— Here’s another example of amateur design critique: Elizabeth Lopatto raises questions to the Google Docs design team about the recent redesign. It’s the same knee-jerk reaction we see on Twitter and elsewhere whenever a popular product changes its appearance. In this case: Someone hates the round corners on some buttons, and look here, these buttons are square. It’s supposed to be satire, but satire only works if it’s aimed at something.
Google Docs’ functionality has stayed the same. It just looks a little different. If you think for a second, if you engage and look at which buttons are round and which are square, you’ll see there’s a system, as one comment sums up nicely:
CTA-buttons (typically “submit” buttons in forms) are rounded squares to differentiate them from smaller actions which can easily be changed, those actions are squared (Input fields, smaller actions like font size, bold etc.)
The toolbar placed in a rounded section is to make it clear that these actions are similar (a normal gestalt-principle). It follows the Material You-style that Google is using across their apps. It’s shape is a bit unusual, which can be a bit off putting at first - but it is a clear brand/marketing strategy - any screenshot of Google docs is clearly identified as a Google-product.
And Twitter, going to great lengths to live up to its reputation, reacted:
“Graphic designer be like: 8k” — a TV Host/Sports reporter
“Beyond the questionable design, the wording also doesn’t make sense. Who is ‘we’?” — A technology writer.
“It looks like a senior school project from Pratt. There’s nothing aesthetically correct about it.” — a screenplay writer.
“Hopefully we didn’t pay more than $100 for this” — a literary agent and occasional poet.
“Beyond stupid?” — a Writer, Skewerer, Digital Therapist.
“If my 12-year old slapped this together for a school assignment, I would take away her phone for a week so it’s a no for me.” — a rural-mothers podcast host.
“Is this a joke” — the founder of a calendar start-up
“Hmm. A third grader could do better 🥴” — the founder of an obscure social-media startup.
“Is this mess real? It looks like it was done by someone who opened Photoshop for the first time.” — someone who hosts a show on Youtube.
As you can see, none of the comments I picked is from people working in a field adjacent to graphic design; I bet few have the knowledge to assess whether the designer selected an appropriate font, whether the balance is right, or whether the design delivers what the pitch promised. It’s a marketing design, for god’s sake; marketing is always 80% bullshit. I won’t affect anyone’s life. Yet people comment like some politician said they would introduce SUV-free roads when elected.
I love how everyone on the Internet has an opinion about everything all the time.