Making skeuomorphism relevant today
I feel current flat design trends with it’s minimalism became so boring, and i tried to revive the skeuomorphic.
How flat design rules the world?
So, let’s delve into the fascinating origins of flat design, shall we? While it’s hard to pinpoint an exact time when it started, we can look back to the 1940s and 1950s when a Swiss design style became popular. This style had some similarities to flat design and focused on keeping things clean, easy to read, and objective. A notable outcome of the Swiss style was the creation of the widely adored typeface called Helvetica, which continues to be cherished by many designers to this day.
Another important influence on flat design is minimalism. Now, some people think minimalism and flat design mean the same thing, but that’s not quite true. Minimalism was actually around before flat design took over the Internet. It’s a style that simplifies things by using only the most essential elements. You’ll often see clean lines and just a few colors in minimalistic designs.
So what makes flat design stand out is its emphasis on simplicity and user-centricity. It focuses on clarity, legibility, and usability by eliminating unnecessary decorative elements and adding depth through the use of colors, typography, and grid-based layouts, resulting in a clean and modern aesthetic. Flat design utilizes bold colors, sharp edges, and minimalistic icons to convey information in a clear and straightforward manner.
Why flat design became boring?
I remember back in 2013 when Windows 8 was still fresh and iOS 7 was released, i had a great fascination for their fresh design approach. It looks so cool, it was truly a mesmerizing sight to behold — such cleanliness, such minimalism.
However, it seems like things have taken a turn for the worse since then. The excessive focus on Flat design has made everything feel static and lacking depth. Flat design became boring stems from the fact that it became a popular bandwagon that everyone jumped on. Due to the adherence to the principles of similarity and human interface guidelines, which prioritize usability, there’s a noticeable lack of variation in the majority of app and web designs.
While there’s nothing inherently wrong with prioritizing usability, the consequence is that everything starts to feel monotonous and uninspiring. It can be quite disheartening. The essence of design should be to captivate, engage, and evoke positive emotions. Yet, in the pursuit of uniform usability, we’ve sacrificed the very essence of creativity and joy in design. It’s as if a gray cloud has settled over the digital realm, leaving us longing for the vibrant and imaginative designs of the past.
Achilles heel of flat design
The enduring trend of flat design has had some unintended consequences on the innovation of UX design. According to John Ince, Founder & Chief Technical Officer of Project Peach, flat design became popular as a result of our familiarity with existing systems and products. As we become accustomed to a product, we no longer rely on graphic tools to aid our usage, which is when a flatter design can be employed. However, a completely flat design can indicate a lack of innovation, as it relies on our familiarity rather than intricate details. This familiarity is what makes flat design convenient but also poses a challenge.
Flat design relies heavily on colors that evoke specific emotional responses. While this can be advantageous in quickly triggering subconscious associations, it has made us complacent in our design approach. Furthermore, flat designs must rely on color and contrast to indicate interactivity in the interface. Balancing aesthetics, clarity, physiological reactions to colors, and contrast becomes a juggling act for designers working with flat design.
Flat design can sometimes lack clear signifiers, those subtle clues that help users understand how to interact with the interface. In the days when skeuomorphism and realism dominated web design, even though the visual cues might not have been the prettiest, they provided obvious indicators of clickability. Glossy, raised effects on buttons or inset shadows that made input fields appear empty were common examples. While these signifiers varied from site to site, users could generally rely on two assumptions: elements with strong signifiers were likely clickable, while elements without strong signifiers were probably not clickable. However, in flat design, the signifiers can be weak or even absent, which can lead to confusion and result in wasted time and effort for users.
Indeed, the prevalence of familiarity is a significant factor that has kept flat design on trend, and the familiarity of flat design has become a double-edged sword. On one hand, it has made designing for usability much easier, as users are accustomed to its conventions. However, on the other hand, it has imposed significant limitations on creativity and the ability to design outside the norm.
The ubiquity of flat design has created a set of expectations and established patterns that are difficult to break free from. Straying too far from these established norms may result in confusion or frustration for users. This limitation hampers the exploration of new and innovative design approaches that could bring freshness and excitement to the digital realm.
