are easy to use. It would have been more appropriate for me to refer to this team as the Groups Interaction & Design team.
This mighty team of four is responsible for taking the features and enhancements the Groups Product Team specs out and making them come to life visually.
Two kinds of designers are involved in the process, and they both have specific roles and considerations.
Interaction Designers focus primarily on the user’s experience when interacting with the new feature, including how easy it is to use, what the "calls to action" (typically buttons and links) should say and where they should be, what steps take a user from point A to point B, and the overall flow. Interaction Designers also think a lot about how the new feature should be integrated into the product and how the overall page layout should look.
Visual Designers focus on the best way to display information and new features, so they’re easy to read and understand, aesthetically pleasing, and consistent (in terms of color and layout).
The Design Team works very closely with Groups PMs and engineers, fostering an extremely collaborative and efficient environment.
Breathing Life Into New Features
When members of the Groups Design Team begin to think about developing a new feature or improving the user experience, they first develop what is called a "wireframe." A wireframe is a simple sketch that shows the steps a user takes to get from point A to point B, minus all the pretty designs. Once that flow feels pretty solid, visual elements are added and "mockups" are created. Mockups show what the feature will actually look like as a user goes through the pages.
When determining how a new feature should look, designers think about all the various use cases and conditions that can occur, based on the variety of Yahoo! Groups that exist. For example, how does the flow look to a user who is signed in, versus one who’s signed out? Or how might members of a Family Group use features versus members of a Fan Group? Designers also have to think through all the possible user paths through the features, as well as where and how users might go wrong—and what the error and help messages should say and look like.
Mockups serve an important role, as they stimulate conversation and allow for further iteration as the integration of the new feature into the product is fine-tuned. Mockups inspire feedback and give Groups PMs an opportunity to see what they’ve spent a great deal of time thinking about, and they help in determining if the team’s going about things in the right way. Feedback is not limited to Groups Team members; we also gather insights from Groups users through a variety of channels, such as focus groups and product advisory panels. Obtaining our users’ perspective is extremely important and useful in this process.
With more than 113 million users and 9 million Groups, the number of use cases and edge cases the team has to consider is exhaustive, to say the least. It’s not uncommon for a designer to go through dozens wireframes before a new feature is finalized—and that’s not including the consideration required for the internationalization of the new features. Yahoo! Groups is available in 22 languages, which presents the team with even more to think about in terms of spacing, how users in each language read (horizontally or up-and-down), and how the characters will look within the overall design.
Needless to say, the role the Design Team plays within Groups is central to the development of new features and the overall maintenance of the product!
Next week, I’ll highlight the role the Yahoo! Groups Engineering Team plays. (Engineering is the largest team within the Groups, so stay tuned!)
Best,
Jami
Groups Community Manager
Gaylene said,
August 22, 2008 @ 10:45 pm
This is the designer team, pleased to meet you.
Please, how can I do my home page for my site (link above) in the groups management such as, bold, highlighting, colour, writing styles etc etc if you access the group sites all we have to try and learn is some language as in.
< things like this, its really hard on me and no doubt others that have tremor disorders or having to go back to basics of something that we didn’t even know about. So, where is the HTML for making our group home page look good, you have it for emails and others but not this?
Another thing that annoys me is, you tend to underline our spelling in a red colour (as if we are at school) but this is how we spell it in Australia, we have different spelling, this doesn’t seem fair and no sense in confusing the young ones on the Internet still learning, is there. This applies to many words and phrases.
Another thing, with the spam that tends to come into the bulk folder or inbox, why not have an automatic blocking system like outlook express does?
Such as, when it asks are you sure you want to empty your junk email, whatever, it should say ‘Would you like to block the senders of the mail you have chosen to empty?’ something like that.
Lets start with some colour and highlighting on our group home pages that is easy to use, not some thing were we are all stuck in a world of not knowing how.
Also, don’t upgrade anything without our permission, example, my instant messenger will not work and crashes all of the time, yes over the long months I have tried the new version to no avail. When doing these things, have someone in each part of the world, with all different computers including dial-up and windows etc, test on them first rather than us getting loaded with the errors. Again, thank you.
