Jony Ive Pushing for 'Flat Design' in iOS 7 Amid Greater Hardware-Software Design Collaboration

MacRumors · Mar 21, 2013, 03:56 PM

Last October, Tim Cook tasked Jony Ive with leadership of the company's Human Interface teams in addition to his role as head of Industrial Design.

This suggested that the company's hardware and software user interfaces could become more complementary with one executive in charge of everything that users see and touch.

The Wall Street Journal reports that this is indeed the case, with mobile software teams being briefed about new hardware prototypes earlier in the design cycle. Additionally, Ive is now sitting in on the human interface team's review sessions to examine new designs.

Quote:

Some suggested that in Apple's next mobile operating system, Ive is pushing a more "flat design" that is starker and simpler, according to developers who have spoken to Apple employees but didn't have further details. Overall, they expect any changes to be pretty conservative. For the past few years, Apple has unveiled versions of its mobile operating system in the summer.

Design is one example of the increased "collaboration across hardware, software and services" that Apple said it was aiming for when Cook pushed senior vice president and mobile software chief Scott Forstall out of the company last year.

In addition to Ive's command of the physical and software interface teams, Craig Federighi is looking at combining some Mac and iOS software teams when there is particular overlap, such as the calendar teams, while keeping the majority of the Mac and iOS engineering teams separate, the paper reports.

Article Link: Jony Ive Pushing for 'Flat Design' in iOS 7 Amid Greater Hardware-Software Design Collaboration

komodrone · Mar 21, 2013, 03:58 PM

inb4 microsoft sues.

bettaboy123 · Mar 21, 2013, 03:59 PM

Yes yes yes yes yes. My body is ready!

phillipduran · Mar 21, 2013, 03:59 PM

Please just make sure the desktop environment works for the desktop environment and the mobile for the mobile.

Don't go the Windows 8 route and shove a touch tablet interface onto the desktop users.

macnerd93 · Mar 21, 2013, 03:59 PM

If Ive pulls it off I'll be very impressed, but there is a difference between hardware and UI design.

barkomatic · Mar 21, 2013, 03:59 PM

A simpler, flat design? I can't imagine iOS getting even more simple to use. If anything, I was hoping for more customization. Well, Ive has done good work in the past so maybe this will work out.

NOV · Mar 21, 2013, 04:00 PM

It will look like Windows 8.

cclloyd · Mar 21, 2013, 04:00 PM

Meh, I've never been a fan of the flat designs.

Simple? Ok. Flat? No thanks.

Yvan256 · Mar 21, 2013, 04:00 PM

I went from Snow Leopard to Mountain Lion.

I almost fell from my chair when I opened Contacts. Please fix it for 10.8.4!

uaecasher · Mar 21, 2013, 04:00 PM

can't wait for the results.

jav6454 · Mar 21, 2013, 04:00 PM

Flat?

monaarts · Mar 21, 2013, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barkomatic

A simpler, flat design? I can't imagine iOS getting even more simple to use. If anything, I was hoping for more customization. Well, Ive has done good work in the past so maybe this will work out.

Simpler design != Simpler to use

bb426 · Mar 21, 2013, 04:01 PM

I don't care about what the next iPhone itself brings in it. iOS 7 is going to be the best update in a long time.

Jony Ive saves us again

notthedark · Mar 21, 2013, 04:01 PM

"more "flat design" that is starker and simpler"

Sounds like Windows 8 RT. Innovative.

naeS1Sean · Mar 21, 2013, 04:02 PM

Jesus. Complain complain complain. Why do you people even buy Apple products? He is incredible, and he's going to do a fantastic job with this. Just like he does with hardware. Faith people!

daneoni · Mar 21, 2013, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by komodrone

Image
inb4 microsoft sues.

Flat doesn't mean tiles

irDigital0l · Mar 21, 2013, 04:02 PM

Flat?

The faq does that mean?

bumblebritches5 · Mar 21, 2013, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barkomatic

A simpler, flat design? I can't imagine iOS getting even more simple to use. If anything, I was hoping for more customization. Well, Ive has done good work in the past so maybe this will work out.

Really? For one thing, the Settings layout is a mess to use.

canucksfan88 · Mar 21, 2013, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jav6454

Flat?

think of flat like what google and microsoft are doing.

newagemac · Mar 21, 2013, 04:04 PM

Well it's already started. I liked the reel to reel animation in Podcasts but yeah it kind of got in the way reelly.

The update to the Podcasts app from today completely removed it. I don't mind if removing skeumorphism results in more development time spent on functionality and usability. Those who don't like skeumorphism at all are going to like the new Podcasts app regardless.

bumblebritches5 · 05:08 PM

Guys, calm down. "Flat" simply means removing all the Vista-ish glares and effects, that look dated anyway.

Sky Blue · Mar 21, 2013, 04:05 PM

Quote:

hey expect any changes to be pretty conservative.

People need to remember this for WWDC

roow110 · 04:12 PM

I hope they don't go too flat... while it is aesthetically pleasing and very minimal, it is a trend. Apple could appear to just be following the look of Windows Phone. There is a reason for some degree of skeumorphism in interface design. Windows phone is too flat, and there is not enough differentiation between elements creating a confusing interface (for instence, buttons are no different than text, confusing content with hyperlinks.) While Apple has pushed skeumorphism too far, Microsoft has pushed flat too far. Hopefully Ive is able to find the right balance and doesn't follow the trend on completely flat interfaces.

naeS1Sean · Mar 21, 2013, 04:07 PM

Huh....very interesting. Defiantly flatter. Hmmm. I don't want to say I like it a little but...maybe he could really make it awesome.

