Inside the Wikipedia Redesign Process

Core Concepts

The authors discuss the motivations behind the recent Wikipedia redesign, emphasizing the importance of intuition, relationships, and inclusivity in driving design decisions.

Abstract

The recent Wikipedia redesign led by Alex Hollender and Jon Robson aimed to enhance user experience while maintaining familiarity. The project involved considerations for multilingual sites, community collaboration, typography improvements, and responsiveness. Performance optimization and future feature flexibility were key aspects of the redesign process.
The team navigated challenges related to legacy systems, decentralized design needs across languages, and balancing user preferences with functional enhancements. The redesign focused on improving readability, navigation efficiency, and adaptability for future updates. Collaboration with volunteers and staff ensured a comprehensive approach to addressing design challenges while prioritizing performance metrics.

Stats

"This year, 2023, marks the first Wikipedia redesign since 2014."
"There’s Wikipedia in over 300 languages."
"We set a soft goal of delivering a great experience down to a 500px browser width."

Quotes

"Ultimately, we were focused on delivering the best reading and editing experience we could." - Alex Hollender
"The thing I’m most excited about is that the redesign project gave us the time to really pull apart a system that was 21 years old." - Jon Robson

Key Insights Distilled From

Behind The Curtains Of Wikipedia Redesign — Smashing Magazine

by Geoff Graham at www.smashingmagazine.com 02-26-2024

https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2023/06/behind-curtains-wikipedia-redesign/

Deeper Inquiries

How does managing design changes for multilingual sites differ from single-language platforms?

Managing design changes for multilingual sites differs significantly from single-language platforms due to the diverse needs and cultural considerations of each language community. In a multilingual environment like Wikipedia, where there are over 300 languages represented, designers must consider variations in typography, layout preferences, and even color symbolism across different cultures. Each language may require specific functionalities or customizations that cater to its unique user base. Additionally, the decentralized nature of content creation on Wikipedia means that design decisions need to accommodate various community-driven initiatives and adaptations.

What role does community feedback play in shaping major redesign decisions?

Community feedback plays a crucial role in shaping major redesign decisions for platforms like Wikipedia. The Wikimedia Foundation values input from its vast network of volunteers and users who contribute content and engage with the site regularly. Community members often provide valuable insights into usability issues, feature requests, accessibility concerns, and cultural sensitivities that might not be apparent to the internal design team. By actively involving the community in discussions about proposed changes through channels like Phabricator or public forums, designers can gather diverse perspectives and ensure that redesigns align with user expectations.

How can legacy systems impact the flexibility and scalability of interface updates?

Legacy systems can have a significant impact on the flexibility and scalability of interface updates by introducing constraints related to outdated technologies or architectural choices. In the case of Wikipedia's MediaWiki software stack, which has evolved over two decades, maintaining compatibility with existing codebases while implementing modern design practices can be challenging. Legacy systems may lack support for newer CSS preprocessors or JavaScript frameworks commonly used in contemporary web development workflows. This limitation can hinder rapid iteration on designs and make it harder to introduce innovative features without disrupting core functionality.
Additionally, legacy systems often come with technical debt accumulated over time, making it more difficult to implement performance optimizations or responsive design enhancements seamlessly. Designers working within such environments need to strike a balance between preserving backward compatibility for existing users while laying down foundations for future-proof interfaces that can adapt to evolving user needs effectively.