That’s it folks. We solved everything. Pack it up and take it home. Product design is over.

I understand the need for patterns and how they are a Good Thing. But sometimes we need to push forward with new patterns for new functionality. Sure, we have nailed how to make the informational SaaS landing page. That doesn’t mean product design is over, not by a long shot.

The original article pointed out how we are overdesigning solutions for what problems young white men have. Try and apply your Dribbble uniform line weights to a medical UI and see what happens when the doc prescribes the same meds twice because of the minimal, flat interface.

We’re not pushing the field (and humanity) forward by patting ourselves on the back and continuing a giant circle jerk.

Gas pedal design, ATM screen design, and much more certainly have changed in the past few years to become more ergonomic, fluid, and useful. You’re discounting the hours and hours of research and toil that went into this.

Just think about all the shit ATMs have added. Not the button size. I mean the cameras recording you to prevent fraud. The automatic stacks of check acceptance box. The things ATM designers redo every YEAR to fight the latest round of brilliant counterfeiters. Don’t make me laugh because you think it’s as simple as putting a drop shadow on a digital button.

Maybe you didn’t think of the counterfeiters because you aren’t hard up for cash, and would never dream of breaking into an ATM. That’s what the original article was about. If the field is flooded with people with carbon copy experiences, glaring problems go unnoticed because of rampant groupthink.

Are you an interior decorator, purchasing furniture and arranging it in the room over and over ad infinitum for a few people who live there? Or are you an architect, designing your shit from the ground up to fill a specific need for hundreds of people?

Right now we have too many interior decorators and not enough architects for the problems we face as a society. Stop decorating and start designing or you will get left behind.