closing work slack channels employees debate

#CLOSING WORK SLACK CHANNELS EMPLOYEES DEBATE SOFTWARE#

This is where Slack's attention to the requirements of its users comes into play. Chat is relatively easy to do, which is why most chat apps follow the same basic format: a window to view the conversation, and a place to type, either underneath or on the side. And if you don't like the 'confetti cannon' look, it's easy to change the colors.īut good design is not of much use if the functionality isn't there. Also, you can spin up your own Slack instance for free, even for personal use. It's easy for non-technical users to pick up, especially when compared to other group chat tools, like Basecamp or Microsoft Teams. When you look at the elements that comprise Slack, the ease of use, and reliability stand out. In the same article, Wilkinson talks about how well-built Slack feels when you use it-which it does-and how the content, such as loading messages, is informal and often pretty funny, concluding, 'It’s the same enterprise chat client underneath, but it’s playful, fun to use, and all that comes together to make it feel like a character in your life.' We gave it the color scheme of a video game, not an enterprise collaboration product.vibrant colors, a curvy sans-serif typeface, friendly icons, and smiling faces and emojis everywhere.' Electric blue, yellows, purples, and greens all over.

#CLOSING WORK SLACK CHANNELS EMPLOYEES DEBATE SOFTWARE#

Most enterprise software looks like a cheap 70's prom suit-muted blues and greys everywhere-so, starting with the logo, we made Slack look like a confetti cannon had gone off. 'To get attention in a crowded market, we had to find a way to get people’s attention.

The rough initial design was created by Slack founder, Stewart Butterfield (the same guy who co-founded Flickr back in the early 2000s) and his team, and then given to a third party called MetaLab to polish. These twin pillars are the basis of most good products but are surprisingly difficult to do well, as many a failed app will prove. Slack does two things really well: design and understanding its users' needs. For some users, the fact that Slack wasn't owned by a big traditional vendor was benefit enough, but that doesn't explain why Slack is so popular. Slack was small enough to be responsive and quick when it came to adding new features, like emoji reactions (great for users) and 2-factor authentication (great for admins). This lack of corporate size was also a benefit.

Closing work slack channels employees debate