That seems to be taking a page from Apple design philosophy--oversimplify to make things 'look' easy. Their target audience is the person who wants to buy an Apple product and sees someone using it.
Cleverness over predictability. Instead of removing or even hiding complexity they obfuscate it. It seems like a consistent theme with Apple's designs.
I suspect it's because Apple are generally seen as sticklers for perfection when it comes to presentation and people think it's unlike that they've cut corners on something like this for a new product launch.
I agree. I recall the first time I used an Apple device after the "corner swipes" became the norm. I was shocked at how challenging it was to get right, then puzzled by the lack of any labels on what I saw. I recall thinking, "this really isn't a simple or intuitive design".
Apple designs are certainly gorgeous and well marketed, but there are multiple instances where their design seems to stand in the way of utility and practicality.
It feels like they put a lot of efforts to make the presentation look like an Apple presentation when their product seems clumsy and not-so-usable... The result is meh. :/
Simple maybe. But elegant? It looks ridiculous. Who wouldn't just put a bit of gaffa tape or sticky tape on. This is the sort of shit that Apple should dread - being perceived as a pretentious brand in mobile devices, as they became in personal computing.
The problem is that they prioritise looking elegant over being good usable.
Buying decisions are made on looks, not analysis of UI. People will buy pretty, and most people will never be aware of bad UI - they just adjust to it.
Might be one of those "designed to look good and sell more units, not for actual users" Apple ideas. There was a post about it on HN a few weeks ago. Edit: linked below
I think it's intentional. I don't think anyone in the company said "this is great design let's do this" but more like "this is unconventional (in Apple words, "takes courage") and rad, we know people will call it ugly but let's be unique this way and do it".
Which, in my opinion, works.
I agree that there's too much absurdity around these types of product launches in general. That being said, Apple has always enjoyed lambasting the competition as being aesthetically challenged. Apple has probably more than earned the blow-back for this rather lame design.
Something I’ve noticed time and again is that when you start working on marketing, you look at the product differently. In having to pitch it to an audience, you’re forced to confront things that seem obvious in retrospect but didn’t jump out at you throughout the design process.
This particular anecdote is amazing - but also speaks to Jobs’ zen-like ability to edit things down to their essentials. For the more tech-minded, this aspect of Apple products is annoying. But it’s also a huge part of their success.
There's enough people out there that will let the appearance playe a major part in their decision of whether or not to buy it. So yes, from Apple's POV it needs to be smaller and different looking. It's all about pleasing the customers, innit?
In other words, they just want to claim a general trademark on "it looks good". Apple fanboys will disagree, but I think it is ridiculous and is part of what makes me dislike Apple with a passion.
reply