Google Maps' new design displeases the company's former designer; ‘it’s less human’

O Google recently announced that it will update the look of Google Maps, its renowned geolocation application.

As shown in previews of the updates, the application should adopt more minimalist features, as well as a slight change in design. tones and the inclusion of more details, such as street names, indication of gas stations for electric cars, among others.

Despite looking good, the update isn't pleasing some people, including former Google designer Elizabeth Laraki, who worked on formulating the app in its early days.

Google Maps' new look displeases one of its creators

In a post made on her profile on X, formerly Twitter, Laraki stated that the new look of Google maps is “less human” and “colder”.

Elizabeth refers to one of the map visualization modes, in which the real reliefs are replaced by a kind of illustration. This method aims to facilitate cartographic interpretation.

15 years ago, I helped create Google Maps and I still use it daily. Last week, the team drastically changed the visual design of the map, and I didn't like it! Now he seems colder, less precise and less human, Laraki said.

(Image: disclosure)

Still according to Elizabeth, the new maps appear to have been “generated by a computer” and are “less accurate” than the previous ones.

The former Google designer is not alone in her opinion against the new product launched by the company. Researcher Sasha Luccioni, who works at Hugging Face, a startup specializing in Artificial Intelligence, also criticized the update.

I'm definitely late to the party, but this new Google Maps color scheme sucks,” she exclaimed.

Some “ordinary” X users also expressed discontent. “Why did Google maps suddenly change colors?” asked an internet user. “Did the water really turn from blue to turquoise?” asked another.

Not everything is criticism

Despite facing some disapproval regarding the design, the new look of Google Maps has been pleasing in terms of the wealth of details now implemented.

According to Elizabeth Laraki herself, the indications of roads, highways, trails and traffic lines are much more visible. In this sense, a user commented that, with the new color scheme, the application is much more “pleasing to the eyes”.

It is worth noting that the changes implemented in Google Maps only affected a specific viewing mode. So far, the “Relief” viewing mode remains unchanged.

Graduated in History and Human Resources Technology. Passionate about writing, today he lives the dream of working professionally as a Web Content Writer, writing articles in several different niches and formats.