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A Letter of Encouragement to Facebook?
Dear Facebook,
Ok... I can't do it anymore. I can't read, "OMG, this new layout sucks" A-N-Y-M-O-R-E.
As a novice designer, coder, and general lover of all things new... I can't handle it. It is everywhere. People's profiles. Tweets. This article/blog. It is agonizing for me on three levels.
1. Change happens. I thought the net gen was ready for change, but apparently if something changes we don't give it any time. It needs to work immediately for us. Unfortunately, that is NOT CHANGE. Its instant gratification, and the last I checked, it isn't how life works.
2. This design change took time, effort, and intellect. Changing Facebook doesn't just happen. It wasn't just a matter of a few web-hacks sitting around with Facebook big-wigs thinking about the best way to confuse or irritate Facebook "customers." The people that designed and coded the new site are, I'm sure, ridiculously smart. I'm also sure they considered the human factor (and if they didn't, shame on Facebook).
3. Does the 94% of the world realize that "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" doesn't work anymore? Do they realize that if Facebook, or any other company that we admire (i.e. Google, Starbucks, etc.), never changed what wasn't broken that we wouldn't have this incredible tool for social networking and sharing? Facebook WOULD NOT be what it is today (and what it will be in the future) if changes were never made OR if it stays stagnant now.
As for me, I like the new layout. But more importantly, if I didn't, I would do something about it instead of complain to a forum of my friends. We live in an open source world with business leaders (like those at Facebook) that will listen to customers and actually consider suggestions.
I do beg of you, Facebook, that you consider opening up a design competition for the homepage (and site in general). Or, provide users the ability to totally customize the layout or create personal applications for using and viewing their Facebook content. Then, when you make a well-meaning and effective change, at least people can fix the problem themselves, because again, I'm having a hard time with people's inability to realize:
Change is good... Change takes some getting used to... and Being successful in life requires adapting to change and changing yourself on a regular basis!
Ok, now the good teacher in me will work to spread the word of change instead of just complain about people's natural reactions. But, I thought you should know, you're doing the right thing, even if 94% of your customers don't agree.
Sincerely, Andy
P.S. Sorry that I don't have a comment feature yet... please email me or use the contact form if you have anything to say (include your name, an alias, or just anonymous if you don't want to be identified). I will post ALL comments - I promise!.
