Thanks to Brian’s own Twitter feed, I discovered that it was once possible to create Twitter backgrounds using PowerPoint or Keynote. This feature allowed users to personalize their profiles beyond Twitter’s default options, making it easier for those without graphic design skills to showcase their personal or professional brand.
One of Brian’s tweets led me to Thomas Carillo’s The Closet Entrepreneur, where we were offered Keynote and PowerPoint templates for Twitter backgrounds. This was a cool way to enhance your profile’s visual appeal.
The Twitter background was a valuable tool for self-promotion, allowing users to express their identity in a visually engaging way. Many users created impressive backgrounds that reflected their personalities and brands, utilizing templates that eliminated the need to know specific pixel sizes for the various columns and rows.
However, in 2017, Twitter removed the ability to upload custom backgrounds as part of a redesign aimed at creating a more uniform and streamlined user experience. Instead, users can now personalize their profiles with a header image at the top of their profile pages, but the option for a full background image has been eliminated.
While the ability to customize backgrounds is no longer available, the spirit of self-expression continues through profile pictures and header images. Users can still find inspiration from the past, including collections like the Extended Twitter Background collection on Flickr, which showcased creative designs before the feature was discontinued.