Trendy flat design: what is it, where does it come from, why and for whom?
Not discussing flat design means being out of touch with the latest trends in the web world. We will tell everyone who does not know where the wind of flat design came from and what perspectives it brought.
Philosophy of flattening
Features of flat design, which not only make it recognizable, but also determine the complexity and originality of the direction:
- The absence of complex textures, shadows, photorealism and everything that could remind of the former dominance of 3D effects.
- Increased attention to the main expressive means of flat design: composition, geometry and color.
Where did the wind of change come from?
Connoisseurs of costume history will not let you lie: fashion is cyclical and contrasting. Bulky puffy dresses with corsets were replaced by weightless Empire style outfits. After a long period of puritanical maxi of the 60s of the XX century, give the world a mini skirt. The same rules apply on the web. Previously, web designers did not have the opportunity to create something voluminous, glossy, and they, having enlisted the support of technology, sought to get rid of the limitations of flat design. Having achieved realistic three-dimensionality and honed their skills to impeccable naturalism, many designers wanted to turn to the origins.
One of the reasons for the growth in the popularity of flat design is the variety of mobile devices with different screen resolutions. For all this diverse fraternity, it is easier to create a design without shadows and complex textures. Flat design is considered to be very user-friendly, but in terms of usability, it is in no way inferior to its 3D counterpart.
The basis for the growth of genuine interest in flat design was the transformation of the “appearance” of three whales: Google, Microsoft and Apple. The trendsetters of the web world have successfully updated their design, while remaining recognizable.
What will happen next?
The minimalism and unobtrusiveness of flat design is a fleeting phenomenon. This is not the first time that designers have turned to simplicity and simplification, and in this case, flattening. Fashion is not in vain cyclical - it adapts to the mood of people. Clear lines, geometry, and even some artificiality of flat design will sooner or later become boring, and we will eagerly look out for a new trend on the horizon, even if it appears to us as a modified well-forgotten old trick.
Flat design is friendly with:
- adaptive layout;
- touch devices;
- content.
Above, we have already talked about the ease of adapting flat design to devices with any screen resolution. Flat-design looks and feels profitable and comfortable on touchscreen gadgets, as it is free from small details. However, this does not mean that other web design techniques are less user friendly. The talent of the designer and the ability to use it are responsible for the convenience and aesthetics of the site or application. No one doubts that content is the parade on the web. Flat design is an ideal style for all kinds of media files and texts. It does not distract from the content of the site, but rather focuses on it.
Many web designers see flattening as a response to the fast-paced, information-rich world outside. Such a reflection has already been repeatedly observed in interior design and clothing, but people continued to return to natural, natural, natural motives. Now flat design is a popular fashion novelty. Flat motifs will be in trend for a long time, but it’s still not worth calling flat the only right and optimal solution for web design.