Neumorphism

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Neumorphism is a design style used in graphical user interfaces. It is commonly identified by a soft and light look (for which it is sometimes referred to as soft UI) [1] with elements that appear to protrude from or dent into the background rather than float on top of it. [2] It is sometimes considered a medium between skeuomorphism and flat design. [3]

Contents

History

The term neumorphism was coined by Jason Kelly as a portmanteau of neo and skeuomorphism, emphasizing its role as a semi-revival of skeuomorphism. [4] Many neumorphic design concepts can be traced to Alexander Plyuto, who created a mockup for a banking app showing various elements of neumorphic design. He posted it to the website Dribbble, where it quickly blew up to 3,000 views. [1]

On November 12, 2020, Apple released macOS Big Sur. The update included graphical designs that featured neumorphism prominently, such as the app icons and use of translucency. [5]

Characteristics and purpose

Neumorphism is a form of minimalism characterized by a soft and light look, often using pastel colors with low contrast. Elements are usually the same color as the background, and are only distinguished by shadows and highlights surrounding the element. This gives the elements the appearance that they are "protruding" from the background, or that they are dented into it. [2] [3]

Designers may like the look and feel of neumorphism because it provides a middle ground between skeuomorphism and flat design. Specifically, it aims to look plausibly realistic, while still looking clean and adhering to minimalism. [6]

Criticism

Neumorphism has received a lot of criticism, notably for its lack of accessibility, difficulty in implementation, [7] low contrast, and incompatibility with certain brands. [8]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Light-on-dark color scheme</span> Type of color scheme

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Look and feel</span> Aspect of software design related to user interfaces

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References

  1. 1 2 "The rise and fall of neumorphism | Webflow Blog". Webflow. Retrieved 2022-08-26.
  2. 1 2 "The New Trend in UI Design: an Overview of Neumorphism". Toptal Design Blog. Retrieved 2022-08-26.
  3. 1 2 "Neumorphism: why it's all the hype in UI design". www.justinmind.com. Retrieved 2022-08-26.
  4. ↑ Sanil (2020-04-21). "Why Neumorphism is different from the other design trends?". Medium. Retrieved 2022-08-26.
  5. ↑ Koloskus, Jack. "Apple, Big Sur, and the rise of Neumorphism". Input. Retrieved 2022-08-26.
  6. ↑ Nanduri, Dheeraj (March 25, 2021). "Neumorphism and what it means". medium.com. Retrieved August 26, 2022.
  7. ↑ Malewicz, Michał. "Neumorphism in user interfaces | Hype4Academy". Hype4 Academy. Retrieved 2022-08-26.
  8. ↑ Meir, Dana (2020-10-27). "What Is Neumorphism in UI and Is It Here to Stay?". Shaping Design Blog. Retrieved 2022-08-26.
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