Quote:

Originally Posted by komodrone

Image
inb4 microsoft sues.

clukas · Mar 21, 2013, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by komodrone

Image
inb4 microsoft sues.

Looks quite compelling to me, especially if those were live tiles.

Cant wait to see what Ive does with iOS7 and 10.9. Well probably only see subtle changes, but it will give us a good idea of things to come.

Mar 21, 2013, 03:58 PM	#2
komodrone macrumors 6502 Join Date: Apr 2011	inb4 microsoft sues.
	94

Mar 21, 2013, 03:59 PM	#4
phillipduran macrumors 6502a Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Iowa	Please just make sure the desktop environment works for the desktop environment and the mobile for the mobile. Don't go the Windows 8 route and shove a touch tablet interface onto the desktop users. __________________ That's "Geniuses," not Genii, genius. To err, is PC.
	95

Mar 21, 2013, 03:59 PM	#5
macnerd93 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: United kingdom	If Ive pulls it off I'll be very impressed, but there is a difference between hardware and UI design. __________________ 21.5'' iMac, Power Mac G5 Dual, Apple Studio Display, MacBook Pro, MacBook, Mac minis x2, eMac, Power Mac G4 Graphite, Power Mac G4 QS, iPod 4th Gen Click Wheel, iPad 2, iPhone 4S,
	23

Mar 21, 2013, 03:59 PM	#6
barkomatic macrumors 68030 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Manhattan	A simpler, flat design? I can't imagine iOS getting even more simple to use. If anything, I was hoping for more customization. Well, Ive has done good work in the past so maybe this will work out.
	18

Mar 21, 2013, 04:00 PM	#8
cclloyd macrumors 65816 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Alpha Centauri A	Meh, I've never been a fan of the flat designs. Simple? Ok. Flat? No thanks. __________________ iPhone 5 Sprint 6.1 Jailbroken iPad mini 6.1 Jailbroken MacBook Pro Retina Early 2013 Let's open iOS - Sign now!
	49

Mar 21, 2013, 03:59 PM	#3
bettaboy123 macrumors member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Northern Michigan	Yes yes yes yes yes. My body is ready!
	21

Mar 21, 2013, 04:00 PM	#7
NOV macrumors regular Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: The Netherlands	It will look like Windows 8.
	5

Mar 21, 2013, 04:00 PM	#9
Yvan256 macrumors 601 Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Canada	I went from Snow Leopard to Mountain Lion. I almost fell from my chair when I opened Contacts. Please fix it for 10.8.4! __________________ The first 90% of the code accounts for the first 90% of the development time. The remaining 10% of the code accounts for the other 90% of the development time. -Tom Cargill, Bell Labs.
	46

Mar 21, 2013, 04:00 PM	#10
uaecasher macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Stillwater, OK	can't wait for the results. __________________ Free Mac Video Tutorials and Online Help Steve Job's Most Famous Quotes \| Steve Jobs 1955-2011, RIP Share and get iOS Apps Promo Codes
	3

Mar 21, 2013, 04:00 PM	#11
jav6454 macrumors G5 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: 1 Geostationary Tower Plaza	Flat? __________________ Al MacBook 2.4GHz Late '08 \| Macross Click Me
	10

Mar 21, 2013, 04:01 PM	#13
bb426 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: California	I don't care about what the next iPhone itself brings in it. iOS 7 is going to be the best update in a long time. Jony Ive saves us again __________________ 15" MBP 2011, 2.0 GHz, 8GB RAM, 256 GB Samsung 830 SSD, 120 GB HyperX Kingston SSD; 4S, 3GS, ATV2, iTouch 4G "Check yourself. Before you wreck yourself."
	18

Mar 21, 2013, 04:01 PM	#14
notthedark macrumors newbie Join Date: Feb 2013	"more "flat design" that is starker and simpler" Sounds like Windows 8 RT. Innovative.
	10

Mar 21, 2013, 04:02 PM	#15
naeS1Sean macrumors member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Naples, FL	Jesus. Complain complain complain. Why do you people even buy Apple products? He is incredible, and he's going to do a fantastic job with this. Just like he does with hardware. Faith people!
	82

Mar 21, 2013, 04:02 PM	#17
irDigital0l macrumors 68020 Join Date: Dec 2010	Flat? The faq does that mean?
	26

Mar 21, 2013, 04:04 PM	#20
newagemac macrumors 68000 Join Date: Mar 2010	Well it's already started. I liked the reel to reel animation in Podcasts but yeah it kind of got in the way reelly. The update to the Podcasts app from today completely removed it. I don't mind if removing skeumorphism results in more development time spent on functionality and usability. Those who don't like skeumorphism at all are going to like the new Podcasts app regardless.
	0

Mar 21, 2013, 04:04 PM	#21
bumblebritches5 macrumors member Join Date: Nov 2012	Guys, calm down. "Flat" simply means removing all the Vista-ish glares and effects, that look dated anyway. Last edited by bumblebritches5; Mar 21, 2013 at 05:08 PM.
	33

Mar 21, 2013, 04:05 PM	#23
roow110 macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Brooklyn	I hope they don't go too flat... while it is aesthetically pleasing and very minimal, it is a trend. Apple could appear to just be following the look of Windows Phone. There is a reason for some degree of skeumorphism in interface design. Windows phone is too flat, and there is not enough differentiation between elements creating a confusing interface (for instence, buttons are no different than text, confusing content with hyperlinks.) While Apple has pushed skeumorphism too far, Microsoft has pushed flat too far. Hopefully Ive is able to find the right balance and doesn't follow the trend on completely flat interfaces. Last edited by roow110; Mar 21, 2013 at 04:12 PM.
	35

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