Google Homepage Redesign • Hacker News Board

Re: Google Homepage Redesign

#41

Post by unalone » Thu, Sep 17, 2009, 4:46 PM UTC

tptacek wrote: post #37

unalone wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Aren't we allowed to redesign things just for the joy of showing people what we think things should look like? I mean, Jesus Christ, when people post Google or Craigslist redesigns here we get so bitchy about it. I've always seen these redesigns as sorts of "covers" of the original site. It's like Hendrix playing All Along The Watchtower. It's a riff on an idea for the sake of being creative. You know what? I liked t…

You're allowed to do whatever you want. The redesign here is pretty. But the cart is probably dragging the horse, and it's always worth contrasting "what works" with "what designers think is best". Compare what a competant designer comes up with to Google's home page and start asking "why did Google do it this way", and you might learn something new.

But of course. Google's raised controversy among its designers for focusing on hits over aesthetic. We've had that talk before.

I've actually always been against that mindset myself, and I've argued against it before here. I don't necessarily think it's a good thing to sacrifice everything just to boost numbers. If we had an Internet where there were half a dozen really good search engines where each one handled search a little bit differently, I'd much prefer that to the current situation. But I'm in the minority there.

Re: Google Homepage Redesign

#42

Post by Gibbon » Thu, Sep 17, 2009, 5:59 PM UTC

tptacek wrote: post #33

Any time you post a redesign of a major Google page, isn't the burden of proof really hard? I'm under the impression that there's an avalanche of data backing up every pixel on those pages. If Google starts setting search results in Comic Sans, you're still going to have to start by assuming that Comic Sans is making them a shit-ton of money.

Google's extensive testing does not preclude the possibility that their design sucks. The original "simplicity" of their service was entirely accidental; if I'm not mistaken Sergei either didn't know enough html or didn't care enough to bother making it any more complicated.

Religiously testing will only lead to a local maximum and ignores the possibility that the design may have not been great to begin with.

Google's homepage is not even remotely close to the standard a highly competent minimalist designer would offer. Little attention to detail, remedial typographical choices, a 90's looking poorly executed Logo, random UI elements with no clear purpose. It's very much like an engineers interpretation of what a minimalist designer would do.. which is exactly what it is.

All of their products are on the utilitarian end of minimalist design and could stand to be improved significantly from an aesthetic perspective without actually changing the interface noticeably.

Re: Google Homepage Redesign

#43

Post by tptacek » Thu, Sep 17, 2009, 7:08 PM UTC

Gibbon wrote: post #42

tptacek wrote: post #33

Any time you post a redesign of a major Google page, isn't the burden of proof really hard? I'm under the impression that there's an avalanche of data backing up every pixel on those pages. If Google starts setting search results in Comic Sans, you're still going to have to start by assuming that Comic Sans is making them a shit-ton of money.

Google's extensive testing does not preclude the possibility that their design sucks. The original "simplicity" of their service was entirely accidental; if I'm not mistaken Sergei either didn't know enough html or didn't care enough to bother making it any more complicated. Religiously testing will only lead to a local maximum and ignores the possibility that the design may have not been great to begin with. Google'…

Or, Google has spent the 0.00038% of its gross profits that it would take create an optimally aesthetic version of its home page, A/B tested it against www.google.com, and found the aesthetic version less effective.

Re: Google Homepage Redesign

#44

Post by sahaj » Thu, Sep 17, 2009, 7:17 PM UTC

andrewljohnson wrote: post #39

apsurd wrote: post #2

Uh no. Not everyone on the planet is die hard web two point oh bleeding edge geeeeeeeniusssses like us. There is no context. I don't know what I am supposed to do. Why is there no submit button? I'm supposed to magically realize that enter = submit? Not everyone knows what google is. It is quite absurdly annoying to assume our "above average" knowledge of the internet is a common trait. Please someone add a link list…

If you look up in the top right of your browser, you'll see no search button. No matter what browser you use, you'd see a search box with no button. Billions of people see this interface everyday. Even if the user doesn't know what a browser is, they know to press enter in that box. I agree that this isn't a good redo, but your comments are off target.

usually they click on one of the suggestions from the auto suggested searches. that's what i've seen people do.

Re: Google Homepage Redesign

#45

Post by Rainerbird » Thu, Sep 17, 2009, 11:40 PM UTC

taitems wrote: post #5

Some usability flaws: - There are no back buttons when cycling through domains (or any indication on what number of domain you're on - perhaps an iPhone style page counter would do?) - For Google, there are much more than 3 options. A "..." item would probably be most logical. - I would have absolutely no idea whether to click the contextual button to cycle through domains, perhaps it should just be faded rather than…

I agree Taitems.

I also think that the images should be pre-loaded to avoid a short blank spot on the page when you first start flicking through the search options.