I used to love The Verge. It was my lunchtime read for catching up on tech. But then came that crazy redesign, last September. That was the day The Verge killed The Verge.
I just don’t get how that design got past usability testing. I can only assume they decided to skip it in their desire to be out there, cutting edge and risqué. There’s a place for that — say in some artsy niche fashion magazine — but generally not where you wish to retain readers. I am one of the readers they lost.
I can’t make sense of their approach at all, and I make a living from the web. To me, it’s a usability nightmare. Now whenever I think to myself, “Ah, let me just check The Verge” — I instantly remember why I haven’t visited for so long, and bounce straight away. It may be art, but it’s not design.
Last modified: 22 September 2024