From The Archives ~ Topics: case studies, information design
Redesigning and Redefining the AOL Mail UI for Millions of Users
Abstract
In the 1990's AOL brought the Internet out of the Pentagon and Universities and into the homes of millions. For over a decade, AOL saw great success, fostering its members from Internet infancy into Internet adolescence.
Recently, AOL has experienced "empty nest syndrome" as its membership matures into Internet adulthood with advanced needs and expectations. In an effort to retain its current user base and expand it in the future, AOL has been challenged to re-engineer its design philosophy from the coveted “walled-garden” into an ala-carte suite of products.
Nowhere is this manifested more than in AOL Mail. Originally an exclusive tool targeted at the nascent Internet audience, its focus has shifted to provide and innovate on the tools made standard by stand-alone products in response to AOL’s changing user-base and business goals.
Keywords
Branding, Business Case, Business Strategy, Concept Design, Experience Strategy, Information Architecture, Interaction Design, Process Improvement, Product Design, Product Management, Prototyping, Usability Research, User-Centered Design / Human-Centered Design, User Experience, User Interface Design, User Research, User Studies, Visual Design.
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First presented at the conference on Designing for User eXperience, November 3-5, 2005, San Francisco, CA
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