Since its public launch in mid-2011, Storify's multimedia timelines -- which let users tell stories using a combination of photos, tweets and other forms of content gathered across the web -- have appeared on thousands of websites, from amateur blogs to the NYTimes.com. But Storify wants to be more than a tool for third-party users -- it wants to be a discovery platform as well.
On Tuesday, Storify unveiled a website redesign to further that mission. Trending topics and a search bar now crown the top of the page, helping users discover stories about, say, the fiscal cliff and the conflict in Gaza. Users can search for completed timelines or for individual elements, including quotes, images, videos and links, to add to their own. The square grid format in the previous version has been replaced with scrolling tiles that pay homage to Pinterest's design.
Here's a look at the old homepage:
And the new:
Beyond the new format and search, Storify has also revamped profiles so that users can add profile images.
The new design offers some welcome improvements to both content creators and consumers, but I imagine some publishers will become concerned that content generated by their employees is being consumed on a platform they neither own nor are able to monetize.