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Google Goes Minimal With Simple Site Redesign

by Matthew Zuras on December 4, 2009 at 07:35 AM

After 10 different variations, Google finally unleashed a new "minimalist" interface for its homepage yesterday. (If you've clicked on the link above, you'll be able to spot the differences.) Basically, now Google loads with only with the logo, expanded query field, and the familiar search and "I'm Feeling Lucky" buttons -- that is, until you move your mouse. A pleasant fade then reveals your old Google family of products (Gmail, Docs, etc.) where it should be on top, as well as everything else in its proper place.

The response time for accessing your Gmail and other features is, ostensibly, slower. According to the Official Google Blog, "Google is all about getting you where you are going faster - how could we launch something that potentially slowed users down? Then, we realized: we want users to notice this change... and it does take time to notice something (though in this case, only milliseconds!)." Google claims that this led to a more efficient use of the site, as compared to a control group.

Some of us at Switched don't understand the hype around the change. After all, how much money was poured into this redesign, and to what effect? Will a momentarily minimal page change Google's status as king of the Internet food chain? Basically: why redesign?

Well, if Twitter is any indication of the digital cultural mood, users seem to like it. A quick survey yielded these pro-minimal tweets:
  • ebelliveau: "Anyone notice anything special about the Google.com homepage? Someone @Google decided that minimal = beautiful. I'd be inclined to agree."
  • demirmahir: "Just love the new minimal google look! Once again bravo for google!"
  • martineno: "The new minimal Google homepage is excellent. I dig the fade in after mouse move. It's great to see minimalism on today's busy web."
Conversely, Twitter user alisterscott summed up Switched's position: "The minimal google home page is cool, but i never use google.com anyway, i use the firefox search box instead." [From: The Official Google Blog]

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Tags: design, google, minimalist, redesign, top

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