New Design Experience Now in A/B Testing

[Heather]

Hi Creators,

We're excited to share that we've launched an updated design experience that's currently in A/B testing! This represents a significant evolution in how design works on Zazzle, moving toward a unified tool that serves both creators and customers.

What's Live Now?: Our design tool experience is being tested, meaning users will see either the current experience or one of three new variants. This tool builds on the features you've been using including frames, grids, design elements, and our royalty-free content library, but is optimized to make design more accessible to customers who may not have your level of design expertise. Your existing post-for-sale flow remains accessible and we intend to improve those workflows as part of the next phase. 

Here's a quick demo from Sean walking through the experience:
https://youtu.be/TUMP-xSCJno

Why This Matters for You: Since this A/B test exposes templates to a new design interface, you may notice that some existing designs work differently in this customer-focused environment. 

As an example, to create a smoother customer journey, we’ve improved how “locking” works for layers. Previously , when you locked an object, customers could not unlock the object which caused usability issues when they wanted to make changes. With the new update, both you and your customers can unlock a locked layer. Note, if you originally had a a locked layer, the "disabled" setting is automatically turned on with the update. We’ve added a new toggle called “Disable All Object Interaction” which is located in the “More options” section in the right-hand panel. When enabled, it prevents users from interacting with the layer, and customers cannot change this setting.  Additionally, we’re using the locking feature to automatically hide certain layers, such as large transparent overlays, shields, or borders, that might otherwise interfere with customers trying to upload photos or edit text.

After the test concludes, we'll be sharing tips and best practices to help your templates shine in this new experience to maximize customer engagement and conversion. 

Looking ahead, this optimized experience is the first step toward a cohesive design tool for everyone on Zazzle, designed to add ease for customers and positively increase conversion to benefit creators. We welcome your thoughts and feedback as you see this experience in action, as your insights help us build better tools for the entire Zazzle community. The team will be reviewing this thread so please weigh in as you’d like. 

Thanks for being part of this journey, 

The Zazzle Team

[Cat]

For those of you who have access to this new tool, are you seeing it on all of your products? I guess what I'm asking is, is the testing by user or by product? I haven't found it on any of my products yet, and I'd really like to be able to test it out. Should I keep looking, or should I look at other people's products? If the testing is by product, I'd appreciate it if somebody could send me a link to a product where this new tool is in effect so I can see it. (I hope that made at least some sense... I seem to be super confused about all this.)

[KeegansCreation]

What I am seeing is if I look at any product of mine in the back end or in the MP, I'm seeing classic design tool. But if I look at anybody else's product in the MP, I see the new design tool.  I looked at a card, a t shirt and a paper plate. All 3 product types were classic design tool when I looked at my own products but new design tool when I looked at somebody else's.
Here is a link to one of my products. I see it as classic design tool but you may see it as new design tool.  I tried logged out and results were the same.
https://www.zazzle.com/congratulations_to_nephew_who_graduated_card-256525555153985570

[Sara_H]

@KeegansCreation same - don't see it on mine saw it on yours 

I accidentally pressed "remove background" and there's no way to revert it oops

[KeegansCreation]

Interesting. I wonder if we are in a group where they experiment with leaving classic design tool when looking at your own products but showing it the new way for customers. They would have to tweak classic design tool a bit for that though because classic design tool only has a lock layer option (which a customer would now be able to turn off) but no option to disable customer unlocking, as required for any purchased graphics.

It looks like the new design tool needs an Undo button. 

[Cat]

Thanks. I'm still seeing the old interface on your product. I played around a little bit last night and found some products that had the new personalize form, but not the new design tool - they still had a button to click to enter the old design tool and none of the features shown in the video. I guess I'll just have to wait until I can happen upon a way to test it out.

[SheaPrints]

This new format is not working if the text/photos are positioned under other elements (e.g. picture frames or graphics).

Here's an example: https://www.zazzle.com/custom_construction_site_id_logo_qr_code_navy_blue_badge-256273075905369953

This photo is positioned under a frame, so when you select it, only the frame is selected for customization.

You have to select the 'layers' icon , and then select the photo there.

This makes it confusing for customers. They can access some elements on the design, but have to open the layers window for others — they may not work it out!

[Fiorenzo]

This is one more point adding to the ones I made. I already said you won't see nor can you address all available fields and imagery directly, in the end you need the layer panel and work from there. Good luck also with blank image placeholders e.g. for logos that may or not may be wanted. Without any explanation, the customer is now doomed. I also have blank overlays over my backdrop images so I'm able to easily make custom adaptations and send the replacing image directly through API addressing these blanks. Without any remarks, customers have no no idea what these white blank images are in the layer panel. 

[SheaPrints]

It looks like I've been moved to a different version of this new design tool! Now I can access the photo and text.

[SheaPrints]

Within just a few minutes, it reverted to the previous version, with the same problems as before — it keeps changing!

[Cat]

Oy vay!