Thanks – Gaylene (Tasmania – Australia)
Jeanne said,
August 22, 2008 @ 11:10 pm
Hello and it’s nice to see a face to the group! OMG – you are all SOOOOOOOOO young! “smiles” I do not mean that in any other way that you are blessed with the wonder of youth and I’m probably old enough to be your Mother. “grins” However, I am passionate about digital art and web design and while we never had computers in the ice age, at a latter part of my life, I got my first pc in 1999 and I’m self taught in web design and digital art and photography and I am always learning, thanks to some very intelligent, talented and generous people like yourselves.
I only wish we had access to the wonders of the technology we have today, when we were young and in school. My first intro to computers was during a position I had with a state office and they acquired a system to put our client’s payments on an automated system, which was like a dinosaur compared to what we have today. I remember how we all were so impressed by the games the employees learned how to play on these word processors – I’m not sure what they were called back then, but they were defintely not pc’s – this was in the early 1970’s. The game(s) would consist of a small x or something, somewhat like the first video game that came out in the 1970’s – I think it was called pong – we had one – and we thought it was great! lol Then when Atari came out – I spent hours and hours playing PacMan determined to beat it and when I did – hit the 100,000 mark, I was so disappointed that all that happened was that the game started over again. lol I expected at least some hoopla to award me!
Yahoo has come a long way since I first joined in 1999 – it was my first email account, my first experience in chat rooms – which sorry – I don’t go anywhere near these days – and it has improved and offers so many great features to people today, it’s amazing how far we have come since then.
I have been with the lists since it was One List – then it combined with Egroups then finally, Yahoo took over the groups completely. I love groups and would be lost without it. I’ve met so many wonderful people over the years, and it gives so many of us an opportunity to gather in an environment with people of like interests from all over the world.
Thanks for all you do – and I will continue to look forward to all the great new features I am certain you will be coming up with in the near future.
Thank you so much for the increase in file size for groups too – those of us who share digital art, photographs, etc, are thrilled with this new increase and very grateful for these wonderful free services.
Many blessings to all,
Jeanne
Mike said,
August 22, 2008 @ 11:37 pm
Could Yahoo let us know when ‘improvements’ are made? I moderate a group that has a very high proportion of computer newbies, some I wonder how they even turn on the computer without help.
We have to give step-by-step instructions to some on how to do things, such as how to link a Yahoo ID to their email address, how to change message delivery, change their email address, etc. When procedures change, we have to update our step-by-step instructions, but we don’t know when they’ve changed unless we are told by the members that the instructions don’t work, or we run across the changed procedures by accident.
A quick note from Yahoo that the changes are to be made would be apprecated. Even better would be about a week’s time that we could see a ‘mock-up’ of the change so we could be better prepared when they are implemented.
Something else that would help is for the procedures to be reviewed by someone who was not involved in any way, shape or form in the development of them. In fact, new procedures should be reviewed by someone who is not very computer literate. If that person can understand the procedure, it’s probably pretty good. If they can’t, then why waste the time deploying the new procedure and then getting weeks of grief from users who can’t understand the procedures?
Mike
gunner said,
August 23, 2008 @ 5:51 am
i might suggest you consider posting a large sign in your shop, “IF IT AIN’T BROKE, DON’T FIX IT”.
“gunner”
Raj said,
August 23, 2008 @ 6:22 am
Yes, you all look so young.
)
Seems to explain all the problems with Yahoo services
Oklatom said,
August 23, 2008 @ 6:38 am
Nice to meet you. But it looks like your job is to put icing on a lop sided cake.
Remind whatever team it is that is supposed to fix broken things that the top contributors list is still not updating.
And have them look at the various words that are listed as being wrong. Words like Los Angeles, which is a city in California, I know, I’ve been there, and DMV which is “Department of Motor Vehicles” and accepted everywhere but here, and no, I didn’t mean DAV.
Then set the sensitivity on catching things in upper case. When I put DMV or IRS in the text, I didn’t accidently leave my caps on.
See where I’m going here? Make it right first, then make it pretty.
Raj said,
August 23, 2008 @ 7:47 am
I agree Oklatom, first get the system working and then spruce up the looks. That’s what I used to do ages back. We need Yahoo services that work and not just look good.
Claudine G said,
August 23, 2008 @ 10:21 am
thank yu very much..and congratulations
Merci..Félicitations pour le formidable travail
Cindie said,
August 24, 2008 @ 10:41 am
Wow they look like kids. I didn’t think I was getting that old!
