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:

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

[Connie]

You must have worked for some great companies if the CEOs actually cared about their people as much as they cared about the money! 🙂

[Colorfulgalshop]

Just received this message from a customer - "I am trying to design my poster and add the 36 photos but having a challenge. Also the text and it doesn't let me to review it either. Please do not ship until I can work on it. I downloaded the photos but I can't add them to the poster. Can you help?" I've received two other messages like this in the past few days. Pretty sure they have the new design tool. It's way too confusing for people - especially when you have more than one photo or a few elements. HELP - Zazzle - please rethink this!

[VivianD117]

I have to agree that it is confusing.  i was asked by a friend to help her with a multi-photo gift as she was having difficulty with it.  Computer skills are not her best suit, but I was confused at first until I could find the way into the design tool that we use.  So I know that there will be a sizeable audience that needs instructions and needs clarity.  I have been so impressed with the adjust feature for photos and always with the ability to clearly advise customers regarding the text they were replacing.  
Years ago I ran a communications session where people had to come up with written instructions as to how to perform a specific task knowing they could not speak to the people who were doing the task for the first 20 minutes after they were handed the instructions.  I ran that session with different groups in different parts of the country and only once -- was one group of "planners" clear enough in their instructions so that the "doers" could understand and complete the task.  The point to that exercise was to drive home what everyone has been saying -- and I know you're doing this on the back end -- but one must really involve the "doers" in the planning phase because it is hard to separate oneself from the knowledge they already have in their head. 

[ColsCreations]

In one of the versions I'm getting (as a not-signed-in viewer of one of my own designs), once I click "Personalize this Design" from the product page I get this:

Those bottom three fields are NOT template text so why are they appearing here where using them totally destroys the design? They are editable unlocked text but previously one would have to intentionally enter the Design Tool and mess around there to change it. Now they're being given the same immediate & easy access to edit them as if they were template text. I wish I had locked those fields but too late now. 

* This is not a one-off happening. I'm seeing the same thing on all my products where I used this same text set. 

[Fiorenzo]

OK. I understood. Guess, I solely have to concentrate on my art. Just create and slap the pic on every product it fits and let the shoppers mess with the rest. And while we're at it, forget the whole AI debate, too, and just use it. It's definitely not the time to lose time to make things right. Doesn't matter anyway.

[AirTwin]

Oh that means some of my designs are messed up because I hide some elements for my use on matching sets. Before the line snap grid thing I had some elements I used to help me space text, that I hide. I'm not looking through all my stores to find them....

[Cat]

I still haven't found a way to test out the all-in-one editor version - this is the one I'm seeing on other people's products - it just replaces the form and not the design tool:

My feedback on this version is that the dashed lines on the image are super confusing because they don't actually line up with the text that's being edited - they're below and to the right of the text. This might work well on products that only have one editable text field, but on products with a lot of different fields it's really confusing which dotted line thingy goes with which text.

[tamirazdesigns]

This new test version you posted looks like the new version that I stumbled upon and posted about via the forums early April 2025 of other designers items (see below ex. Image from back in April).  Except back then they didn't have the blue link to Use our Design Tool until you clicked on the Back tab at the top of screen. 

I thought back then (and still do) that this version looked like a nice clean look, and was glad the blue link opened up to the normal design editor tool. 

(The template field boxes on the image were fine back then).

Looking at your new example of this same version it looks like they listened to designers' comments to have the link to the design tool editor tab on the Front tab too, which it should have been also.   And I see they added a Preview tab now at the top from your example.  

So looks like since early April Zazzle has been playing around with this version, and also now a few more versions this week to test out which one will be most beneficial for them to decide on keeping for the customer and designers to utilize.

Ex. from April 

[Connie]

With a few tweaks (like lining up the dashed lines properly, and preserving our instructions for text templates) this would be the best option. For simple personalization, it's quick and easy for the customer to customize it, and for savvy customers who want to make further changes and mess around with the design or the fonts, they can easily go into the regular design tool.

[Cat]

I FINALLY was able to test it out (I got there by using Chrome instead of Edge and logging out.) It will take some getting used to, but all in all I like it. A few thoughts.

1) As others have mentioned, we REALLY need the eyedropper tool. Please bring it back.

2) It took me forever to find the curve option on text - I finally realized that's because it's now called "Text on a Path." Not sure if that means that paths other than simple curves might be coming but I think that would be a great feature to add.

3) I'm not sure that I see the purpose of having this popup for text editing:

It would be more intuitive if the user could just click on the text and a cursor would appear inside of the pink box for editing like a word processor. That's probably more complicated programmatically, but I think it would be more intuitive to use.

4) I like the way it walks you through the design part, then the options, and then the review with the add to cart button right on the review page. It would be SUPER helpful if the review page could mention that orders cannot be modified once placed.

5) While I do think some folks will be overwhelmed (especially people who prefer written instructions over "discoverable" interfaces), I actually really like the all-in-one nature of the interface - I think that it's less confusing for the customer than having a form to fill out in addition to a separate design tool. I also think it might help the customers to understand that they are actually the ones doing the customization rather than filling out a form telling us how they want us to customize it for them (which seems to happen a lot under the current system.)

