I have a hard time getting western designers to understand why I keep talking about WeChat (Chinese: Weixin ??) in the context of web design. In the west, social media and web design are considered separate, albeit related, fields. But China is a different story. I might get dragged over hot coals for this, but I’m gonna say it anyway: “In today’s China, web design * is* WeChat design.”– me Currently hailed as the most popular app in the country, WeChat ’s total user base (including international users) hit 500 million in 2015. But despite those numbers, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve listened to western design teams take one look at WeChat and dismiss it. “Meh, it’s a messaging app with a few extra features.” “No,” I holler, shaking them with entirely appropriate violence. “WeChat isn’t a messenger, it’s a lifestyle with a chat function.
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