15 years ago, I helped design Google Maps

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Google Maps’ recent visual redesign, especially its new teal-heavy color palette and denser on-screen widgets, is drawing criticism for lower contrast, harder-to-read streets and terrain, and a general shift away from “map as navigation tool” toward “map as ad-driven place finder.” Commenters argue that POI pins and sponsored locations increasingly crowd out essentials like street names and clear land-use distinctions, making the app less useful for pedestrians and power users even if drivers may benefit. Many see this as part of a broader trend at large tech companies where product changes are driven by growth metrics and promotions rather than usability, prompting some users to explore alternatives like Apple Maps, OpenStreetMap-based apps, and niche navigation tools.

Perception of the new color palette

  • Many find the new teal/mint scheme low-contrast and “washed out,” saying roads, water, and green spaces blend together, especially at night or in sunlight.
  • Specific complaints: highways vs smaller roads harder to distinguish; parks vs water vs fields all look similar; “areas of interest” yellow now nearly indistinguishable from buildings.
  • A minority report improved readability, especially while driving, saying roads and crossings stand out more and colors are closer to traditional paper maps.
  • Some speculate about accessibility or new-screen calibration as motives; others argue the changes clearly reduce distinguishability, especially for non-drivers.

UI clutter, widgets, and icons

  • Frequent criticism that the map is “sacred real estate” but is overlaid with pills, buttons, and widgets (gas, hotels, etc.) that obscure information.
  • Others defend on-the-map controls (e.g., “Home,” gas stations) as essential for quick actions at stoplights and for discovery.
  • Debate over icon-only buttons vs labeled buttons: some want labels for clarity; others prefer icons to save screen space.

Maps as navigation/ads vs general-purpose maps

  • Strong theme that Maps has shifted from “map” to “wayfinder + ad surface”:
    • Fewer street names and contour labels; POI pins dominate, especially businesses.
    • Reports of random home-based “businesses” and chain stores being over-emphasized.
  • Some attribute POI prominence and label suppression to monetization and sponsored listings; others argue users more often care about groceries/cafés than schools or municipal buildings.

Labeling, zoom, and auto-zoom issues

  • Widespread frustration with:
    • Street names that disappear when zooming in, or never appear even at maximum zoom.
    • Elevation and contour labels that vanish when zoomed.
    • Aggressive auto-zoom and panning during searches and route planning, which makes it hard to maintain context or inspect something along a route.
  • Several posters claim designers and PMs systematically favor POI icons over street names for both aesthetics and revenue.

Drivers vs pedestrians/cyclists

  • Non-drivers say the design is car-centric: highways are visually dominant; forests vs fields vs other land uses are not clearly differentiated; tram/train lines are hard to see.
  • Cyclists and walkers want distinct map modes where bike paths, footpaths, and terrain features are more prominent, not just an overlaid “biking” layer.

Configurability and product direction

  • Many ask why users can’t choose themes, toggle density of street names, or simplify the UI; responses note state explosion and maintenance costs as reasons big companies avoid high configurability.
  • Several comments frame the redesign as PM-driven “change for promotion,” with internal dogfooding feedback allegedly ignored.
  • Some participants like the overall refresh and argue periodic revitalization is normal and necessary.

Comparisons and alternatives

  • Multiple users contrast Maps unfavorably with Apple Maps, OSM-based apps (OSMAnd, Organic Maps), specialized public-transit apps, and national mapping agencies (e.g., Swiss, UK) that offer clearer, more detailed cartography.
  • A few still praise Google’s satellite/3D globe and public transit integration as standout features despite UI regressions.