/attempt at humor
Varun Trivedi said,
August 24, 2008 @ 11:29 pm
Phoney membership of the groups
Some groups, operating from India, have recently started registerring phoney members to increase their membership. This trend is visible in some groups after the Bombay Meet.
Does it have any thing to do with the future plans of Yahoo about the Groups?
Could some one keep an eye on such unethical practices of some Group owners and Moderators?
Regards,
Varun Trivedi
gilbert illana said,
August 25, 2008 @ 8:46 pm
hi to all guys its so nice to members this group and for you to look young.
Ian said,
August 26, 2008 @ 4:22 am
Would the team please set a text colour for its Yahoo Groups pages? I belong to 2 groups and run one of my own, and always the text is AQUA on WHITE “paper”! Why? Because my PC is set up for a restful NAVY paper with AQUA text. This saves eyestrain. The fact that Yahoo Groups pages default to AQUA proves that no text colour has been properly set. This is a basic amateur programmer’s mistake. It’s about time the design team fixed it. Reading Yahoo Groups pages in INVERSE is a pain. So I visit rarely.
RS said,
August 26, 2008 @ 3:54 pm
Good to “meet” you all.
I would like to see you review YG pages for consistency of appearance and function. Streamline it, please! I hate having to spend a thousand clicks to get to my destination — Especially when browsing for groups, and using the search feature which is so limited and difficult.
The appearance of Groups is very cluttered, and non-intuitive as well. I’d really like it to be more simplified with more tools at our disposal.
Cheers!
mugisha jum said,
August 27, 2008 @ 12:07 am
i have real appreciated for such team work because of the services they offer. i would like to keep in tourch with you and become a such important person because i am also doing bachelors degree in information and technology at mbarara university of science and technology and hitherto 2nd year.
yours faithfully
mugisha juma
Joe Thomas said,
August 30, 2008 @ 1:00 am
The following is a wish list for improvement from a hardcore Yahoo group affectionado…………
I am moderating two yahoo groups. AIDS INDIA and AIDS ASIA . AIDS INDIA Yahoo group is running for the last eight years (more than 5,400 subscribers)
Both groups are accredited for reliable health information. The following is my wish list to the Yahoo product development team
The following is based on my notes on moderating the yahoo group I kept over a period of time…
I wish to see YAHOO GROUP as an integrated site for information, communication and networking.
1) A classification system for e-mail messages posted on the GROUP (Like, news, information, comments, jobs advertisements etc.. pre-set by the moderator)
2) More freedom to select what category of messages to be received by the subscribers
3) Access to Forum usage data. How many are visiting the web interface of the Group?
4) Provision for a personalised invitation to join the Group. Please re-introduce the 2nd dialogue box on invitation dialogue box
5) Time stamp on the messages posted on the forum – should be the date, in which the message is approved- not the date in which the author send to the Group.
6) Please provide the facility of video conferencing at the yahoo group
7) Please link up YM with the group?
9) Please provide a provision for forwarding the messages, posted on the Group to another e-mail
10) Linking up the yahoo –e-mail address book to the yahoo group
11) Staggered moderator privileges (such as the number of ids could be added per day)
12) A userfriendly way to insert photos on the messages
13) Provide facility for personalising the messages from the Group
SANTHANAM said,
August 31, 2008 @ 12:17 am
thanks for your service
JIm said,
September 1, 2008 @ 1:05 pm
Hi there, now I might be alittle bit confused here, but, any group of ypung Americans who can get together to better this world deserves the Biggest Kudos of all! Sure there are some problems an bugs, but I think the half the problem is that once again our generation is too quick to Judge an Blame the youth by saying they have no experiance to be doing this kind of thing. Well, I don’t see them doing anything but sitting on thier a==*- complaining that something isn’t working right for them.
I do beleive that the ‘Free Cycle*’ has gotten outa hand, it seems to me that there are more beggers than donaters. Asking for a piece of furniture or clothing, anything such as that is fine, but Shezz, asking for cell phones, 8 piece serving sets, golf clubs, wedding dresses and yes, I even read one that wanted a working riding lawn mower.
This was founded on people who had things to give away, but it has turned into ‘Santa’s Wish List’ I am sorry if I have afended anyone, it is not my intention to upset anyone who genuinly needs something but where will it stop. I had half a mind to put on “Needed, one four bedroom, two bath Home on 100 acres a four car garage would be nice but not nessasary.” lol But I couldn’t do that just to prove a point.
