11 December 2013
BBC's design philosophy lays the groundwork for everything they do as a user experience and design team. It guides the way their service look and behave as well as the way they operate as a team. These are their principles.
"The Global Experience Language, (more commonly known as GEL), is the BBC’s shared design framework. A system of reusable interaction patterns used to assemble the BBC’s entire online output.
Providing a consistent user experience (UX) across multiple BBC services is vitally important. For our audiences, GEL provides ease of use, familiarity and the confidence to explore more of our online content. For our design teams, GEL increases our efficiency and productivity. And as a shared system, it supports collaboration.
Prior to GEL, our web services were all designed differently. This was confusing for users. It’s introduction in 2010 helped us rationalise the design of our online estate. We did this by consolidating our most common interaction patterns, (eg. menus and promos), and standardising our foundations, (eg. typography and iconography). But like any language, GEL is constantly evolving. We work tirelessly to improve its value and appeal, and we publish our work here on the GEL website.
An internet-fit BBC must support an increasing amount of content with a greater range of expression. Yet it must hang together as a coherent suite of trusted, easy-to-navigate services. GEL helps us achieve this, both creatively and effectively."
Source: GEL - Global Experience Language
Create a personalised experience for every individual - whatever their needs, schedule and interests.
Design to the needs of your audience. Every innovation has to benefit or delight them.
Consider every device and where, when and why it might be used - from the armchair to the Arctic.
The journey’s as important as the destination. And if your user veers off in a new, exciting direction along the way, all the better.
Upcycle existing designs. It’ll give you more time to innovate. And the greater consistency will encourage greater exploration of the BBC, online.
Create a personalised experience for every individual - whatever their needs, schedule and interests.
Design to the needs of your audience. Every innovation has to benefit or delight them.
Consider every device and where, when and why it might be used - from the armchair to the Arctic.
The journey’s as important as the destination. And if your user veers off in a new, exciting direction along the way, all the better.
Upcycle existing designs. It’ll give you more time to innovate. And the greater consistency will encourage greater exploration of the BBC, online.
