No. Its a very good thing. But skeuomorphism has gone too far with Apple products. There is a time in place to use it but they just seem to be using it everywhere and anywhere.
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Apple's Designers Clashing Over 'Tacky' Software Skeuomorphisms
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No. Its a very good thing. But skeuomorphism has gone too far with Apple products. There is a time in place to use it but they just seem to be using it everywhere and anywhere.
I think they are frightening, they have to put the option to switch to the classic elegant look
The only ones I really find annoying are iPad iCal - too much wasted space - and Address Book on Mountain Lion, where the analogy doesn't make any sense at all. Desktop iCal is a bit silly, with the ripped paper effect, but it doesn't interfere with the function.
Game Center is beyond tacky, but I don't use that so it doesn't annoy me.
I've replaced iPad (and iPhone) iCal with Agenda and that's fixed that.
Game Center is beyond tacky, but I don't use that so it doesn't annoy me.
I've replaced iPad (and iPhone) iCal with Agenda and that's fixed that.
Yeah, i kinda agree.
Generally i don't have a problem with eye-candy (or visual masturbation - great phrase!); after all, it's often the little touches in software that make all the difference. But, the danger is when designers become obsessed with them and forget to actually code something decent in the first place!
I've never been a big fan of iCal though, so all the fancy veneer in the world was never going to make me like it...
As far as Skeuomorphism is concerned it's not something i would choose to see; i much prefer other forms of eye-candy...
I sit squarely in the "meh" camp on this issue. At the end of the day I just don't have time to sit around and worry about whether or not Calendar has a leather or brushed metal design. I haven't seen much evidence of these designs negatively effecting functionality (except maybe the Podcast iOS app).
Until someone presents non-skeuomorphic designs that function better, I'm not super concerned about it.
*shrug*
Until someone presents non-skeuomorphic designs that function better, I'm not super concerned about it.
*shrug*
That's ridiculous. A product manager may have to make the choices you're talking about. A real designer, who actually loves what they do and the projects/products they work on, should be trying to push the boundaries. Otherwise they're just a salaried cog trying to punch in hours to get a paycheck. Design by nature is about creation. Creating something where there was once nothing or something different. In practice it's often evolutionary because our brains draw on inspiration, but the path of great design is always headed towards making improvements, and fitting a particular need in a better way. And it's definitely art. Whether it's a diaper, or car wheel. Any other attitude will simply result in regurgitating past over and over.
The trouble with the iCal app is that the analogy doesn't hold. You flick to move forward a month and the page disappears and leaving a ragged edge as if it's been torn off and discarded. You flick the other way and it's magically restored.
Windows 8 is boring and feels like a large mess since everything is happening on the homescreen.
my sister relies heavily on ical and address book for her work and its on the schedule to update her computer (2005 ibook) and i have no doubt she will be appalled by this unoriginal mess of a design.
maybe the rest of apple should take note that instead of spending loads on patents and lawyers they can get these quality designs in most of their products and nobody will copy them.
I dislike the full on skeuomorphisms in the calendar apps, but I think I've mostly got used to them.
I've only really recently discovered Podcasts (or rather how worthwhile some are) and have been using the Podcasts app in iOS5. The exposed tape player behind the 'album cover' I do find rather distasteful.
I've only really recently discovered Podcasts (or rather how worthwhile some are) and have been using the Podcasts app in iOS5. The exposed tape player behind the 'album cover' I do find rather distasteful.
But the issue is that there is an INTERNAL divide over this. It isn't just the critics saying it
swingerofbirch
macrumors 68040
I used to care about the interface elements, but I can't find the ability to care when I see Apple cutting out functionality in OS X, which is worse. My biggest pet peeve is that Apple removed the ability to choose a target folder for QuickTime recordings in Mountain Lion (meaning no recording to external disks), but there are so many other examples just like that of functionality removed for no apparent reason. Another is the horrible design of scroll bars when it comes to selecting the bottom-most file in List View in the Finder.
