Sean M Everett

The web started a few decades ago with the builders saying, “make it work”. And the engineers came in and it did. Then their jobs since have been to make it faster to build for more users.

Not longer after, the builders said, “make more people know about us”. And the marketers and advertisers came in and did it. Then their jobs since have been to make it cheaper to reach more users.

Then, about a decade ago, the builders said, “make it look better”. And the designers came in and did it. Then their jobs since have been to make it easier to use for more users.

So the builders have given us faster, better, and cheaper.

And now, a few builders are beginning to say, “make it meaningful”. And a few philosophers are coming in and doing it. And their jobs will be to make it speak to more user’s souls.

And so it goes, the next decade will be spent humanizing technology.

A message to the builders:

User Philosophy > User Experience > User Interface > User Acquisition > User Functionality

Develop a product in that order, left to right, or you will leave far too much room for competition to overcome you.