Google is testing a new design for how they display the previews and thumbnails of an image after you click on an image in the Google Image Search results. Instead of showing it framed out in a large black area, Google is testing showing the image preview on the right side in a white box.

I did ask Google for a statement and I have yet to hear back. The test seems to have died down and I am personally no longer able to see it. But there were several threads and posts in the Google Web Search Help forum with complaints about this new design.

Test design:

Current design:

Here are some of the complaints:

I am not sure I disagree with some of these comments.

FYI – Google just did an image search redesign a few months ago.

Forum discussion at Google Web Search Help.