Flat Design
#Flat Design
“Flat design is a style of interface design that rejects the 3D elements of skeuomorphism. It does not, contrary to popular opinion, abandon skeuomorphism in its entirety but rather focuses on rendering objects in flat minimalist form. It avoids the excessive use of gradients, textures, and drop shadows designed to deliver 3D effects for simpler elements focusing on simple flat elements, typography and flat color schemes.”
Flat Design – An Introduction, Interaction Design Foundation, 2020
Work and leisure
#Work and leisure
"In recent years, researchers of several disciplines have determined a transformation of the concept of work as it was known in the 20th century. Back then, work was understood as being in opposition to leisure; now it seems to be an operation incorporating creativity and play."
School Will Never End: On Infantilization in Digital Environments – Amplifying Empowerment or Propagating Stupidity?, Mercedes Bunz, 2015
Mobile Web
#Mobile Web
“There is an added benefit of this design approach – it is not just for aesthetics – 2 dimensional objects are far easier to scale within responsive designs that adapt to different screen or browser sizes. This has become far more important with the advent of the mobile web.”
Flat Design – An Introduction, Interaction Design Foundation, 2020
Users as Kids
#Users as Kids
“As the Nielsen Norman Group puts it: ‘User experience design (UXD or UED) is the process of enhancing user satisfaction by improving the usability, ease of use, and pleasure provided in the interaction between the user and the product.’” Olia Lialina, 2015
School Will Never End: On Infantilization in Digital Environments – Amplifying Empowerment or Propagating Stupidity?, Mercedes Bunz, 2015
Designer
#Designer
“Flat design enables the UI designer to think of their designs as a functional tool. Their work will be measured based on the value that the design brings to the user rather than simply on aesthetic appeal. Many UI designers feel that this focus enables them to concentrate on user experience more than graphic design to the benefit of their businesses and customers alike.”
Flat Design – An Introduction, Interaction Design Foundation, 2020
Flat Interface
#Flat Interface
“What is interesting about flat design’s popularity was that it was Microsoft who seemed to have started the trend in minimal UI design, as opposed to ‘design savvy’ Apple. First, with Microsoft’s Zune player and later Windows Phone 7, both had clean, minimalist approaches to its interface design. Microsoft named this style, “Metro” and with its growing popularity, applied it to other Microsoft operating systems."
Flat Design: A History, Past, Present and Future, Florian Müller, 2014
User Input
#User Input
“Flat design is a minimalist approach to UI design. It is intended to reduce complexity in the design and thus enhance the user experience. It is important to carry out research to discover what it is that your users want and not rely on any standard approach for UI design without getting their input first.”