If Apple started caring again about the details concerning functionality, then I would get on them about design, which I agree is a bit '70s shag-carpet-like.
If Apple started caring again about the details concerning functionality, then I would get on them about design, which I agree is a bit '70s shag-carpet-like.
Sorta kinda --- Apple's certainly known for that, but it's always with taste and in moderation. I think the fear is that things like game center go all out... they're not tasteful, and certainly the skeuomorphism isn't moderate in anyway. ..
I think also that part of the idea is to separate the 'computer' from the 'apps' in peoples' minds. Thus things like finder and activity monitor etc retain their grey 'operating system' interface while the apps most people will use every day have a softer, more visually familiar interface, cementing the idea that the mac is a 'device' rather than a 'computer'.
I knew this had to come from Steve or someone convinced him it was a good idea. It's not. It's patronizing and unnecessary. But unfortunately Tim Cook probably could care less. I wonder who the other high ups besides Ive are against this? Schiller perhaps?
Apple has always been about form and function for as long as I can remember. You could argue to what degree they value each, and whether a skeuomorphism approach is taking it too far... but as long as it doesn't get in the way of the experience, what's the big deal?
I've never seen anything distasteful in their design choices, so I don't view this as a problem until I see some evidence to the contrary... and the calender app is not helping their position if that's their best evidence of poorly executed skeuomorphism.
I've never seen anything distasteful in their design choices, so I don't view this as a problem until I see some evidence to the contrary... and the calender app is not helping their position if that's their best evidence of poorly executed skeuomorphism.
LOL @ Calendar. Its seriously one of the ugliest designs out there. Too bad apple doesnt take criticisms as a reality check more often.
I think that's it's all a matter of equilibrium.
There should be a a limit that you can't pass.
I don't like skeuomorphism, i find it tasteless, the mc donalds of design. Maybe it's the European culture (I'm Italian) that is different from the American one. The former more concerned with design and equilibrium of the shapes, the latter more pratical. Both have strong points and in past Apple has taken the best of both worlds.
What I know is that even I am able to admit that in some casea skeuomorphism can be useful, and even funny! Garageband in my opinion is the best example of skeuomorphism done right, very, very nice and funny. Notes are ok. I can even understand gamecenter (I hate it, but it's a game center, nothing too critical i suppose). iCal is simply bad (btw even more ironic is that I'm vegetarian and I have to look at this stupid leather calendar all day. How tasteless can you be apple?
). Find my friends and podcast are the worst. Horrible and embarassing. It seems to me that with its last applications, Apple has crossed the line between a useful skeuomorphims and and skeuomorphims used just for wow effect (bleah effect in my case). So i cheer for Jony...
There should be a a limit that you can't pass.
I don't like skeuomorphism, i find it tasteless, the mc donalds of design. Maybe it's the European culture (I'm Italian) that is different from the American one. The former more concerned with design and equilibrium of the shapes, the latter more pratical. Both have strong points and in past Apple has taken the best of both worlds.
What I know is that even I am able to admit that in some casea skeuomorphism can be useful, and even funny! Garageband in my opinion is the best example of skeuomorphism done right, very, very nice and funny. Notes are ok. I can even understand gamecenter (I hate it, but it's a game center, nothing too critical i suppose). iCal is simply bad (btw even more ironic is that I'm vegetarian and I have to look at this stupid leather calendar all day. How tasteless can you be apple?
). Find my friends and podcast are the worst. Horrible and embarassing. It seems to me that with its last applications, Apple has crossed the line between a useful skeuomorphims and and skeuomorphims used just for wow effect (bleah effect in my case). So i cheer for Jony...
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I've never understood what the problem is. For me, it's about the usability, and whatever the app, it's perfectly usable. Maybe the mid ground could be an option to choose what you prefer by user. I don't think this is a big enough issue to get in this big of a knot about.