google

google

How many of you love Google?  When I say Google, I’m talking about the original function of Google – which was a search engine.  Don’t get me wrong, they are making some revolutionary changes to the way we live our lives, but they started out as a simple search engine, didn’t they?  And what an incredible achievement that was.  I mean, they aren’t the original search engine, but their application of the search engine turned their company into a verb.  A verb that even my 70-year-old father uses when asking me to look something up for him.

So what is Google doing now?  Well, they may be giving the search engine a facelift, but they’re also looking at redesigning the layout.  I did notice this today when I was searching, but this was also spotted by a Reddit user.  What do you think of the redesign?  In general, I think people have a hard time coping with change.  And I think the reason for this has to do with an overload.  Maybe it’s decision overload, or forcing people to think about one more thing during their day.  But, I would make the argument that this is actually going to help people find things a lot easier.

new google design

And that’s the point of the search engine, isn’t it?  The new version has much more defined borders and accentuates the older “card box” view.  Google introduced their Material Design back in 2014, and have gradually updated its applications.  Starting off with Search, they eventually brought the aesthetic to YouTube and Chrome – both the browser and the operating system in this case.  But it’s not out of the ordinary for Google to polish its designs.

Last year, Google updated its Material Design guidelines to help creatives work out the best color theme for their products.  They also released a color tool that helps you effortlessly put together a color pattern.  However, if you go to Google’s Material Design page, the last update it shows is September 2017.  The updates that given back then include – the ability to customize apps when users don’t have access to the internet, as well as some new updates for Android O.

old google design

It’s really difficult to find any written evidence that specifies the changes they are considering.  However, when I navigate to the search engine, I’m able to physically see it for myself.  Or at least I was.  When I first started typing this article, I could see the “cards” style.  But as I now try to re-create it, I am no longer able to do so. That definitely adds to the strange behavior that is this Google update.  That said, it’s still a change.  And one that I think will help people.  It makes it easier to see the different search results.  Which, in my opinion, will make it easier when you’re trying to locate something.  Whether or not this will also impact the algorithm remains to be seen, but I think this is a step in the right direction.

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