Design Driven Software
I have been working as a designer with web development since 1996, and over the last decade I observed a trend with software companies that abandoned traditional media and eventually design based branding altogether. Google being the front runner.
Part of it makes sense, why advertise on outdated and overpriced platforms, when you can make your own?
I think this trend was fueled and perpetuated by 1st and 2nd wave investors anxious to get in on the ground floor of the next Google, MySpace, or Twitter. If your 19 and have a great software idea why waste any money or time in marketing or branding when you have a million dollar 1st round investment knocking at your door?
I also think young software developers who were grappling with business practices, just shunned major investment into branding because they did not have time to figure it out, and as start ups were unwilling to hire people who had.
It worked for a few of them.
However, now you see a rich history of designers coming in and trying to brand and customize user experience and user interfaces after the fact. Look to Microsoft & Google’s endless interface updates for prime examples. Or look at this recent Stumbleupon “update”: Full story here which has a software company floundering without a design update in ten years.
I predict the next decade will be a major swing away from that, partially because the lack of a robust economy will force investors to scrutinze only functioning software companies, and partially because the trend has been failing companies who allow coders to make their design choices.
I will take that a step further and suggest that the way out of the economic hole the US is in (next to revising our justice system), will be the creation of new startups. Design based startups, who will provide greater innovation and VC success.
The most successful company who has blended design and software? Apple.
Other software based companies who have design degrees or backgrounds—YouTube, Flickr, Tumblr, Vimeo, and YCombinator. As pointed out by “Designers Are The New Drivers Of American Entrepreneurialism”
What do you think?
