Envato Marketplaces Get Re-Designed, Plus Envato Credit Giveaway
Published September 28th, 2009 in Site NewsThe popular Envato marketplaces (ThemeForest, GraphicRiver, FlashDen, AudioJungle, VideoHive) just got a fresh re-design, and to celebrate Envato has offered to give away $20 in free credits to five readers of Vandelay Design.
I had the opportunity to ask a few questions to ThemeForest Site Manager Jeffrey Way, and here is what he had to say about the changes.
For those who purchase items at the Envato marketplaces, what are some of the significant changes in the re-design that will improve their experience?
Anything and everything! The goal of the redesign was to make the entire system prettier, quicker, and easier to use. Ultimately, this means that, thanks to an improved tagging/search functionality and the ability to “follow” your favorite authors, buyers will be able to find what they need as quickly and easily as possible.
Additionally, the layout has been entirely revamped. This includes improved blog and forum integration, faster page loads, a marketplace switcher, and even social networking features. Overall – this is a massive redesign that we’re really excited for the community to experience.
We’ve also paid close attention to the suggestions of the community – even to the point of our CEO asking them what they most wanted, via our marketplace global forum. One of the areas that we realized needed to be reconsidered was with licensing. As I’m sure you and your readers can imagine, when there are so many different uses – both personal and commercial – for an item, it becomes extremely important to offer different licenses (at different prices) to compensate. Unfortunately, the variety of different licenses managed to confuse buyers more than assist them. As such, at least temporarily, we’ll be reducing our licenses to only two. Please visit your nearest marketplace for more information!
Most of the Envato marketplaces have greatly expanded since the last design, in terms of the number of items for sale. Was this something that needed to be addressed in order to make it easier for visitors to find what they are looking for?
Absolutely. When FlashDen was first released a couple years ago, it was a single nine month project from a small team. Since then, we’ve expanded immensely, and have added GraphicRiver, ThemeForest, VideoHive, AudioJungle, and surely more to come! With over 200,00 members, it quickly became apparent that the marketplaces weren’t “connected” as well as they should be. This is precisely why the developers have added a “marketplace switcher.” This, hopefully, will provide new visitors with more options (marketplaces) that they might not have been aware of before.
As mentioned in the previous question, we’ve also been paying a great deal of attention to our new tagging system – which is a major overhaul over our previous search tool. This will allow buyers to search for anything – whether it be for desired features and colors, to a specific component used within the item.
Also, as with any two year old website, it’s only appropriate to provide a fresh coat of paint sporadically! However, in this case, a lot more than “paint” was added!
Giveaway Details:
If you’re interested in winning $20 in free credits to be used at any of the Envato marketplaces, please leave a comment on this post. Tomorrow I’ll choose the winners using a random number generator and contact you via email if you’re a winner. This post will be updated at that time to announce the winners.
UPDATE: The contest is now over. Thanks to everyone who participated. Here are the winners:
83 Responses
It is great have you have grown over the years. Keep up the great work.
Bart
Really love the new designs!
I’ve been looking at a lot of template sites recently and was already a fan of ThemeForests interface, but it now looks even better.
First Class redesigns!!! Congrats.
My RT: http://twitter.com/warstwydotcom/status/4440831828
Nicelly redesign!
Envato keeps surprising me!
The new designs are incredible. Derek did a great job!
Love the new site, so much easier on the eye than the previous design. Go Envato!
Great new design. Love it!!!
Really love these guys. I’m excited about Envato the same way I am excited about Apple and Element Fusion.
I want to buy a theme, would love to buy from the $20 giveaway.
I love the section for admin templates. They saved my life more than once.
Im looking forward to browsing envato , in another really simple easy to use interface!
Great Work!
Love the new redesign.. Still has some bugs in it though. I am using IE7 on Win XP and finding some columns and input boxes overflowing the layout. Small bugs / glitches.
themeforest is now on my “visit everyday” website list.
Everytime I turn around, they have a new site….incredible resources!
I love the Envato sites. All of them are very helpful and useful in many different ways.
alright, the redesign looks awsome, and the giveaway is even better xD
Sweet! Crossing fingers.
The redesign are brilliant!!
Great article!
That redesign looks awesome, a few bugs to be ironed out, but I’m sure envato will do that in no-time. They’re great people.
