Design Doesn’t Matter

Dear Tech,

After years passionately advocating for thoughtful design, I’ve reconsidered. Perhaps design isn’t that important after all:

Consensus-driven design ensures all voices are heard. When seven stakeholders weigh in on a simple navigation menu, no department feels left out. Marketing suggests adding one more link; Support insists admin tools deserve prominence. The resulting four-layer menu structure might be challenging initially, but users eventually find their way. Or leave. Either outcome simplifies analytics.

A designer-to-engineer ratio of 1:18 is undeniably efficient. Designers quickly learn to produce functional mockups, letting engineers focus on velocity. If buttons occasionally float to random positions or error messages contain untranslated JSON, remember: velocity matters. As one engineering lead calmly noted, "We'll fix the UX in v2." Users have since affectionately described our interfaces as "cryptic poetry" and "existential puzzles."

Generic design systems save valuable thinking time. Standardised components allow product teams to assemble interfaces like fast furniture—practical, predictable, and disposable. When every product looks identical, users develop a comforting familiarity—even if they occasionally mistake their finance app for food delivery. Brand uniqueness can be overrated.

Short-term metrics reliably guide product decisions. A variant performing 0.4% better clearly signals success. Holistic journeys or consistent experiences, though appealing, rarely translate into immediate quarterly gains. Disconnected screens may puzzle some users briefly, but optimisation speaks louder than intuition.

Deadlines naturally limit excess exploration. With tight schedules, design iterations become a luxury. Occasional overlapping buttons or ambiguous interactions serve as minor cognitive puzzles, subtly engaging users and keeping their minds active.

Users have demonstrated remarkable adaptability, particularly with enterprise software. Complex interfaces with dense layouts and hidden functionalities encourage deeper engagement. Extensive onboarding sessions and active support channels simply highlight enthusiastic user interaction.

Ultimately, nuanced design is a nice-to-have rather than a necessity. Pragmatic organisations prioritise shipping quickly over subtle distinctions like clarity or consistency. After all, real success is measured in functionality delivered, not subjective experiences. If users express difficulty, perhaps they’re not fully invested yet.

With adjusted expectations,