New Friendster Design Sucks

Yes I would have to admit, the new Friendster logo sucks. I do not like writing negatively about other people’s work but I do strongly believe that the old logo had more sense and credibility and was in no need of changing if not for a minor facelift. Well I guess it may appeal to the Asians of the 16-24 age bracket and to those who have hoRriBlE  tYPiNg skills according to their research but not to us “older” people. Yeah call me old, I’m in my 30′s now and yes, you can call me old.

It is very hard to read and is something that looks like it was doodled by a five year old. The layout of the site looks a lot like Facebook‘s structure but the engine and the loading time seems as though it is the same old app skinned to look like a cross between MySpace, Facebook and yes, Yuwie. I actually prefer the old logo with the smiley icon. They could’ve made a slight revision or improvement to the old logo and it would have given them more of a “classic” or credible familiar feel instead of going for a complete doodle up to now I cannot really define well.

“It’s a new “energetic logo symbolizing fun, personalization and individuality among youth,”

The quote above was from a Friendster statement. Even the video advertisement targeted to the “Asian” market also looks like a short clip taken from a Nickelodeon teeny show back in the 90′s.

And with output like this you can’t blame the creative people behind it. It usually is a management decision that causes output like this. Design disasters like these often happen because some clients or their upper corporate management made a decision either based on a deadline or on a delusion that a corporate executive can double as an Art Director.

Sold. Malaysian Company MOL Buys Social Network Pioneer.

Malaysian owned MOL, an internet payment systems company owned by tycoon Vincent Tan announced the deal to buy Friendster. Approximated to be worth $100 million, the buyers believe they can make their mark by exploiting the popularity of Friendster in Asia. I do hope they do make a good comeback as the company they will form to handle this will soon be on the lookout for their workforce and where else would they look for if not in the company’s own backyard called South East Asia.

Everybody is there (Facebook and MySpace) and Don’t forget the Spammers… whoop dee doo

The following video with the 90′s feel calls out on other social networks, mainly Facebook and MySpace for being plain and boring. Well consider me plain and boring because I deleted my Friendster account ages ago. The account somehow got overridden with spam and bogus people trying to con me into their act. Have they fixed their spam problems? No. I doubt that they have at all as still get feedback from friends that still have accounts that they continue to get tons of comment spam and bogus friends. Check out their “flashback from the 90′s” video below.

Crucify me if you will, but I do think the new look of Friendster sucks.