Does the macOS Big Sur release herald the revival of Skeuomorphism?
This is one of the more controversial talking points coming out of the new macOS Big Sur release, one that really gets my goat. There has been increased chatter about Apple bringing back skeuomorphism with the introduction of drop shadows.
Yes! the new Messages, FaceTime, Mail and App Store icons do have an unmistakable shadow dropped below them, rendering them 3Desque. But can we sound the alarm, and start rummaging for pre-2014 design patterns to prepare for a move back to skeuomorphism? Some designers on Dribbble have already started preparing their designs for a potential skeuomorphic future, while other designers have called it “neumorphism”, regardless of the nomenclature used, the new icons do not indicate a move to skeuomorphic design, as the macOS always had elements of skeuomorphism in its icon design, hence never left it.
The designs for the Bin, Dictionary, Notes and even Preview in macOS Catalina all indicate elements of skeuomorphism. Heck, the Apple Design Guidelines for App icons (at the time of publication) talk about:
“Portraying real objects accurately. Icons that represent real objects should look like they’re made of real materials and have real mass. Realistic icons should accurately replicate the characteristics of substances like fabric, glass, paper, and metal in order to convey an object’s weight and feel.”
A clear definition of skeuomorphism if I ever saw one. The guidelines go on to provide the example of Preview and how the glass in the magnifying tool, mimics real glass by distorting the image slightly below it.
So while Microsoft and the Android platform have embraced flat design, Apple has continued with design realism keeping Apple very much in the realms of skeuomorphism.
