It doesn't matter how good your software looks if it crashes. If it's broken, please take it home and don't come back. But if it does work, then the next thing you should care intensely about is how good it looks. Software winners tend to combine great design with code that, you know, works.
I'm a fanatic about software QA. It is one of the most unappreciated aspects of software development. But it's not the only thing that matters. Just as in math, beauty is something that pervades all aspects of great software, internally and externally. The impact of great design should never be minimized.
One of my favorite Oak companies is OneMedical. They are re-inventing the doctor's office. They use great software behind the scenes, much better and more effective by far than most doctors use. They use modern methods for patient/doctor communications; you can e-mail with your doctor -- what a concept!
On top of all that goodness, they have great design. The pictures on their website give you the basic idea.
I just went in for an annual checkup. My doctor, Malcolm Thaler, was great. Here's a picture I took while in the "waiting room" (given how it looks, I kind of hate to call it that).
Here's a picture I took through the window of Dr. Thaler's office.
Even if you don't have access to the software behind the scenes like I do (I mean in general -- no, I can't and wouldn't want access to patient records), the great design of their offices gives you the visceral impression that good things are happening at OneMedical. As indeed they are.
The lesson is a general one. Once you've gotten good, be sure you look good, so that people will think the right thing at first glance.
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