Design ideas for the Manage tab

[Andrew Mager]

Hello Network Creators,

One of our missions is to improve the experience of all Network Creators, and a good place to start is the Manage tab.

We have it laid out with various icons in different categories. Is this a usable interface?

I have played around with some ideas in my head on how to improve this experience, but I'd like to hear what you think.

How would you re-design the Manage tab?

Andrew
Web Developer, Ning

[Kim]

I think it works great as it is! Just my opinion though!

[Jen]

I think it's a nice idea to keep it fresh, and organize things. But honestly, I don't see a thing wrong with the way it is now. It's a good interface.
Best,
Jen

[Garfield (Creative)]

I don't know if anyone else experiences this but I get a little feature amnesia as to what the options are form some icons. Maybe a tool tip or some convention for icons that have options that may not be immediately recognizable from a single icon and 1-2 word description.

For instance, here is a pop quiz - which icon do you go to to set the default group photo? How about profile photo? If you know these right away forgive me for my short term memory. This simple thing might save me a few extra page loads.

[Travis]

Ditto. It's not a bad interface as it is, but some of the less frequently used options are kind of buried. For instance, here's another one: how do you update your ad code if you've purchased the upgrade? It's under "Premium Services" -> "Go Ad Free" -> "View your premium services" -> Service Name: Go Ad-Free -> Edit -> code editor. Why isn't there just an icon on the manage screen for each of the premium services that you've purchased which have options (ads, domain name, etc)?

[Andrew Mager]

Also, I think it's hard to remember which settings are where.

Evan and I are working on splitting out some of the "Feature Controls" options into other branches that are labeled better.

Thanks for the ideas!

[Brian Floe]

You have done a great job of making Ning really userfriendly. This is Nings most competent area of expertise.
Tech wise it's not always doing very well, but user friendliness you are masters off.

I do find it annoying when I'm experimenting with a new CSS code solution that I have to hit save and then click on the advanced tab over and over each time I save and try something new.

The tab manager always puts new tabs at the bottom instead of below the tab I have highlighted and the area to the right where I set the url etc. should be fixed while the tab area should be in a scrollable window because it's a pain when I have to edit 10 tabs at the bottom to members only, that I have to scroll back and forth. Why now put the tabs in a scrollable window so I can position the tabs I want to edit right outside the area where I need to edit the data connected to the tab?

When I am going to the help area from my networks manage area, why do I have to log in once again when I get there?

Besides from these small complaints, you have the best on the market. Looks much like a Mac OS X control panel interface hmmmmm ;) - Very cool.

[Thomas Knoll]

There are some interesting design patterns in the latest versions of wordpress.org. Plus I like Garfield (Creative)'s suggestion of more detailed tool tips.

[Ken Carroll]

I agree with Brian Floe. I think its great the way it is. NING have a done a wonderful job with this control panel.

One suggestion would be to have something that indicates if there are new NING apps available. I recently found that Apps.IO had released ''Answers'' app. I didn't know this was available until I saw it on the Apps.IO website. Would have been nice to have seen some sort of indicator to say that new apps were available.

[Brian Floe]

I had the exact same experience - just found the answers app AND the new map app wich is much better it seems.

I'm sure Ning must have already realized we need a way to be told about new Ning apps. It's so obvious.
I would prefer a list of apps on the ning apps page that shows me the apps added by date.

One more thing. I want to have a link on a members page, that takes me directly to his name in the members area inside manage. Like if I want to promote him.

[Jeff]

This page is fine. My suggestion is to look at the manage options more. For example, revamp the Members page for managing members. Give us more control and information.

In my opinion we should be able to do anything necessary from the page to do with members. The Actions list is woefully inadequate.

Just a couple -

1. Search by email (yes, you can't, not even in advanced search)
2. Add Advanced Search here. You have to do a search before you have this option.
2. Be able to send a private message, or even clicking on the email to send one off site.
3. Select a member and see history of their activity that includes posts, uploads etc. and from that list edit capabilities for entries.
4. Select a member and see a list of their invites and for what, and the option to resend selected invites.
5. Select a member and see a list of their friends.
6. Action to Feature or Unfeature.

I could go on but basically as creators we should be able to manage our members from here in a big way.

Just my opinion.