Google and Amazon (I'm not so sure about Facebook...) have realized that, while design is nice, usability hooks regular users. Take Amazon; technically not a v

Google and Amazon (I'm not so sure about Facebook...) have realized that, while design is nice, usability hooks regular users. Take Amazon; technically not a very "beautiful" interface - but it is functional. And if you read their occasional technical posts from the UX side of things you realize quite how much effort went into the placement and wording of buttons. Certain sites require great (subtle) graphics (I think Apple have always done this very well; their graphic designs are pretty complex but still look simple and elegant) either as part of their brand or because their demographic demands it. But Amazon is not a place people sit and read for a few hours (for example). They go on, search for something and want to see all the information presented as fast as possible. Same with Google, except you spend even shorter time on their sites. As to Facebook; I think in the past they have displayed little consideration for design OR good UX/UI in previous incarnations. Some of the changes they've made in the past were hilarious :P but recently things have improved and I think they figured much the same thing as Google et al.