User Interface as a Status Symbol

From the people I know in the financial industry, the Bloomberg terminal is a big deal. Getting your own terminal earns you bragging rights. However, the system is expensive (around $1,500/month) and the user interface is seen to be overwhelming and tough to master. According to UX Magazine, what’s really interesting from a user experience perspective, is that Bloomberg is not looking to evolve the interface much, because the mastering of the interface is seen as a status symbol.

“Bloomberg isn’t looking to do a major overhaul of its terminals’ graphic design anytime soon. In fact, company executives see the Bloomberg terminal’s unique presentation as a status symbol and a selling point. ‘We have to be religiously consistent’ to satisfy users who become attached to terminal’s look and feel, says Bloomberg chief executive Lex Fenwick. ‘You can see a Bloomberg from a mile away.’”

Quote from Portfolio.com