LANStudio Inc.

Netscape 6 Browser Visual Redesign 1999

Project Overview

Redesigning the visual appearance of the Netscape 6 Browser involved every aspect of the product. Driven by several factors, the requirements were: 1) update the brand, 2) simplify, streamline, and update the user interface, 3) incorporate new, innovative technology and features, 4) rebuild the software platform.

Project Overview

With our focus on the visual design of the product, we created a visual hierarchy to easily distinguish between the browser function, content and notifications. We also created a visual language in the look and feel of the icons, the use of typography and the user controls that created a brand image and created visual feedback to the user that communicated how to interact with the product. Redesigning a product with this level of complexity requires several organizations in the company working together to create a product to delight users.

Netscape Web Site Redesign 2000

Project Overview

After Netscape was acquired by AOL, we were able to incorporate volumes of quality content into the website. The design challenge was taking a web site that functioned as a directory and integrates significant amounts of content to create a multi-use web site. The format had to be flexible to accommodate the variety of content while maintaining the usefulness of the directory that millions of users had come to depend on. The web site design also had to serve the business model and incorporate advertising without interfering with access to the content. Efficient use of the real estate within this design system was key to the success of the design.

Project Solution

The standard 3-column format was modified so that the most visible real estate at the top of the page was expanded to provide the space necessary to take advantage of the content. The standard navigation to the left of the page stayed the same, maintaining the layout that users are accustomed to. The real estate at the top of the page was consolidated and simplified, creating more space for content.