Also, for this website, I had never seen it before, and a quick look around has shown me I will come back anytime soon.. Very soon
I really like the new marketplace – i’ve a new time buyer – but the design looks AWESOME and easier!
New design is awesome!
Great work. I like the new design, it’s nice and more user friendly than before!
Love the new designs. Great update!
Awesome, So much great stuff on those sites!
Envato rocks!
Try my luck
Finally it is redesigned! I like it – simple and slick.
Love the new redesign. I signed up as an author today!
new design looks lovely! keep up the good work guys
The new look and feel is really much clever
They did such a wonderful job.
(sorry for my bad english XD)
Im totally digging the new design . Everything looks fresh
The new marketplaces design is superb. By far the best to come out of Envato.
I like Envato very much and would like the 20 bucks, too!
good redesign . I would still do more testing with the headers colors
(e.g. to have an orange header on flashden, a blue one on designriver etc, not just the “categories” button to have that color) ..
Love the Envato network… often find myself browsing the networks sites, often in awe
Envato rules, I love this place! Thanks you guys.
Thanks, Vandelay & Envato…
The new marketplaces look great. Can always use some free money towards design elements.
um, yes please!
Very nice, I hope to see some more Magento themes in the future. I’ll try to upload some myself!
See you soon…
Envato is really a top-notch source for the best web stuff around!
Thanks guys!
Envato is great !
thanks Vandelay !
(( Great job, you guys!
))
Sweet! ThemeForest is one of my fave sites! They have an amazing selection!
Thanks!
Envato is pretty much my first stop for inspiration.
Good stuff guys. Keep up the good work!
Cool, thanks for the giveaway.
I really like the redesign! Great job, Envato! and great interview
Love the color scheme and ofcourse the themes on themeforest are top notch. Kepp up the good work.
looks good, I really like Envato’s design style
Awesome design……….. Envato rock’s !!!!!!!!!
Great promo Vandalay!
i like the envato market place, but i don’t know i think i get used to the last template i’m not feeling this one to much, in time i’ll get used to it.
Interesting redesign… It’s much better then the old one. I’ll be migrating from iStockPhoto to Graphic River in October so this would be great to get started.
The redesigns look awesome. Much better than the previous layouts.
I Love the new design. Very easy to you and good user experience. Great job to Collis and the gang at Envato.
I love Themeforest…..that $20 credit would come in very handy
How much of the redesign was backend vs frontend design?
Everyone did a great job with the redesign, and once the bugs are fixed it can only get better. I can’t wait for the shopping cart and one-off purchases (so you don’t need to go through the deposit process).
Really good redesign, shining + Clean + beautiful than before, and better navigation than before.
I love the new design. Keep up the good work.
I’m excited about the new Envato design. Hopefully I’ll get some more work on there to sell on the marketplace.
The redesign is awesome, so is the giveaway!
Thanks for the chance at the giveaway.
The redesign looks great!
I have used and like both Flashden and Themeforest.
I would like the $20. Thanks!
Awesome, I love Envato so much. I was thinking the other day about how I would like to get some icons up on Graphic River. Hope I win this too!
Themeforest is so fantastic. I would love the $20 credit – I’m a uni student. Discounts always appreciated! : )
everybody loves raymond the new marketplace designs …
I want $20. I Love Envato.
I love the Envato marketplace and am really excited about the new design. I’ve only had a chance to look around a bit but it does seem like an improvement for the customer.
Wow looking forward to more from you guys…
Total Greatness!
Love the new layout.. Kudo’s to Theme forest
Thx for the recources and giveaway.
fantastic resource which I am finding myself using again and again – just hope too many of my competitors don’t find it as well
I love the new envato design! Cant wait to see if sales rise or decrease. It’s by far the best marketplace for designers though.
I want it!
It looks awesome. Now i love envato a little more
BTW. I would love the 20 Free Credits.
Thanks in advance
Love the site… evato FTF…
Can’t wait to spend longer browsing the re-designed site. On first impression looks very good.
Envato + Vendelay, what else you might need?
Nice design.
Great re-designs! Keep it up. I like the “branding” you’ve done. All the best Envato!!
Ooh, $20 credit would be very nice!
Envato offers great products.
Oooooooh me pleeeeeeease !
Wow!!! I can’t believe this!!! Thanks Guys