We’re close to saying “goodbye” to 2014 and, as the end of another year of outstanding digital development is fast approaching, we’ve coined some of the biggest trends this year has brought to light. In terms of design, flat is, by far, 2014’s prodigy.
Why Go Flat?
Not only “Flat is Where It’s At”, aka a major trend-setter, it also works great in improving the user’s overall experience. We’ve mentioned earlier the fact that flat design has been 2014’s prodigy. However, flat design has been here for a while now, only it really took off with the launching of the Windows 8 Metro Interface. The Metro Interface dictated new styles, much simpler, with vibrant colours and clean details, much what flat design is all about. In addition, flat design is associated with large typography, amongst other dedicated user experience features. Large typography essentially makes it easier for the user to browse the layout on mobile or tablet, thus making it easier for you to improve your app’s usability.
Leaving Skeuomorphism Behind?
We’re all familiar with Apple’s skeumorphist approach in their designs, and we all loved it! Undoubtedly, the rather fancy-looking, utterly realistic icons on any iPhone or iPad are what partially draws a user to an Apple gadget. It’s beautiful and inviting! But, on various occasions, the skeuomorphist approach is a little bit too pretentious (check out Apple’s digital calculator) and cumbersome and it doesn’t quite pay off, because skeuomorphism is, for those who have not tried it, really meticulous work!
Consequently, more and more mobile app designers (and not only) are now focused on flat design as a neat, clean and responsively versatile alternative to posterior trends.
Wonderful Resources To Work With!
You’ve read this far and are willing to give flat design a try? Then you’ll be glad to find out the internet has much to offer in terms of free tutorials, vectors and wireframes that will help get you going on the flat path. You can start with Twitter’s Bootstrap framework, that enables users to quickly set up their own responsive flat design. If you’ve got a thing for colour schemes, simplicity in style and are a bit of a Daria nostalgic, you can already call yourself a flat apprentice!