6) I do wish there was more in the way of on-board help for the customer. While logged out I tried asking the chat bot some of the questions I get on a regular basis (Can it be green instead of blue? How do I change the font? Are my margins OK? etc.) and all I got was generic "use the design tool" answers. I suppose while things are in flux that's really all it can say, but it would be wonderful if there was eventually some sort of interactive help that could be accessed without leaving that screen. In general, I'm in favor of making customers as self-sufficient as possible.

[SheaPrints]

I haven't had access to that version yet, but it's good to hear it's working! The three versions I've experienced, all share issues with personalization, but this one has them all:

The photo is under another graphic/frame so you can't select it.
https://www.zazzle.com/custom_construction_site_id_logo_qr_code_navy_blue_badge-256273075905369953

The photo is grouped with other elements, so you can't select it.
https://www.zazzle.com/stylish_notary_public_photo_qr_code_id_black_gold_badge-256433015875953806

The monogram text is locked, so you can't select it.
https://www.zazzle.com/custom_monogram_name_initials_retro_green_yellow_pickleball_paddle-2566122090...

Text and photo are part of a 'Horizontal' tiling, so you can't select them.
https://www.zazzle.com/custom_name_age_photo_art_deco_birthday_black_wrapping_paper-2565762286303177...

Some of these issues are solved if a customer works out how to access the 'Layers', or find the 'Ungroup' tool. But there's no solution for the locked text/image, or the 'Horizontal' tiling issue.

This is super confusing because there are four different versions being tested. So we're all seeing different things, and it changes all the time!

[Connie]

That's interesting. I found this version EXTREMELY unintuitive and difficult to use! Are you an experienced Canva user? this is very similar to Canva, which I also find difficult to use for anything except mockups and basic clipart- it is way too clunky and unwieldy for serious designing. 

Don't forget, a customer is not going to spend hours clicking around trying to figure out how to do the simplest actions. They'll just give up and go elsewhere, or message us asking for help. I've already had to help one customer add their logo to the design; it was a quick and simple task from the regular design tool, so I didn't mind. But naturally she couldn't figure out how to navigate this new disaster, and even I couldn't figure it out at first.

[Cat]

I've never used Canva, and honestly I'm SUPER confused at the moment. I didn't realize there were sooo many different versions out there so I'm not sure which one I was reviewing! (My bad for not posting screenshots.) 

But in a nutshell, I basically think that the "click on it to change it" model is intuitive, the problem is that it totally falls apart when you have a complicated design with layers partially or fully covering editable objects because it becomes impossible to click on the layers underneath!. For designers, using a layer stack to reach those objects makes sense, but it's NOT reasonable to expect customers to be able to figure that out! 

I'm not sure I see a great way around that Achilles heel for an "all in one" tool (one that both designers and customers are supposed to use.)

ETA. The only thing I can think of to make it work would be to use some sort of "smart" selector where if you clicked on an editable/template object that had a non-template object on top of it, the focus would automatically go to the templated object NOT the one that happens to be on top. But this also falls apart if you have two template layers on top of each other (like a customizable text layer overlaid on a customizable photo or image.) In those cases, I think the only thing that would work would be to have a popup or something that allowed the user to choose which object to edit.

[plumb4me]

I went to Zazzle.com on my phone and tried to change images on one of my products. When I figured out I had to ungroup the design, I never found a button to lock the top layer template, so I could never actually change any images under the template layer.

[VivianD117]

I just went into a card to see (again) what this felt like.  Really simple suggestion:  when is says click "next" -- I was looking for "next" on the bottom near me.  Suggest:  either move it or say "click the blue "next" button top right".  

[James]

Thank you for posting examples of the layering/ image replace issues. I have passed this to the team now. 

[SheaPrints]

@James  Thanks, James! Can you say how many weeks this test will run? These grouped/locked/layered/tiling issues are affecting a lot of design templates. I realize it depends on which version the customer gets, but it must be resulting in lost sales. Will these issues be fixed before the test ends? I've tried all four versions, and there are two in particular that make the template problematic or unusable 😟. 

[jophb]

@James  I am also having this issue on many of my image based items. Anything with a gradient or transparent layer is causing the images to be impossible to change. And no one is going to know to go into 'layers'. I have not had a sale on my best selling photo item since this new editor was introduced.

[Lea]

I haven't been able to access this yet, but in general my feedback is I just really want a ruler. Please. Thank you. 

[Wollastonite]

Others have said this already, but it would be great if we can keep things as they are during this testing phase, where the customers have their customer-centric interface, but us experienced designers get to keep the traditional, more advanced interface. 

[LMGildersleeve]

What?!? And ruin Zazzle's track record??? 

😅

[Connie]

I think Zazzle did say it's just for customers right now.

[GabrielaG]

@ Heather and @ James.

I’m sorry, but this needs to be said. When a new feature is released for customer use, and even experienced designers find it confusing to navigate, that should be seen as a serious concern. A huge red flag! If designers who work with the platform daily struggle, customers—many of whom are neither tech-savvy nor artistic—will likely encounter even greater challenges. 

