I'm going beyond the curmudgeonly notion of "Everything was better 20-30 years ago" to identify the broad truth of why changes to software like a web portal or writing tool piss off us long-time users.
That portal I started using in 1995 was ground breaking at the time but was also totally bare-bones. I'd never want to turn back to the clock on it to 1995, or even 2005. It's gotten better in a lot of ways since then. But one aspect of its tabular format that appeals to me is its compact structure. Designers in their zeal to "Make it look prettier" and "Add more features and choices for customization" overlook this simple reason why customers like me have continued using this portal for 30 years even now that there are countless competitors out there.
That's my broader point-- that designers often lose sight of the simple reasons that a loyal base of long-time users has stuck with the product.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ninetydegrees
no subject
on 2025-05-20 02:33 pm (UTC)That portal I started using in 1995 was ground breaking at the time but was also totally bare-bones. I'd never want to turn back to the clock on it to 1995, or even 2005. It's gotten better in a lot of ways since then. But one aspect of its tabular format that appeals to me is its compact structure. Designers in their zeal to "Make it look prettier" and "Add more features and choices for customization" overlook this simple reason why customers like me have continued using this portal for 30 years even now that there are countless competitors out there.
That's my broader point-- that designers often lose sight of the simple reasons that a loyal base of long-time users has stuck with the product.