Last week Tim and I accidentally managed to gatecrash a talk Sam Morgan from Trade Me was giving the folks from Xero. While we devoured the pizza on offer (do we have no shame?) Sam made a superb point: All web products are aimed at people. This may seem to be nothing revolutionary, but think about how many web products you come across that are actually aimed at people.
We make business tools. These are normally defined by complex workflows, a ‘professional feel’ (small test sizes, dull colours etc etc) and industry slang. However, our users are first and foremost people. When you look at it like that, most tools are targeting the wrong audience. What people like dull, boring colours? What people don’t struggle with tiny fonts and find it hard to decipher complicated tools? Who doesn’t just feel dumb if they can’t understand the jargon that litters the tool they are trying to use?
Such a simple point, such huge ramifications for software.
2 people have commented on this post
Nice observation. And one which is echoed in your site, which, I must say, is damn nice, and incredibly appealing.
Thanks Roger!
It’s a ‘work in progress’
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