Design Matters More Than Ever

Among the growing hoopla around reasons for deleting your Facebook account due (mostly) to privacy concerns, I have a larger issue.  The design and experience of showcasing my feed is terrible.  Un-interesting, un-inspired, and nonsensical in what is displayed.

Now, enter Flipboard.  This iPad app made me rediscover my FB News Feed and my Twitter stream.  It takes bland layout (and arguably, bland content) and places it into an elegantly organized and inspired design.  Finally, a good use for the iPad.  This app finally makes me want to consume social content.

Puts into question the next phase of social media -- I have expected for a long time to not visit the source for the content I want, and finally that time is now.  Design will be the distinguishing value that consumers look for when wanting to engage, because after the honeymoon of content, it gets pretty boring, but well-crafted design makes it much more than that.