Red Pepper Flakes. A blog by Imelda Suriato

BBC 2.0

BBC published a detailed account of their website redesign effort on their blog. Called Global Visual Language 2.0, the redesign aim is to unify the visual and interaction design of bbc.co.uk and the mobile website.

The  new wider, centered page template takes advantage of wider screen resolutions and for the first time created an underlying grid. The hundreds of different banner styles are rationalized into a new global and local branding and navigation system. The redesigned homepage creates a visual style that began to ripple through the site and onto the mobile platform.

From grids to color to font to icons, not to mention the “Wall of Shame,” it is a very nice and detailed account indeed.

See the website redesign in pictures.

p.s.: Unfortunately, some people don’t react well to change , as reported by the Guardian. They’ll get over it.

2010 REBRAND 100 Winners

You read that right! I’m on the cover of a magazine. Well, my infamous namesake that is. 🙂 Eat Your Heart Out, Imelda cover is part of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County’s award-winning rebranding initiatives.

See all of Rebrand’s 2010 Winners. The Before and After transformations are doses of inspiration!

Vogue Stylist

Saw this Vogue Stylist ad while reading the mag at the doctor’s office this am.

The premise: Assist users in styling their wardrobes by uploading pictures of items they already own and allowing the app to mix and match those pieces with of-the-moment monthly picks from the staff along with products from Vogue‘s advertisers.

User can also find items in nearby stores, exclusive savings and product samplings, special event invitations and exclusive videos as part of what they called “unlockable content.” Ninety-one brands participating and over 600 articles of clothing and beauty products. Not bad.

Don’t know who developed the app. It’s been compared to Condé Nast’s other mobile apps (e.g. Lucky Mag‘s app, which is developed by FourSquare). Any ideas?

Read full review from WSJ.

Usability Wisdom

“Usability is like cooking: everybody needs the results, anybody can do it reasonably well with a bit of training, and yet it takes a master to produce a gourmet outcome.”

— Anybody Can Do Usability, Jacob Nielsen

A Brand for London

Today, during a logo design process for a new brand, I was about at the end of my wits in trying to communicate what I visually see in my head to my designers. In my process of figuring out how to show them how to explore the visual brand, I remembered this A Brand for London blog: A very nice journal on thoughts / processes / explorations in creating a new brand for London. Take a look at the pitch as well. (However, they didn’t win the account.)

Done by Moving Brand, you should check out their work and process. See Full Programme for  some impressive case studies.

Now designers, get back to work!