Blog
the flutter author num is: SELECT post_id FROM wp_postmeta where meta_key = 'wp_user_id' AND meta_value = '12'

My Twitter Wish

Design By Adam Kopec Apr 20th |

If you’ve ever used Twitter, you’ve probably noticed that your Twitter feed shows up smack dab in the center of your browser. As you resize your browser window, Twitter’s content adjusts to the changing size while the background remains fixed in place. Anyone involved with marketing through Twitter understands why this structure poses a challenge.

When branding a Twitter account, designers are very much at the mercy of different browser window sizes. Often, designers will focus on branding the left gutter of a Twitter page since that has the highest chance of visibility across different browser sizes, while ignoring the right to avoid losing branding on variable monitor sizes.

My Wish

This thought process has lead me to an interesting thought: What if your Twitter page remained in place? Say, for example, set to the left of the browser? If it remained fixed, designers would know exactly how much room to work with and they would be less concerned with the content stream partially covering their design. I think this would allow for more interesting designs like these:

@felixxxthedj

@gaksdesign

@adamplitt

These are all wonderful examples of engaging Twitter backgrounds, however as the browser window is made larger, much of their impact gets lost. Hypothetically, if the Twitter feed remained in place, designers would be less limited and could really go wild.

Your Thoughts

Is this a bad idea? Do you think designers would just go overboard and manipulate the core Twitter design too much? Does scarcity spur creativity? Or do you think a fixed background could open the proverbial door for more interesting ideas? What are some Twitter pages you’ve seen that have backgrounds that interact with the content in an interesting way?
Filed Under: Design

Author: Adam Kopec

Before working as the tallest Graphic/Web Designer at VaynerMedia, Adam graduated Boston University with a degree in Art Direction and Psychology. A native New Jersian (exit 135), Adam spent most of youth playing music in crappy metal bands before he realized being a rockstar wasn’t his calling. When he’s not making internet things, Adam likes to spend his time wooing the ladies with his guitar and snowboarding out west.
  • http://twitter.com/stormbear Storm Bear Williams

    As a creative director, the current way Twitter displays a page drives me insane. This would be an improvement – not just for marketing/branding but for simple aesthetics.

  • Axel – "baG"

    Agree, though I don't really understand this background frenzy. I believe that the content of the tweets is much more important than the design of the twitter page, who looks at twitter pages anyway ? And with the increasing usage of clients, it's going to be less and less interesting. But I may be wrong :)

  • http://twitter.com/_Tycho_ Tycho

    I think it's a great idea ive always had a problem with it when im working on twitter accounts for different companies… It would make branding so much easier… however, i dont think people really look at profile pages that much anyway

  • http://www.facebook.com/antwondavis Antwon Davis

    Your wish is my wish as well.

    I've designed several Twitter backgrounds for various clients, and I was forced to trim down my creative exploration due to this resizing issue. I had several clients follow up with me, complaining that the background's positioning was incorrect which was due to their various monitor sizes. I now stick to the rule of designing along the left side column, which can be frustrating at times.

    I like the examples you showed above. I think they represent what many designers and Twitter users have tried and failed to achieve with their Twitter backgrounds. That ability to merge design with Twitter in such a way that it becomes more than just a right column for a logo and contact info.

    Unless Twitter has some valid reason as to why their background function won't remain in place, I would hope they would grant your wish as soon as possible. It definitely does place limitations on branding and design.

  • http://www.facebook.com/adamkopec Adam Kopec

    Hey Antwon – thanks for your comment! I completely agree with you. It was that frustration that led me to writing this post to begin with. Can you imagine how much fun we'd have if it were fixed?

  • http://www.facebook.com/adamkopec Adam Kopec

    Marek, thanks for commenting man. Hmm, to solve the wide-screen issue, maybe there's a toggle or a plugin or something that allows you to bring it back to margin: 0 auto ? Hmmm

  • http://www.facebook.com/adamkopec Adam Kopec

    Thanks for your comment Storm!

  • http://www.facebook.com/adamkopec Adam Kopec

    Axel – I agree with you, content *is* most important. However, a unique design can leave a meaningful impact on the user. In terms of who's looking at twitter pages, I know its a bit outdated, but according to this article – 46% of people are seeing it. http://news.softpedia.com/news/Only-46-Percent-…

  • thed00dguy

    Hey Axel – I agree, content *is* most important. But an interesting design can leave a meaningful impact on the user! Also, I know this is a bit outdated, but according to this article, at least 46% of users see the Twitter background! http://news.softpedia.com/news/Only-46-Percent-…

  • http://www.asittingduck.com David Edwards

    I've not got round to my twitter background yet. I think its because I use search dot twitter more, but maybe I should think of the first timers!…

    :]

  • http://www.facebook.com/adamkopec Adam Kopec

    Thanks for your comment dude! Agreed. (Although outdated) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Only-46-Percent-… However, why not capitalize on that impression!

blog comments powered by Disqus

Copyright 2009 - 2012 VaynerMedia