Transparency Extended: Flickr Stream UI Screenshots

It’s amazing how much the world of software development is changing. What was once a clandestine affair now extends to early public alphas / betas. For those not quite so inclusive, a Flickr stream of UI screenshots lets the masses get involved.

Why screenshots of the UI? Like it or not, everyone considers themselves a UI expert. An application or website UI is likely to draw a considerable amount of feedback (or ire — anyone remember the great Adobe icon debacle of ‘06). In the case of the “icon debacle” by releasing previews early Adobe was able to free the actual product release window from considerable negative noise by showing the icons early and engaging in a dialog with the protestors. Adobe didn’t change the icons, but it gave consumers a chance to digest the change and develop an alternative set of icons that could be used if you were a hater.

A stream of ui screenshots seems like a trick every product marketer / PM should have in their bag. What I’d really like to see is a stream that went from start to finish. It would be great to see the complete evolution of ideas from the initial designer comps to the final build. On release day throw together a time lapse video and you’ve got ready made marketing Kool-Aid that illustrates the hard work and refinement that went into the release.

For the record, I liked the CS 3 icons then and still like ‘em now. ;-P