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Google just doesn't get visual design right, when it's a bit more than just a plain UI.

Chrome's themes are just ugly: https://tools.google.com/chrome/intl/en/themes/index.html

Such are many of the background pictures Google is providing for the home page. It's sad.

Google has a cult of data that I think is pretty dehumanizing. Perhaps they look ugly because they don't ultimately give a damn about the design -- only that the data told them they are losing market share.

What are you talking about? Those backgrounds are beautiful especially those by Yann Arthus-Bertrand. As for Chrome's themes, they look fine to me.

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