Intranets’ evolution: What a difference 7 years make

In the digital world, changes occur at a breakneck pace. A month is an eternity.

Seven years? Worlds can shift.

Let’s look at how best practices and innovations from 2008 compare with the latest design trends of 2015. Looking back can offer insights into where we’re heading next.

I’ve dug through the Brandemix archives and conducted a Web search limited to 2008 to determine what was trending then, and contrasted the results with this year’s innovations.

Then: Desktop-friendly
Now: Mobile-friendly

Intranets used to be accessible only to employees at their desks. That meant a large screen, often a Windows operating system, and standard dimensions and colors. Thus, the intranet had to look good on only one type of machine. After all, why would an employee check work information at home, in their free time? They certainly wouldn’t use a mobile device to browse a company’s intranet, given that the first iPhone had been released only a few months before.