Hi folks,

As WMF looks to clarify its role for UX changes, I think it's important to look at other examples, and initial reactions to major design changes. It's also important to understand which efforts have succeeded and failed.

Here are examples that I can think of:

1) NYT redesign (1000+ comments, mostly negative). 

2) Flickr redesign (if you think disputes in Wikimedia can be unpleasant ..). Even their recent changes to the photo view got similar reactions.

3) Slashdot redesign (which led to - ongoing - protests and boycott suggestions)

4) Gawker redesign (which by all accounts was a failure - PVs declined) - anyone got a comment thread for this one?

5) Wikia 2010 redesign, which led to many wikis forking (including the World of Warcraft Wiki) and the formation of an Anti-Wikia Alliance

Others you can think of? Other than Gawker, what's the evidence for success/failure of the above changes? What are examples of really successful major UX changes that were welcomed by communities, if any?

Thanks,

Erik