The problem with new is that users don’t like to learn. Unless there’s something in it for them.
New for the sake of new usually just means difficult.
If you’re big enough to force your users to adapt to your new interface, they may grumble, but they won’t really have a choice. Think Microsoft’s Ribbon toolbar and Gmail’s new interface.
If you’re prepared to be niche enough that your different approach will attract a new type of user, then your innovation may offer a genuinely unique selling point for a small number of users. Think Ommwriter. Exactly.
If you’re not big enough to force your users and want to fill more than the smallest niche, then new may be risky. Unless your new approach is easy to learn and actually useful. Think Trello.
Bucking the trend may sound cool at conferences and networking events, but there’s usually more of a case to be made for improving norms and conventions.
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