Google Maps designer says the app's new update made it 'less accurate, less human'

One of Elizabeth Laraki's observations regarding the new Google Maps update was that some of the colours appeared to blend into each other. (Image credit: @elizlaraki/X)

Recently, Google Maps rolled out a new update that included a different colour scheme, and one of its designers is not impressed with the changes. Elizabeth Laraki, who said she helped build Google Maps 15 years ago, said the new colour scheme made the app look "colder, less accurate and less human."

Taking to X, designer Laraki wrote, "Fifteen years ago, I helped design Google Maps. I still use it every day. Last week, the team dramatically changed the map's visual design. I don't love it. It feels colder, less accurate, and less human. But more importantly, they missed a key opportunity to simplify and scale."

She highlighted how Google Maps now shows all roads in grey, water bodies in teal, and parks and open spaces in mint green, making the colours appear to blend together.

"It seems the goal was to improve usability and make the maps more readable. Admittedly, I do think major roads, traffic, and trails stand out more now. But the colors of water and parks/open spaces blend together. And to me, the palette feels colder and more computer-generated," Laraki added.

15 years ago, I helped design Google Maps.

I still use it everyday.

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Last week, the team dramatically changed the map’s visual design.

I don’t love it.

It feels colder, less accurate and less human.

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But more importantly, they missed a key opportunity to… pic.twitter.com/HMcpKiOEdr

— Elizabeth Laraki (@elizlaraki) November 22, 2023

She also had a few suggestions on how Google Maps could be made to look less cluttered.

"The map should be sacred real estate. Only things that are highly useful to many people should obscure it. There should be a very limited number of features that can cover the map view. And there are multiple ways to add new features without overlaying them directly on the map," Laraki said. "Keep the search box, keep the bottom bar, remove everything else from the map, roll the most used features into the bottom bar, bury the less used features elsewhere in the app."

Recollecting her time designing the app, she added, "In 2007, I was 1 of 2 designers on Google Maps. At that time, Maps had already become a cluttered mess. We were wedging new features into any space we could find in the UI. The user experience was suffering and the product was growing increasingly complicated. We had to rethink the app to be simple and scale for the future. It seems like it’s time for Google Maps to do this again…"

Read more: Travellers stranded in desert after taking Google Maps shortcut to avoid traffic