What is Skeuomorphism and Skeuomorphic Design?Skeuomorphic Design is a design pattern where things look like it's made of something else, such as ebook readers looking like a bookshelf.
Skeuomorphic design and skeuomorphism is a design pattern that makes things look like they are made of something else. This week, Apple announced that their new iOS7 operating system will scrap the traditional look of its icons, which mimic real-world objects, such as the envelope for a message.
Steve Jobs believed computers should be so simple to use that a complete novice could master them based on instinct alone. The envelope is the standard symbol for email or SMS messages. It distinguishes between read and unread, as messages can be shown as opened and unopened envelopes. The standard Cut, Copy and Paste icons are scissors, a clipboard and a pot of glue to represent real-world actions.
Some applications take this a step further by recreating a series of design elements to look like real-world objects - a good example is the Apple Ebook Reader, which mimics an entire bookshelf complete with books that look like real-world books. Other applications function the same way as their old-world equivalents, such as contacts lists using an A-Z index down the side to navigate the same way as a Filofax or organiser.
The skeuomorphic design initially gave novice users an intuitive understanding of how an application works - they know what a real-world button looks like, so they see one on a screen and "know" to click the digital version. It gives them a sense of familiarity, but is this required now that technology is so mainstream?
Apple's decision to abandon skeuomorphic design in its new iOS7 user interface, as announced by Jony Ive at the Worldwide Developers Conference, is a significant shift in design trends. This radical revision, moving away from real-world visual metaphors to a minimalist 'flat' approach, will undoubtedly influence the way users interact with technology.
"iOS 7 is the most significant iOS update since the original iPhone,"
The departure of Scott Forstall from Apple last year marked a significant turning point in the discussion around skeuomorphic design. Forstall, along with the late Steve Jobs, was a strong advocate for this design approach. With his exit, the number of proponents for skeuomorphic design dwindled, clearing the way for the current design shift.
With Microsoft's new Metro interface on Windows 8 and iOS7 adopting a flat design interface, the era of skeuomorphic design is coming to an end. The flat design trend, with its clean and minimalist aesthetic, is gaining popularity. More and more websites are adopting the flat look styled after Metro, and it's likely that more websites will also start emulating the iOS7 interface, heralding a new era of digital design.
As we witness the transition from skeuomorphic to flat design, it's natural to wonder: is flat design the future, or is it just a fad that will pass in a year? Has skeuomorphic design served its purpose in allowing a transition to a digital world? What do you think are the broader implications of this design change? What does this mean for application developers? These questions invite us to reflect on the evolving landscape of design and its impact on our digital experiences.
