4 ms·

Looks like Douglas Bowman was right and its only got worse since he bailed. http://stopdesign.com/archive/2009/03/20/goodbye-google.html http://stopdesign.com/

by msy 16y ago

Looks like Douglas Bowman was right and its only got worse since he bailed. http://stopdesign.com/archive/2009/03/20/goodbye-google.html http://stopdesign.com/archive/2009/03/20/goodbye-google.html

Loic 16y ago
Thank you! It was exactly this post I was looking for when writing this note and was unable to find it.
- deleted 16y ago
  [deleted]
jessriedel 16y ago
Bowman is more describing why he doesn't like working there; he really doesn't make a claim that Google is making poor design choices from a business standpoint. He criticizes the use of data (aka, you know, evidence) as a crutch without giving a single example, theoretical or otherwise, of how reliance on data rather than the gut instinct of a good designer leads to a bad outcome.
- lzimm 16y ago
  I think its the same difference between investing in company lead by a former-consultant/bean-counter/"professional"-CEO and a real founder. data is important, but it only gets you so far: table stakes. the thing that differentiates us is the ability to use intuition. don't forget that your "gut" has been developed over millions of years of evolution to keep you alive, and its done a pretty good job. playing with numbers? couple thousand?
  - jessriedel 16y ago
    Intuition/experience is important when there is some aspect of reality that is hard to measure. Insofar as the data tracks your target, intuition is unnecessary. That's why I would want an example in which data was failing. For instance, a fast food chain might take some data and find that they can decrease the quality of their ingredients without immediately loosing customers because people have habits and don't really notice right away (and because consumers will chalk up a few bad experiences to variance at a place they know well). But, over time, the chain develops a reputation for lower-quality food, and customers slowly leave. The problem with this example is that the data can easily measure long-term effects, especially the subtle damage to reputation. This is a case where intuition may be needed to override data. But where's the similar example with Google?
yesimahuman 16y ago
This fascinates me because I see google as something that basically every single person I know uses. They don't need any more convincing. Who does google need to convince anymore? I understand there's competition, but they are already good enough in the looks department to become a basic web-use instinct. Why change?
- symptic 16y ago
  Seems to me they do it to continue innovating. A company who stops innovating is one who then can only grow through conservation and focusing on efficiency. Now whether or not they are spending time innovating in the right areas is a debate to be had, but my personal opinion is the new layout sucks. For Google, it feels bloated.

by msy 16y ago

Looks like Douglas Bowman was right and its only got worse since he bailed. http://stopdesign.com/archive/2009/03/20/goodbye-google.html http://stopdesign.com/archive/2009/03/20/goodbye-google.html

Loic 16y ago

Thank you! It was exactly this post I was looking for when writing this note and was unable to find it.

deleted 16y ago
[deleted]

jessriedel 16y ago

Bowman is more describing why he doesn't like working there; he really doesn't make a claim that Google is making poor design choices from a business standpoint. He criticizes the use of data (aka, you know, evidence) as a crutch without giving a single example, theoretical or otherwise, of how reliance on data rather than the gut instinct of a good designer leads to a bad outcome.

lzimm 16y ago
I think its the same difference between investing in company lead by a former-consultant/bean-counter/"professional"-CEO and a real founder. data is important, but it only gets you so far: table stakes. the thing that differentiates us is the ability to use intuition. don't forget that your "gut" has been developed over millions of years of evolution to keep you alive, and its done a pretty good job. playing with numbers? couple thousand?
- jessriedel 16y ago
  Intuition/experience is important when there is some aspect of reality that is hard to measure. Insofar as the data tracks your target, intuition is unnecessary. That's why I would want an example in which data was failing. For instance, a fast food chain might take some data and find that they can decrease the quality of their ingredients without immediately loosing customers because people have habits and don't really notice right away (and because consumers will chalk up a few bad experiences to variance at a place they know well). But, over time, the chain develops a reputation for lower-quality food, and customers slowly leave. The problem with this example is that the data can easily measure long-term effects, especially the subtle damage to reputation. This is a case where intuition may be needed to override data. But where's the similar example with Google?

yesimahuman 16y ago

This fascinates me because I see google as something that basically every single person I know uses. They don't need any more convincing. Who does google need to convince anymore? I understand there's competition, but they are already good enough in the looks department to become a basic web-use instinct. Why change?

symptic 16y ago
Seems to me they do it to continue innovating. A company who stops innovating is one who then can only grow through conservation and focusing on efficiency. Now whether or not they are spending time innovating in the right areas is a debate to be had, but my personal opinion is the new layout sucks. For Google, it feels bloated.