[SheaPrints]

If a design is a tiled pattern, that uses the 'Horizontal' tiling format (instead of the 6" 'Tiling' format), then there are no options to customize it!

Example:https://www.zazzle.com/custom_name_age_photo_art_deco_birthday_black_wrapping_paper-2565762286303177...

The screenshot below shows how I created the tiling:

When you open the new design tool window, you see the whole design without any options to customize the text/photos.
If you open the 'Layers', and select the design, you still can't change anything.

The only way to access the photo/text is to ungroup the tile. You have to select 'More', and then 'Ungroup'.

But, now there is no way to return the design to the original tiled format!

I've used this 'Horizontal' tile format for so many designs! So far, I've seen this issue on wrapping paper, aprons, tea towels etc. Now customers cannot personalize them!

[Colorfulgalshop]

Thanks for the link to your product - I tried to replace your photo and have no idea how to do that and I've been designing on Zazzle for YEARS. This is so confusing. Customers are just going to give up!

[KeegansCreation]

Oh man!! I just tried with your design and like you said, the image I put in does not tile. It takes up the entire wrapping paper.

[SheaPrints]

It looks like I've been moved to a different version of this new design tool! Now I can access the photo and text.

[Ricaso]

The template options previously would help customers with more complex personalization.
Previously we could write a short description of what a customer needed to do, or could do, an example being a certain text where using glyphs required a customer to place text between the glyph options to maintain the font. 
Now they won't know they need to do that and the font will be messed up. 
It doesn't make it easier for the customer and it limits our ability to offer a more complex design. 

[Fantabuloustef]

Definitely, as a designer I’ve spent a lot of time defining accurate labels that would really provide precision, information and guidance to customers. Now regarding the new tool, I just think « So many efforts and wasted time for nothing! » Same when I take the time to add explanation videos on how to customize things precisely in my design media, and I see I’ll have to redo everything now that it has changed… These new changes, in addition to all the preceding changes of this year, just tend to convince me that Zazzle is not worth it anymore for designers… Because whatever the time you have spent, they will always make huge changes that will oblige you to redo everything… Really too unsteady for me ! My conclusion today is that I’ll never spend as much time I have already spent on this platform anymore.

[Jadendreamer13]

This potential change is really disheartening, but hopefully Zazzle will take my suggestion and create a toggle switch for designers and customers, so the Design tool will remain unchanged for designers, and customers will be able to see and use the new version. That would be a win-win situation.

Designers REALLY need a win-win solution right now. We’re all still reeling from the damage that the Ambassador Program did to our businesses.

We can’t take another hit now.

[Fiorenzo]

Same here. I have often text variants, optional text and logos that can be placed, and more, and all my designs come with a get started info at the start of the form. Plus I provide image sizes for good results, hints, etc., Then I have objects overlapping others... Basically all my designs are doomed with the new changes, and the purchase chance of pretty all my designs have dropped significantly that way, when customers have no clue what to do. The worst part is that this affects also holiday cards. basically it means I have to hurry and create simple designs for basically every product that may sell, and especially cards. What a mess.

[Laura]

I'm finding the crop tool in the new layout only allows repositioning of the photo from the top/bottom, not left/right. The only way to slide it left/right is to use the Design Editor (which in my a/b test was the old editor).

[Laura]

I'm seeing other a/b versions now. On most, the crop tool works as expected so that's good.

There is one a/b version where the image is masked with a circle/oval shape (from elements), the image itself is inaccessible unless one finds it in layers. At that point though, it needs to be unmasked before the image can be changed. Once changed however, there is no option to remask it! 

ETA: If I don't change the image after I've unmasked it, but instead undo the unmasking, and if I don't click on anything else, the change image option is still available so then I could change it. Don't think a customer would stay long enough to figure it out.

[MaggieA]

You seem to forget that most customers might not be used to digital design tools. Have anyone had a friend or relative who is not into design to test this out? Without any help? The old version was easy to understand without having any prior knowledge. 

I watched the video with a friend, she asked how to get the top text back since it went missing when the image was switched to a new one (the concept of "layers" means nothing to her in this context). She admitted she would probably have looked for somewhere else to shop since this was outside her comfort zone.

I really really hope you have a lot of personel hired to take care of the customer questions arising from this experiment. Also you would need very easily found contact info for assistance/help,  since I very much doubt that the designers would be willing to take on the roll of teaching customers how to use this new feature. 

[Barbara]

I'm in the group without access to the changed design surface. I can see it as a customer might by going to someone else's product, and that's all well and good, but since I can't test a single aspect from the designer's point of view, I don't dare design anything unless it's a simple single layer with perhaps a short line of text. Come to think of it, that's often the format for Christmas cards. At least there's that, which is something I'd been considering doing anyway.

