The importance of the thumbnail

Different marketplaces and different product types but there is a lesson to be learned from this:

1: Realizing thumbnails are important.
2: So it becomes important to comeup with right thumbnail – decide to work on that.
3: Find what is a right thumbnail that contributes well for a particular product’s sales.
4: How we know that already working thumbnail is – doing its best?

The hardest part is achieving #3 for each product. The impossible part is #4

I always thought how the items list would looks like it .gif files were allowed

Thanks for sharing!

Stylius said
http://themeforest.net/user/ThemeFuse/portfolio These guys know.

those icons are awesome.

doru said

Stylius said
http://themeforest.net/user/ThemeFuse/portfolio These guys know.

those icons are awesome.

This is where we (designers) move into dark zone. By aiming aesthetics and predefined formats (branding – consitency), we actually limit the possibilities of showing the essence in a non-symbolic way.

VF said

doru said

Stylius said
http://themeforest.net/user/ThemeFuse/portfolio These guys know.

those icons are awesome.

This is where we (designers) move into dark zone. By aiming aesthetics and predefined formats (branding), we actually limit the possibilities showing the essence in a non-symbolic direct way.

I always thought items thumbnails should contain some information text about the item in order to be accepted. But those icons mentioned are great indeed, thanks for sharing!

By the way, how you guys handle this: you outsource the art/designing part of your projects? I usually spend for the art/design work in my projects a double time than for coding and still I am not happy with the results I am seriously considering an association with an experienced designer. So who does the design/artwork in your projects?

For marketplaces that support a thumbnail hover, the 590×300 preview image sort of becomes an extension of the thumbnail. When I shop, usually I need a thumbnail to stir my interest, but a hover preview image to close the deal (warrant a click). So in this context, the thumbnail really becomes more of a way to capture your attention, but the preview image is the gatekeeper.