Flat design is a user interface design style that uses simple, two-dimensional elements and bright colors. It is often contrasted to the skeuomorphic style that gives the illusion of three dimensions through copying real-life properties. Its popularity became prominent with the release of Windows 8, Apple’s iOS 7, and Google’s Material Design, all of which utilize flat design.
Flat design was originally developed for responsive design, where a website’s content scales smoothly depending on the device’s screen size. With the use of simple shapes and minimal textures, flat design ensures that responsive designs work well and load fast (especially important since mobile devices have slower internet speeds). By reducing the amount of visual noise (in the form of textures and shadows), flat design provides users with a streamlined and more optimal user experience.
However, despite its popularity, flat design also has drawbacks regarding the user experience. The absence of three-dimensional effects (e.g., drop shadows) takes away the cues that indicate how a user can interact with a design. For example, buttons in the flat design style do not appear distinct from other visual elements on a webpage, and therefore do not appear clickable. Because of this danger, flat design is increasingly applied in a more balanced way, often referred to as “flat design 2.0” or “almost flat design.” This trend takes the clean and simple visuals from flat design and adds some subtle skeuomorphic qualities such as color variations and shadows. With this increased depth and dimension, visual variety increases and usability improves. For instance, Google’s Material Design and Apple’s iOS interfaces heavily use shadows and/or blurring effects to make their interfaces more intuitive to use.
A flat design style is a clean and minimalist graphic style that uses 2D elements with bright colors. It focuses on minimalism, functionality, and usability and uses no shading or extra details to make visuals look 3D. It prioritizes a clean and organized layout to minimize distractions and improve clarity.
A flat design style aims to keep things straightforward without any fancy extras. It is about simplicity, with a modern look that is practical and user-friendly in digital apps.
A flat design image is a simple picture made in the flat design style. It uses basic shapes, bright colors, and simple typography. You might see these images on websites, apps, or printed materials. Flat design images keep things neat, focusing on how easy it is to use them. They help share information in a clear and user-friendly way. So, it is a clean and straightforward picture that makes things easy to understand, whether on a website or using an app.
This video discusses various examples of different visual frameworks. Jump ahead to 9.20 to catch an example of a flat design.
The flat design comes with a range of benefits:
It ensures consistent application across platforms for a unified brand image.
User-friendly icons aid in better understanding and interaction.
Flat design reduces cognitive load by avoiding complex textures and shadows.
It offers a contemporary aesthetic aligned with modern design trends.
Easier maintenance and updates due to design simplicity.
Simplifies visual elements for a clean interface.
It contributes to faster loading times with simple shapes and details.
Flat design theory uses clean, white space, crisp edges, bright colors, and two-dimensional illustrations. The goal is to create a modern and straightforward experience for users on computers or phones.
Flat design became famous as a cleaner alternative to skeuomorphism. The article discusses the evolution, decline, and return of skeuomorphism in design. It also highlights the rise of flat design as a response to the issues with skeuomorphism, emphasizing visual clarity and simplicity.
Modern flat design, or "flat design 2.0," is an evolution of traditional principles. Modern flat retains the simple, two-dimensional elements, and bright color palettes characteristic of flat design. However, it has subtle additions to address its drawbacks regarding the user experience.
Some notable features of modern flat design are:
Incorporates subtle shadows or gradients.
Prioritizes responsiveness, ensuring adaptability to various screen sizes and devices.
Employs layering techniques to establish a sense of hierarchy and improve user interaction.
Flat design is widely used across various industries and platforms, seeking clean and modern aesthetics. Major tech players like Microsoft, Apple, and Google have incorporated flat design principles into their operating systems.
Social media platforms, professional networking sites, and web development tools also leverage flat design for its visually appealing qualities. The design trend is not limited to specific industries. Diverse organizations striving for a streamlined and contemporary visual experience in their products and interfaces are embracing it.
Yes, the flat design remains a prevalent and influential trend. It gained widespread recognition as a design style in 2012 and 2013, notably with the releases of Windows 8 and iOS 7. Since then, flat design has remained a prominent and recognizable trend.
"Flat design 2.0" or "almost flat design" are more balanced ways to use flat design. Major tech companies and web and app designers highly utilize these.
A flat design on a website is a modern and clean style. Bright colors, simple shapes, and easy-to-read fonts characterize it. Here are six signs to recognize flat design:
Bright Contrasts: It uses vivid colors to guide users visually.
Simple Shapes: No fancy, realistic images—just basic shapes.
Easy Fonts: It prefers simple, fast-loading fonts, like sans-serif.
White Spaces: Blank areas help focus and make websites easier to read.
Grid Layouts: It often follows a symmetrical grid for organization.
Plain and Simple: Symbolic icons, basic shapes, no textures, and no fancy color blends.
Here are some simple steps to make a flat design:
Utilize basic iconography and design simple and recognizable icons.
Opt for a bright and contrasting color palette. Limit the number of colors for simplicity.
Limit your typography choices and opt for simple, legible fonts.
Establish a visual hierarchy through size, color, and placement.
Eliminate gradients, realistic textures, and shadows.
Maintain consistency in design elements and employ a consistent grid system for alignment.
Ensure the design adapts well to different screen sizes and test on various devices for responsiveness.
The course "Visual Design: The Ultimate Guide" comprehensively explores flat design and visual principles. It will enhance your understanding of visual principles, color theory, typography, and grid systems. The course comprises four lessons and provides practical applications:
Learn to differentiate between visual design elements and principles. Apply this knowledge by deconstructing well-known designs.
Explore color theory, schemes, and systems. Gain a cultural understanding of color symbolism and its context of use.
Understand the anatomy of type, classifications, styles, and typographic terms. Learn some practical tips for selecting and combining typefaces.
Recognize the significance of grid systems in providing a structure within the design. Unveil different types and practical applications to enhance design work.
Remember, the more you learn about design, the more you make yourself valuable.
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Here's the entire UX literature on Flat Design by the Interaction Design Foundation, collated in one place:
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