Google updates the Google+ interface, creates a negative space vortex

Google has been having some interface issues of late. Adam Snell, via Chris Nahr posted an image that aptly illustrates the problem with the newly-designed desktop UI for Google+ as seen below:

Check out the post on Google+ itself here. I don’t have anything to add except for agreement. The Google UI team is going for some kind of minimalist aesthetic, I suppose, but falling down fairly badly in their attempt. I shouldn’t have to scrunch up my browser window horizontally to get a balanced design.

Update: As Jason Pace points out in this post, the white space in the redesign is where ‘hangouts’ (video chat) go. As he also wisely points out, if that’s the case the space should be allocated dynamically so it doesn’t otherwise leave a huge chunk of nothing staring you in the face.

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