How skeuomorphic can fix that
Skeuomorphic design, on the other hand, presents an intriguing alternative that can address some of the challenges posed by flat design. By incorporating visual elements that mimic real-world objects and textures, skeuomorphic design brings back those familiar signifiers that aid user understanding. With skeuomorphic design, buttons can have tactile textures, input fields can resemble actual forms, and icons can resemble their real-life counterparts. These realistic visual cues provide users with clear indications of interactivity, making it easier to navigate and interact with the interface.
Moreover, skeuomorphic design allows for a greater level of creativity and innovation in UX design. Designers can leverage intricate details and visual metaphors to enhance user experiences. By incorporating realistic elements, skeuomorphic design can add depth, character, and storytelling to the interface, engaging users on a more emotional level.
Additionally, skeuomorphic design offers a wider range of design possibilities beyond relying solely on color and contrast for interaction cues. It brings back the use of shadows, gradients, textures, and other visual cues that can guide users and provide a more intuitive experience.
Also when it comes to new and innovative concepts that have never been seen before, skeuomorphic design holds a distinct advantage. It allows for experimentation and provides a means to intuitively guide users on how to navigate and utilize these novel apps. By incorporating familiar visual cues and elements resembling real-world objects, skeuomorphic design can bridge the gap between the unfamiliar and the user’s understanding.
Experiment on making skeuomorphic design better
I’ve taken on the challenge of reinventing something using Apple’s HealthKit framework. HealthKit is closely tied to promoting a healthier lifestyle. Through my research, I’ve discovered that people are motivated to adopt healthier habits because they yearn to find meaning in their lives, driven by our instinctual need for survival as the dominant species within the limited time we have on this Earth.
With this in mind, I aim to create an app with SwiftUI that helps individuals find more meaning in their lives by utilizing the data provided by HealthKit. Specifically, I will focus on reinterpreting the step count data and use it to predict the remaining lifespan and the likelihood of someone living beyond the age of 90.
By transforming step count data into insights about longevity, the app will empower users to make informed decisions about their health and daily activities. It will encourage them to embrace a healthier lifestyle and motivate them to strive towards reaching the milestone of living past 90 years, adding a sense of purpose and meaning to their lives.
It should be a lighthearted app that didn’t take itself too seriously, so I deliberately chose an “unreliable” theme. Age prediction can never be entirely accurate, so I decided to incorporate a touch of skeuomorphism. I designed a stock image resembling a retro computer from the 80s, complete with a command-line interface displaying the message. To emphasize the notion of unreliability, the last sentence even spits out gibberish text.
To enhance the overall experience, I included a small screen at the bottom visualizing the percentage of people living past 90, represented by a progress bar. While not essential, it adds a cool element to the app. Additionally, I incorporated a feature that visually represents the current age and age 60 (considered productive age) using an LED array-like object. I felt that using a visual representation in this case makes it easier for users to imagine their progress.
The combination of the retro computer interface, the playful gibberish text, and the visualizations of age and longevity aims to create an engaging and enjoyable experience for users. After all, sometimes it’s the little touches and creative elements that make an app truly fun to use.
How is it going and summary
When I shared my prototype with my friends, I was relieved to discover that it worked exactly as I had anticipated! Initially, I was apprehensive because my concept and design were quite avant-garde. However, thanks to my skeuomorphic approach, my friends easily grasped how my app works. If I had presented a command-line interface using a flat design style, it would have likely left people scratching their heads for generations to come.
In summary, I firmly believe that there is tremendous potential in skeuomorphic design, especially amidst the ongoing digital design revolution. While flat design initially captured our attention with its simplicity and focus on usability, it has unfortunately become oversaturated and monotonous due to its widespread adoption. The lack of variation and excessive adherence to design guidelines have left many app and web designs feeling uninspired and dull.
While flat design has its merits in usability, there is a need to break away from its monotony and embrace the potential of skeuomorphic design. By incorporating visual cues, depth, and creativity, we can revitalize the digital design landscape and create interfaces that are both functional and enjoyable.
Skeuomorphic design offers a way to break free from the confines of flat design and reignite the excitement and joy of creative and innovative design. By embracing the potential of skeuomorphic design, we can create interfaces that not only prioritize usability but also bring delight and smiles to users’ faces.
The digital design revolution continues, and skeuomorphic design reignite the innovative spirit!