It’s worth remembering that Zazzle's highest-revenue categories are weddings, occasions, and holiday cards. These customers are often busy professionals with many responsibilities and things to coordinate. They want a process that is quick, simple, and enjoyable, with already-made designs that are unique and beautiful. While some enjoy making small adjustments, most are seeking ease and efficiency. More skilled artsy individuals don't really need Zazzle; they already have alternatives such as Canva and Photoshop, and print their products themselves locally or send them in a digital form. By prioritizing this last group, there is a risk of overwhelming Zazzle’s core audience, who may instead turn to competitors like VistaPrint or Minted.

Let's not forget your designers. For designers, stability is vital. We invest countless hours into creating high-quality work, and frequent major changes create uncertainty about our long-term future on the platform. Added complexity also confuses customers, which means we spend more time addressing questions and less time designing. While we’re comfortable with small text or layout adjustments, excessive add-ons distort our creations and compromise their integrity. We ask that you look after your designers, respecting our designs, the art licenses we use, even the media images, and explanatory videos or instructions we have already made, and take into account how changes might affect them.  After all, designers are the very soul of Zazzle—without us, the platform would lose the unique content that sets it apart from a standard print shop.

It’s essential to strike a balance between innovation and simplicity, while keeping both customers and designers in mind.

For these reasons, I urge you to carefully weigh how new features impact both customers and designers. Changes that inspire confidence and excitement among your designers strengthen the community and benefit everyone. But those that create frustration risk unintended consequences—because, as the saying goes, many tiny drops create huge ripples.

And I'm sorry, but you don't run a beta test on "live real customers" that can affect your business sales! It should have run professionally with a test group or a designer's group!

[Marcia]

@GabrielaG THIS!!! So well said! Better than I could ever have put into words.

[Connie]

I wholeheartedly agree! And its even worse to run beta tests on live customers during the busiest shopping season, where the tests that fail results in thousands (or millions?) of lost sales instead of just a few!

[Cat]

I reported this in another thread, but I'll mention it here just in case. On some products the product preview image is missing, and while you can still see the design in the new design tool, once you get to the options and review pages the image is blank:

URL for product in question: https://www.zazzle.com/elegant_eucalyptus_greenery_formal_wedding_invitation-256023948596051539 (I can provide dozens more links if needed.)

[Heather]

@Cat - Thank you for sharing. I reported this to the team incase it wasn't already on their radar. 

[Cat]

Thank you. I'm not sure if the problem is spreading or if I'm just finding more examples now, but I've got literally thousands of products that are pretty much unusable because of this bug, and it is quite concerning.

[Heather]

Thank you @Cat - This is priority for the team and they are working to resolve it. 

[Heather]

@Cat - This is now resolved. Thank you! 

[Cat]

Thank you so much!

[Anne]

So we're seeing an avalanche of technical "glitches" that we designers have to find a way to work through on a daily basis. Unless the plan is to create a Great Repeat Show for another Black Friday that says Zazzle is "closed for scheduled maintenance", I think it is high time for management to stop this nonsense. 

[jessletterman]

I'm not sure why they try to implement these changes in Q4. It never seems to go well for them. You'd think that they would learn eventually.

[Fiorenzo]

So I chose one of my bestselling Christmas card...

 Then clicked on personalize, and got this:

And no way I can get rid of that UGLY semitransparent layer with the change-image icon on the front page that pops up instantly, ruining the front side of my card.

Thank you.

P.S. There was a time when we did our alpha and beta testing on in-house devices by ourselves, before we threw anything out to the public. Just saying. Sorry for the rant.

[SheaPrints]

A customer contacted me because they couldn't customize the same tiled pattern they'd used previously. I explained that different versions of the new design tool were circulating, and some had issues affecting specific features. I'm hoping they'll keep trying until they get one of the two versions that work (or the original). When this happens should we just ask them to contact customer support? I don't want a customer to think I'm not even trying to help!

[Cat]

I would definitely tell them to contact customer support. Not only will that give them the best chance of resolving the issue and you making a sale, it will also give Zazzle much needed feedback about the new design tool.

[SheaPrints]

You're right, I should have given a brief explanation and directed them to customer support. Explaining why there's now sometimes an issue with customization is confusing for a customer. They were right to message me, and are probably frustrated that I couldn't help, since many customers think designers have full control of everything.

[SheaPrints]

I really hope that when the new design tool is finalized, all designers are given a chance to 'revise' any problems for existing designs that have a sales history!

A while back, I noticed that some layouts shift when you use 'Transfer design to a product', but they don't if you 'group' or 'lock' them. So I did that for some products. But now, anything that was locked is inaccessible, so customers are unable to change the photos or text. Similarly, grouped elements must be ungrouped before they can be modified.

(Two of the design tools being tested do give customers an opportunity to change these things when the 'Edit' window is included, but not all versions have this).

[marina_Orlando]

Hi @Heather 

I cannot see nor use this A/B Testing feature for any of my designs, It still shows the old one....why is that?

Creative Design  and Paper Petals Studio

[LMGildersleeve]

As the announcement said no everyone's account will be able to see any of the a/b testing tools.

You are not being singled out and there is nothing wrong.