Flat design versus Skeuomorphism: which side are you on? In terms of graphic design, and particularly in the field of icon design, there are two major trends that have occupied discussions for several months: "Flat design" vs "Skeuomorphism"! We observe this debate through the 3 major players that are Apple, Google and Microsoft. So let's start this article with a quick question: Which of these icon series do you prefer? 1, 2, 3 or 4? For information, here are where these icons come from... 1 - Microsoft Windows 8. 2 - Apple iOS 7. 3 - Apple iOS 6 4 - Google Skeumor-what? Skeuomorphism is a word formed by the Greek root skeuos which means military equipment, but also costume, ornament, decoration (Wikipedia) In design, it describes a visual element whose shape is not directly related to the function, but which reproduces in an ornamental way an element which was necessary in the original object.
The best-known examples are the photo retouching service icons of IOS 6 such as the Game Center gaming platform, the Notes notebook or the Compass2. It seems obvious that skeuomorphism responds to a need for continuity and familiarity. Already in the days of our grandmothers, most of their electrical appliances took the form of their manual equivalents. This is the affordance, that is to say the ability of a product to suggest its own use. For the sake of simplicity, and assumed subjectivity, it is my duty to inform you that "skeumorphism" is not my friend. It Skeuomorphismrfully put in the same basket as Web effects 1.0, 2.0, 3.0... Now, let's try to understand why the arrival of Flat design delights all designers! flat design Flat design, unlike Skeumorphism, takes the side of minimalism. The Flat design excludes any effect of depth, drop shadow, reflections.
He favors large flat areas of color, without borders, without fuss... The defenders of "flat-design" affirm that graphic interfaces should not try to "visually" imitate existing functionalities, but concentrate on the essential, find the shortest path to transmit information in order to facilitate navigation and optimize readability. Less is more takes on its full meaning with Flat design. Before going further in the analysis of these two currents, we can look at our three case studies, Apple, Google and Microsoft. The Google case In 2011, Larry Page, CEO of Google launched the project to redesign the visual identity of the Mountain View company's products and services. From the beginning of 2012, the first creations of the Chris Wiggins team, the creative director in charge of this redesign, began to appear.