BBC homepage redesign opened to public in Beta format
The BBC homepage has been redesigned in an attempt to highlight more of the corporation’s content.
Currently in Beta version, the website will include a scrollable carousel which will include content depending on the account user’s preferences for ‘swiping’ content on smart phones or tablets.
A blog by James Thornett, head of the BBC Homepage Product at BBC Future Media explained that the new homepage has been made available for the public to use and offer feedback ahead of any official launch.
“By showing less of more, we’ve the opportunity to make the page more relevant for a broader audience,” explained Thornett of the new site.
“In doing this we enable the sort of ‘serendipitous’ discovery that Director of Future Media Ralph Rivera has talked about – if someone comes to the BBC to be informed, why shouldn’t they encounter content that will educate and entertain them also? Enabling these connections will become an increasingly important part of our public-service mission in a digital age and the new BBC Homepage is proof of our commitment in this respect.
“We think the idea of audiences coming to the page for the things they need, and coming back for the things they discover is very compelling, and we’ve kept this front of mind during the redesign.”
Key features of the site will be an interactive guide to the homepage, the carousel, simple filters to tailor the page, sliding ‘drawers’ which will reveal or hide detail, at ‘at-a-glance’ area with brief information held about various topical subjects and a separate nations homepages.