The article in question appears on a site called “GoJobby Blog” and is written by an unknown author (at least I couldn’t find his name anywhere). The anonymity of his article alone should probably eliminate his post from being eligible for critique, but some of his statements can’t remain unchallenged. For example GoJobby says,

“I am as guilty of sacrificing good communication on the alter of good design as the next guy. But, as they say… The first mistake of fixing a problem is admitting that you have one.”

Yes, GoJobby you have a problem. You think that something can be well designed without communicating the correct message. That is what good design is: good communication. I don’t think GoJobby understands design as much as he thinks he does. Moving on, he says,

“But the fact remains, that design and usability do not go hand in hand. In fact, I’d throw out that your usability expert should (if possible) not have any design talent WHATSOEVER (like Jakob Nielsen, Usability Zealot). Designers have too much emotional bias towards pretty things.”

Again, GoJobby shows he doesn’t understand design. He is most likely confusing aesthetics with design. Aesthetics have little to do with usability, but Design has everything to do with usability! As for a bias towards pretty things? That is a human characteristic not limited to designers: we prefer pretty to ugly.

“…when you put someone who is primarily a designer in charge of your interface, you’re going to get a pretty interface. But, unless he is a designer that is aware of his own biases, he’s going to sacrifice some degree of usability for the sake of his pretty design.”

GoJobby, why can’t you accept that design goes hand in hand with usability? An elegant interface is inherently more usable than an ugly one. Nobody wants to use an ugly interface!

The telling part of GoJobby’s article comes toward the end where he sites a “classic book” by Ogilvy (the father of anti-design if you ask me). I have made my opinion of that book clear. First of all, Ogilvy’s research is extremely dated and irrelevant to the present internet age. Second, his examples all have to do with print and direct mail. GoJobby points out in the same paragraph that “the web is a VERY different medium” so why would he site Ogilvy as an expert on usability?

GoJobby’s final argument says it all,

”..all of you web designers who feel that good design is effective communication need to put your money where your mouth is… And make your sites a little bit more usable and, yes, a little bit uglier. After a lot of reflection, I know I’m going to with Jobby.”

I think I speak for the majority of designers when I say, “no thanks, GoJobby.” And by the way, please stop calling yourself a designer. The design community would kindly like to disown you (whoever you are).