Don't make it "like Google"

Summary

Google is usually criticized for its relentless collection of personal data. It's an important and widely discussed topic, but I’m surprised there isn’t another common criticism: its responsibility for UI & UX design and its consequences. Any large company that creates products, whether software or physical, is responsible for how its design choices shape the broader perception of design itself. Google is a prime example because millions use its products, often treating them as standards. Developers frequently aim to make things “like Google” because it feels familiar and, seemingly, the right way to do things. In the past, this was an implicit influence, but now it’s direct: Google became the platform for web applications (Chrome) and mobile applications (Android). It also created a framework for human-machine interaction: Material Design. Now, “doing it like Google” isn’t just desirable; it’s necessary. Material design is very opinionated, and in addition to the mechanics, it dictates a very specific visual style that undoubtedly reminds of Google and Big Tech Style. Most tech products now look indistinguishable, just a blobby premordial mess of colors. Landing page or soviet poster? The problem? Google’s actual UI & UX design is terrible. Whether mass-market or enterprise, web or mobile, its interfaces are chaotic and confusing. Every time I use Google Drive or the G Suite admin console, I feel lost. Neither experience nor intuition helps—I feel like an old man seeing a computer for the first time. I used Android for years (stock Android on a Nexus device), yet even after all that time, I struggled to distinguish buttons from plain text. Imagine living in the same apartment for years but constantly confusing the light switch with the toilet flush. That’s how I felt every day. Of course, maybe I’m just weird. But I know I’m not alone. The design flaws of a single company aren’t a global crisis. Google has little competition, so we’re stuck using its products, but ...