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A focus group isn't an A/B test. An A/B test gives you a number per option. A focus group is a conversation with customers where they can actually talk to you a
by vgel 6y ago
A focus group isn't an A/B test. An A/B test gives you a number per option. A focus group is a conversation with customers where they can actually talk to you and explain their opinions. An A/B test could tell you customer click on the darkest blue shade of links the most, but a focus group could tell you that they were clicking on them by mistake.
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- jldugger 6y agoSure, but the dichotomy being offered here is: "instead of listening to our users, we just had to listen to our own good taste." The original "41 shades of blue at Google" A/B rant is a tale of designer disenfranchisement. And of course a former Apple designer would latch onto that -- its carefully curated brand identity is 'good design.' Ken goes on to point out that instead Apple relies on exec demos (true); yet zero mention of consumer focus groups. Unless your idea of a good product focus group is one slightly egocentric billionaire. And really, the entire argument comes down to: "we don't have enough hours in the day to consider every detail, so we just focus on the stuff execs see." When Ken brags about not consulting data in building his software, I view it as equal parts damnation and praise. If he didn't consult any user metrics in designing the software keyboard autocorrect[1], we now know why its reputation with users sucked for years. [1]: https://qz.com/1380188/ken-kocienda-qa/ https://qz.com/1380188/ken-kocienda-qa/