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[Fiorenzo]

For now it's probably the wisest choice to concentrate only on products you can slap a simple image on them and that was it. Such as puzzles, pillows and whatever home decor with no big customization need. I will hate this since I like to give some options as well as advice to get the best results, e.g. minimal and recommended image sizes, even on simple product designs. Still wondering who was hurt by our field labeling and decided they had to go and make place for fancy gimmicks like the trembling button on tapping. I'm surprised there is no doorbell ringing, too.

[Laura]

Did we lose the color picker tool? I'm not seeing it in the new layout.

[SheaPrints]

I can't find it either! I hope we don't lose it, it's such a useful tool.

[tamirazdesigns]

I looked for that color picker too and couldn't find it.  It's a much needed tool!  

I can only see whichever new test design tool layout from other people's designs.  And like many other designers, I've also used the template fields over the years to give label information, which I think is good to have as a guide, but is gone now.   

Another Question:  Are designers still going to be able to create "intricate" designs with their own multiple images and text placed "within the design tool" in various ways, and also  by using a lot of layers for the various element shapes "from within the new design tool" to create their "intricate" designs the same way we were able to before?  Looking at whichever new test design tool I'm seeing via other people's designs, I don't see how to do this anymore.  

The new test design tool layout I saw looks less user-friendly.  Looks like more clicks to find or do things.  I don't know, but so far I prefer the old design tool we've been using that I guess people are now calling the classic.

[plumb4me]

I cannot find the color picker either.

[Amanda23]

Would it be possible to postpone the rollout of this tool? We’re entering the biggest time of the year on Zazzle. 

I could see this greatly impacting new designs available as well as sales this season.

Designers are confused because we’re all seeing something different, and EXPERIENCED customers who return frequently are going to be even more confused. Am I to understand, too, that they may see something different than we see? If so, we won’t even be able to help them. Most won’t ask, of course. They’ll just move on. 

[Jadendreamer13]

Zazzle - When you roll out this change (PLEASE wait until Q1), please consider having a toggle switch that switches between the traditional Designer mode and a new Customer mode.

That way, everyone will be a happy camper.

[tamirazdesigns]

I was thinking the same thing regarding a design tool mode for designers same as we've been using all along, and something a little different for the customers to toggle to (if they didn't need or want to use the designers design tool).  Not sure Zazzle would do it but who knows.

[SheaPrints]

If customers are selecting text/images/graphics on the design area, there's a risk they could accidently nudge them out of position. This is problematic if they don't realize it before the print stage! Perhaps it would be better if everything was locked in position as before, and they had to choose to unlock all the available design elements.

[plumb4me]

The problem comes with grouped designs. The design I posted below this message, is grouped and the customer doesn't know to ungroup it. If and when they figure out how to ungroup the design, they can't replace the images and crop the images, because there is a template on top of the images, that is not locked. If and when they figure out how to go the left side of the screen and click on layers, there is the grouped design, now what are they suppose to do? If and when they figure out how to ungroup the design in the layer, they still don't know they have to lock the top layer, so they can replace the images, underneath the template.

After all of these steps, I gave up and closed the product and the customer will too. This is so confusing and all of these steps are so unnecessary.

Why does Zazzle always release majors update right before the Holiday Season and why can't Zazzle announce the change, before it even goes live, so we can at least have a chance to update designs or decide how we want to move forward with future designs? 

This is all the steps I had to take, just to figure out how to replace a collage of images. Why is this so complicated for a simple collage? I will lose sales and Zazzle will also sales, because there are alot of shops, that are full of just simple collages with templates, that are now unlocked and there is no simple way just to replace images.

[Fiorenzo]

Hint: We may create a tutorial mockup to counter the issues with the new layout where needed. At least for the most important designs, maybe make a few generic ones. I know, extra stress, but in extreme cases where people need instructions, this may prevent sales losses.

[Fiorenzo]

Technical issue: If you edit a field and delete the content/keep it blank, the field is deleted after you submit the change.

[plumb4me]

Here is another version I see, not sure what's going on with the black outlined boxes. It's probably a bug, hope it's fixed soon.

[jparrottmerrell]

So far, i like what i saw in the video. It's clean, simple, very intuitive and seems to offer quite a bit. I think it'll do a lot to help customers feel empowered. 👍 

[Anne]

I don't see this yet, but I have a big problem with this being thrown on us on a Friday right before the Holiday season and not being announced by email, but accidentally having to come across it in the forum. And clearly this should be pinned on top. It also fits nicely in the annual Zazzle tradition to do everything they possibly can to destroy the Holiday season. Please stop "fixing" things that aren't broken and address the LONG list of problems. Thank you.

[Barbara]

I've tried the new design tool on a number of other people's products (I don't have it), and find it's not in the least intuitive. In the effort to simplify as much as possible, it's gone to the complete opposite in which too much has been hidden from view. Every time I open it up, my first thought is, "Where did everything go?!" As a designer, I know what I'm looking for, but how about the customer? The outcome will either be that customers leave or, instead, contact the designer because they know what they want and are hoping the designer will do it for them. Not a good outcome either way.

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