Comments on: The Merits of Bad Design http://marcusvorwaller.com/blog/archives/2006/03/05/the-merits-of-bad-design/ Software, Mac and other Goodness Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:33:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Marcus http://marcusvorwaller.com/blog/archives/2006/03/05/the-merits-of-bad-design/comment-page-1/#comment-14636 Marcus Wed, 08 Mar 2006 23:02:02 +0000 http://marcusvorwaller.com/blog/archives/2006/03/05/the-merits-of-bad-design/#comment-14636 Toby, tasktoy is utilitarian and that's one of the reasons I use it. It just works. It's not ugly, but it's not beautiful either. It's is definitely apparent that a lot of thought went into the interface though, just not into making it look "slick." I hope it doesn't sound like I'm complaining, I use it daily and think it's great. Good point with Apple though--they seem to have found the perfect combination of functionality and design. Maybe that's why they are so successful? Too many companies lean too heavily on one or the other (design or functionality) and aren't able to find that balance. Henry, Just to reiterate, I don't think Google is poorly designed, but it's definitely not flashy or really well designed--just simple. Toby, tasktoy is utilitarian and that’s one of the reasons I use it. It just works. It’s not ugly, but it’s not beautiful either. It’s is definitely apparent that a lot of thought went into the interface though, just not into making it look “slick.” I hope it doesn’t sound like I’m complaining, I use it daily and think it’s great.

Good point with Apple though–they seem to have found the perfect combination of functionality and design. Maybe that’s why they are so successful? Too many companies lean too heavily on one or the other (design or functionality) and aren’t able to find that balance.

Henry, Just to reiterate, I don’t think Google is poorly designed, but it’s definitely not flashy or really well designed–just simple.

]]> By: toby http://marcusvorwaller.com/blog/archives/2006/03/05/the-merits-of-bad-design/comment-page-1/#comment-14633 toby Wed, 08 Mar 2006 22:44:37 +0000 http://marcusvorwaller.com/blog/archives/2006/03/05/the-merits-of-bad-design/#comment-14633 I'm the creator of tasktoy, and after reading Scoble's article, I think I'll leave the aesthetics as is :) I should point out that tasktoy that I did think very carefully about the interface to tasktoy so it would require very few mouseclicks and for everything to be extremely obvious. I like to think that the number of users telling me "it just works like my brain works" means that I was somewhat successful. I believe that L&F and usability are both aspects of design. Apple's products may be beautiful, but they're also intuitive. To which would you attribute their success? I’m the creator of tasktoy, and after reading Scoble’s article, I think I’ll leave the aesthetics as is :)

I should point out that tasktoy that I did think very carefully about the interface to tasktoy so it would require very few mouseclicks and for everything to be extremely obvious. I like to think that the number of users telling me “it just works like my brain works” means that I was somewhat successful.

I believe that L&F and usability are both aspects of design. Apple’s products may be beautiful, but they’re also intuitive. To which would you attribute their success?

]]> By: henry http://marcusvorwaller.com/blog/archives/2006/03/05/the-merits-of-bad-design/comment-page-1/#comment-14592 henry Tue, 07 Mar 2006 15:44:12 +0000 http://marcusvorwaller.com/blog/archives/2006/03/05/the-merits-of-bad-design/#comment-14592 Interesting that you see functionality as seperate from design. Maybe this is why I can't create an attractive webpage: I see the function as not just a part of the design, but as the focal point. So I create fairly good functional designs/layouts that are inherently ugly. Maybe I need to work towards a balance (buzzword concept of the century). It's also why I think you're crazy for having Google in a list of bad designs! Interesting that you see functionality as seperate from design. Maybe this is why I can’t create an attractive webpage: I see the function as not just a part of the design, but as the focal point. So I create fairly good functional designs/layouts that are inherently ugly.
Maybe I need to work towards a balance (buzzword concept of the century).

It’s also why I think you’re crazy for having Google in a list of bad designs!

]]> By: RJ http://marcusvorwaller.com/blog/archives/2006/03/05/the-merits-of-bad-design/comment-page-1/#comment-14579 RJ Tue, 07 Mar 2006 05:24:58 +0000 http://marcusvorwaller.com/blog/archives/2006/03/05/the-merits-of-bad-design/#comment-14579 You list Tasktoy as a site that you find indispensible. It is a simple well put together site and you are right, design awards will not come its way very soon. I cam across another online task management app site called <a href="http://www.rememberthemilk.com" rel="nofollow">Remember the Milk></a> which you may find interesting. I have used Tasktoy and Remember The Milk (RTM) and find RTM to be more functionally useful to me, now, then TaskToy. You list Tasktoy as a site that you find indispensible. It is a simple well put together site and you are right, design awards will not come its way very soon.

I cam across another online task management app site called Remember the Milk> which you may find interesting.

I have used Tasktoy and Remember The Milk (RTM) and find RTM to be more functionally useful to me, now, then TaskToy.

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