Overview
Dougie Wood [MVP] presents a concise video walkthrough of the latest SharePoint design updates and practical approaches for intranet teams. In the clip, he highlights five notable additions that aim to streamline design and boost engagement across company portals. Consequently, this summary focuses on the video’s main takeaways and what organizations should consider before adopting these features.
First, the video frames the updates as more than cosmetic tweaks; they change how teams build pages and templates. For example, new layout controls and AI-driven tools reduce the need for custom code and speed up page production. Therefore, administrators and designers must weigh ease of use against governance and performance tradeoffs.
AI-Powered Tools and the New FAQ Web Part
One of the most attention-grabbing features Dougie demonstrates is the FAQ web part driven by AI. The web part can scan existing site content and propose likely questions and answers, which in turn makes knowledge more discoverable for employees. As a result, teams can build useful help hubs more quickly without manually compiling long FAQ pages.
However, the use of AI introduces accuracy and trust considerations that organizations must manage. Although the tool speeds content creation, administrators should verify AI-generated answers and set clear review steps to prevent misinformation. In addition, content policies and permissions become more important when automation pulls from multiple sources across a site.
Visual Enhancements: Glass Effect and Branding
Dougie also showcases new options to modernize page aesthetics, including a glass effect often called glassmorphism, which gives web parts a translucent, layered look. Third-party solutions like Origami Connect can enable these visual effects within SharePoint when native styling does not meet design goals. Consequently, teams can achieve a stronger brand presence without custom front-end development.
Nevertheless, visual richness can conflict with performance and accessibility goals. For instance, layered effects may increase rendering time or reduce contrast for screen readers, so teams should balance style with usability. Therefore, designers should test visual choices across devices and include alternate styles for improved accessibility.
Layout Flexibility: Flexi Sections and Templates
Another key area Dougie explores is layout control through Flexi Sections and a range of section templates and page templates. These tools let teams create multi-column layouts and reusable page structures, which accelerates consistent site rollouts and campaign pages. Thus, organizations can produce polished intranet pages rapidly while maintaining corporate standards.
At the same time, greater flexibility demands stronger governance. If many teams create custom layouts, the intranet can drift away from the intended user experience and brand rules. Therefore, a clear template library and approval process help balance creative freedom with long-term maintenance and coherence.
Tradeoffs and Implementation Challenges
Implementing these design features requires careful balancing of speed, control, and cost. For example, native features and AI offer low-friction ways to produce content, but they can create content sprawl without governance. Conversely, third-party tools can deliver unique visuals but introduce licensing, support, and upgrade considerations.
Security and performance also present challenges, especially on larger enterprise sites with many users and customizations. Consequently, teams should evaluate impacts on page load times, search indexing, and compliance before broad rollout. In addition, staff training becomes essential so content creators use the new tools effectively while following governance rules.
Practical Steps and Recommendations
Dougie’s video closes with actionable suggestions for teams that want to adopt these features without creating long-term problems. First, pilot features with a small group to test performance and accessibility, then document template standards and review cycles to keep the intranet consistent. Likewise, add an editorial or governance role to validate AI-generated content and to control template proliferation.
Finally, measure outcomes after rollout by tracking page performance and user satisfaction, and iterate based on feedback. By balancing innovation with clear policies and testing, organizations can use these new SharePoint design features to modernize their intranet while managing the tradeoffs involved.
