Friday, July 01, 2011

Down on Google day -- part 1


I do not like Google's new designs.

Take the new Google calender. This is what the today button looks like when you are in week view with today in that view:



This is what the today button looks like when you are in week view with today NOT in that view:



Seems logical, right?

But think about it from a user perspective -- when I go to Google calender, I am disoriented because I do not know if the calender is showing the right week or not. I want to know where "today" is and get it it ASAP. So, I look for a button marked "Today" that will take me to "Today".

But, with the new design, I cannot find the button.

The use of the "today" button is not just a control -- to change state -- it is also a form of feedback that lets you know what your current state is. By embracing minimalism over clarity, Google has weakened the "feedback" function to a weird, negative that makes me have to think. "If I don't see something I need it means I already must have it".

Ugh.

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