Despite Google’s attempts to enhance Gmail, the web version remains hectic and cluttered. It irritates Michael Leggett, former Gmail lead designer, as well as users. Eventually fed up, Leggett launched a Chrome extension meant to streamline your inbox, it is called Simplify.
All the extraneous folders and functions overloading Gmail appear to fade away, leaving you with a mild screen and nothing but your messages. It’s uniquely beautiful, and each button only seems like it’s in the ideal place. In reality, it looks a little too exceptional for some random free Chrome extension created by some casual programmer. Let’s just say that Leggett was profoundly qualified for the job.
It’s about improving Gmail’s UI. As Fast Company reports: after departing Gmail, Leggett co-founded Inbox, and then, while working on products like Messenger for Facebook, he continued to consider Gmail. He developed extensions to redesign different sites, and when Google killed Inbox, he decided to publish Simplify.
When Google announced the end of Inbox, a fantastic friend encouraged him to”just put your thing out there.” Mostly working alone, Leggett polished his extension into Simplify. He wished to give Google one last chance. Knowing that the 15th anniversary of Gmail was set on April 1 and some statements had teased, Legget believed that would include an overhaul of Gmail’s design. Instead, the company declared the option to reschedule an email. So he released Simplify on April.
“It’s been fun, really fun, making something, being able to serve something directly to people,” says Leggett. “To say,’ I wish it did this,’ and then it does that, it’s fantastic. It’s so satisfying.”
The extension has reportedly been downloaded more than 15,000 times, with about 500 new installs per day. It doesn’t bring ads or collect analytics, and Legget has shared the code on “Github.” He had a chance to sell the extension, yet he will keep Simplify free; though he hasn’t ruled out creating a separate paid service.