Anyway, you guys keep up the good work your doing an don’t sweat the small stuff.
ashok said,
September 4, 2008 @ 1:12 am
hi guys its very greatfull to join this group
vivek said,
September 5, 2008 @ 12:04 am
Hi,
its great to see all these people helping others to improve their skills.
vivek
John said,
September 7, 2008 @ 8:43 am
Hi Guys, This is a good job you are doing here, it is some great!. I pray the good Master will reward you on your effort to make the World Good place.
I will like to meet a friend in your group, the first lady in this picture.
hope hear from you all soonest.
John O. D.
Ian said,
September 8, 2008 @ 3:35 am
I get more exciting spam than the comments I keep receiving from this group. When I tried to unsubscribe from further emails, I was directed to a page with the message “You may not access this page without a valid key.” For Goodness’ sake, Yahoo!
Administrator said,
September 8, 2008 @ 11:09 am
Hello Ian,
I’ve deleted notifications for you from this post, let me know if you still receive them.
Thanks,
Jami
almisim said,
September 8, 2008 @ 11:50 am
It is wonderful
Donna said,
September 10, 2008 @ 10:55 am
You guys rock! Thanks for all the hard work you do.
Peace,
Antiquarian Vegan Chick
guevara said,
September 13, 2008 @ 11:29 pm
aaaa
justme said,
September 14, 2008 @ 7:51 am
Can’t manage my subscriptions from this section tried several times. keep getting this:
You may not access this page without a valid key.
MOHAMMED ABDUL AZIZ said,
September 15, 2008 @ 7:32 am
hi,
this is aziz
how r u
pl send reply
abdul aziz
9247764431
nice said,
September 15, 2008 @ 10:29 pm
nudexxx25@yahoo.com
kimo said,
September 16, 2008 @ 10:54 am
HELLO CAN WE BE AFRIEND
radhakrishnan said,
September 17, 2008 @ 1:53 am
i would like to have a friend who are in cosmopolitan and modesty
mohammed said,
September 20, 2008 @ 9:47 am
Hello and it’s nice to see a face to the group! OMG – you are all SOOOOOOOOO young! “smiles” I do not mean that in any other way that you are blessed with the wonder of youth and I’m probably old enough to be your Mother. “grins” However, I am passionate about digital art and web design and while we never had computers in the ice age, at a latter part of my life, I got my first pc in 1999 and I’m self taught in web design and digital art and photography and I am always learning, thanks to some very intelligent, talented and generous people like yourselves.
I only wish we had access to the wonders of the technology we have today, when we were young and in school. My first intro to computers was during a position I had with a state office and they acquired a system to put our client’s payments on an automated system, which was like a dinosaur compared to what we have today. I remember how we all were so impressed by the games the employees learned how to play on these word processors – I’m not sure what they were called back then, but they were defintely not pc’s – this was in the early 1970’s. The game(s) would consist of a small x or something, somewhat like the first video game that came out in the 1970’s – I think it was called pong – we had one – and we thought it was great! lol Then when Atari came out – I spent hours and hours playing PacMan determined to beat it and when I did – hit the 100,000 mark, I was so disappointed that all that happened was that the game started over again. lol I expected at least some hoopla to award me!
Yahoo has come a long way since I first joined in 1999 – it was my first email account, my first experience in chat rooms – which sorry – I don’t go anywhere near these days – and it has improved and offers so many great features to people today, it’s amazing how far we have come since then.
I have been with the lists since it was One List – then it combined with Egroups then finally, Yahoo took over the groups completely. I love groups and would be lost without it. I’ve met so many wonderful people over the years, and it gives so many of us an opportunity to gather in an environment with people of like interests from all over the world.
Thanks for all you do – and I will continue to look forward to all the great new features I am certain you will be coming up with in the near future.
Thank you so much for the increase in file size for groups too – those of us who share digital art, photographs, etc, are thrilled with this new increase and very grateful for these wonderful free services.
Many blessings to all,
M.A.RAOOF said,
May 8, 2009 @ 12:13 am
Dear Friends,
Who can help in establishing YHOO GROUPS, if not existing;
SHADI
ENGRAVING or SIGNS
TRACKING FROM PIN TO ELEPHANT + VEHICLES
RAOOF