Pixelfed - Web UI Redesign

For several months now, I have been passionate about decentralized social networks.

A federated social network is a platform composed of independent servers that communicate with each other using common protocols. Unlike traditional centralized social networks, where all data and interactions are managed by a single company, federated networks allow users to interact across different servers while maintaining control over their own data and communities. This structure promotes decentralization, giving users more freedom and autonomy.

I started my decentralized journey with Mastodon in 2022, and then the Pixelfed network caught my attention. However, I noticed that the UI was somewhat outdated, so I decided to redesign Pixelfed in my own way for a more modern user experience.

Here is how Pixelfed currently looks like:

1. UI Review

First, I conducted a UI review of the existing platform. I annotated the elements that seemed odd or in need of improvement.

2. Drafts & Wireframing

Then, I iterated on the look I wanted to see in the application, taking into account the reviews conducted earlier.

3. Designing in Figma

During the design phase, I noticed that some ideas I had during the wireframing stage were not as relevant as I initially thought. I challenged those ideas and proposed possible alternatives. The responsiveness of the content, as well as the different photo/video formats, were also crucial steps, as some users post in square format, others in 9:16 or 16:9. Everything needed to be consistent.

The motivations behind this redesign were mainly to achieve better consistency across pages, a cleaner design, and improved usability. I also made sure that the design was easily resizeable/responsive.

I added vibrant colours to make the application more attractive and used rounded corners to give it a warmer feel. The goal was to transition from a more technical approach to Instagram to a more mainstream platform, open to all types of audiences.

Thank you for reading me! If you want to learn more about Pixelfed, you can create an account on pixelfed.social and start following people. You will be able to find and follow people from other ActivityPub instances, such as Pixelfed, Mastodon, Threads... all in one place. That's the magic of interoperability !

If you like my work, you can find more at matlfb.com, follow me on Bluesky/Mastodon or send me an email at [email protected]. I’m a freelance designer and I’m currently accepting new clients. I would be thrilled to help bring your projects to life! 🌈