Yahoo ups the ante for search design with a new look & feel

Yahoo has unveiled a refresh of its web search look and feel today.

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As is the wont of consumer applications in our media-saturated day and age, pictures take a prominent role in making the experience feel richer and even more tactile.

Here’s a quick before/after:

And here’s a Yahoo/Google comparison, for good measure:

The new UI is available in the U.S. only for now. It’s a slight change from other interfaces, but it’s just a bit prettier — and when dealing with millions of users, incremental change can be a good thing.

This interface includes a new top navigation bar and was designed to be more consistent with the new Yahoo homepage.

“Over the coming months, you’ll see more from Yahoo! as we work to deliver a search experience that combines utility with beauty and gets you to your results faster,” writes Yahoo search SVP Laurie Mann today on the company blog.

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“Today’s news is just our first step.”

As per usual, there’s nothing new under the hood. Yahoo search is, as per a longstanding agreement, powered by Microsoft/Bing.

But the new focus on experience and interface is consistent with the company’s other recent moves. Lately, Yahoo has been focusing on mobile with an emphasis on great design, a promise that’s playing out in Yahoo’s reimagined Flickr UI and its apps for Yahoo Mail and Weather for iOS.