Do you like Apple's Apple's skeuomorphic software design?

[Rogifan]

Mike Elgan at Cult of Mac has a post up about Apple's skeuomorphic software design. *http://www.cultofmac.com/180084/where-microsoft-has-more-taste-than-apple/ *Of course the title is just click bait, but I think he does have a point. *To me skeuomorphic design is just patronizing and not necessary in most cases. *What baffles me is Apple seems to have a very cohesive hardware design philosophy which focuses on elegance and simplicity. *On the hardware side they seem focused on getting design out of the way. *On the software side they seem to add things that aren't necessary, like the leather stitching on iCal and find my friends. *Ad the new podcast app which is made to look like a reel to reel tape. *Some of the worst offenders IMO:

I'm not suggesting Microsoft's Metro UI is the answer (some of the color choices there are horrendous), but surely there has to be a way to design software UI that had some personality but leaves out all the unnecessary ornamentation.

 

[irDigital0l]

Mike Elgan at Cult of Mac has a post up about Apple's skeuomorphic software design. *http://www.cultofmac.com/180084/where-microsoft-has-more-taste-than-apple/ *Of course the title is just click bait, but I think he does have a point. *To me skeuomorphic design is just patronizing and not necessary in most cases. *What baffles me is Apple seems to have a very cohesive hardware design philosophy which focuses on elegance and simplicity. *On the hardware side they seem focused on getting design out of the way. *On the software side they seem to add things that aren't necessary, like the leather stitching on iCal and find my friends. *Ad the new podcast app which is made to look like a reel to reel tape. *Some of the worst offenders IMO:

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

I'm not suggesting Microsoft's Metro UI is the answer (some of the color choices there are horrendous), but surely there has to be a way to design software UI that had some personality but leaves out all the unnecessary ornamentation.

Metro is ok for tablet but I HATE IT for PC. Hate how Office 2013 looks too.

Apple does have a few bad apples though...

-Game Center
-Podcast
-Find My Friends
-Stock
-Weather
-Clock (iPhone version) iPad one looks amazing
-YouTube
-The iWork apps with their leather designs

 

[Vizin]

.

 

[virginblue4]

I really like it! My favourite examples are the find my friends app and the ripped paper in Calendar and Notes but the best one, in my opinion, is Game Center.

 

[URFloorMatt]

Whenever I read an article or post complaining about skeuomorphic design, here's how I translate the comments made by the person writing the "critique": I can't come up with any serious or substantive critiques of what Apple is doing right now, so I'm going to make up a problem that doesn't exist and bitch about it.

Minimalism is not the opposite of skeuomorphism. Skeuomorphism exists in software to give the user intuitive visual cues about how the application operates by mimicking real world experience. And this could never be more valuable than when using a multi-touch interface.

Microsoft's UI isn't tasteful because it's minimalist. In fact, it sacrifices helpful visual cues in dogmatic adherence to minimalist design, which is something to be criticized, not something to be applauded.

Personally, I like Apple's use of texture (linen, leather, stitching, etc.) in recent years. If you're going to build retina displays, might as well show them off. And the use of linen backgrounds throughout iOS gives the user a subtle visual cue about the layering of objects. My only complaint is the way the Notifications bar is layered over, rather than under, the home screen. Particularly since it's obvious that un-intuitive layering occurs only because of sloppy implementation of the Notifications bar on the iPad.

 

[Rogifan]

Metro is ok for tablet but I HATE IT for PC. Hate how Office 2013 looks too.

Apple does have a few bad apples though...

-Game Center
-Podcast
-Find My Friends
-Stock
-Weather
-Clock (iPhone version) iPad one looks amazing
-YouTube
-The iWork apps with their leather designs

I just got my Office upgraded at work (was still on 2003!) and I must say the ribbon drives me crazy. Especially because it forced me to learn a bunch of new keyboard shortcuts. And for some reason in Office 2013 they decided to use all caps for the menus. Not sure why they feel the need to shout at us.

Agree with you on Metro for the PC. Just awful. . Obviously for the phone MS idea is glance and go. The metro design and live tiles works for that. But I'm not sold it will work on the desktop. And the millions of users so familiar with Start menu, Windows Explorer and control panel while hate it.

----------

Whenever I read an article or post complaining about skeuomorphic design, here's how I translate the comments made by the person writing the "critique": I can't come up with any serious or substantive critiques of what Apple is doing right now, so I'm going to make up a problem that doesn't exist and bitch about it.

Minimalism is not the opposite of skeuomorphism. Skeuomorphism exists in software to give the user intuitive visual cues about how the application operates by mimicking real world experience. And this could never be more valuable than when using a multi-touch interface.

Microsoft's UI isn't tasteful because it's minimalist. In fact, it sacrifices helpful visual cues in dogmatic adherence to minimalist design, which is something to be criticized, not something to be applauded.

Personally, I like Apple's use of texture (linen, leather, stitching, etc.) in recent years. If you're going to build retina displays, might as well show them off. And the use of linen backgrounds throughout iOS gives the user a subtle visual cue about the layering of objects. My only complaint is the way the Notifications bar is layered over, rather than under, the home screen. Particularly since it's obvious that un-intuitive layering occurs only because of sloppy implementation of the Notifications bar on the iPad.

I don't need faux leather and stitching to know how the calendar app operates. Or faux wood grain bookshelf to know how to browse my book library. Apple has gone overboard with some of this stuff. Maybe if we ever get haptic feedback it might make sense.

 

[Tinyluph]

It's really just Game Center and Calendar that I don't like, and maybe the stupid paintbrushes in iPhoto as well.

I think things like the Podcasts app look really cool though.

 

[throys]

Don't really see anything too much to worry about, it's not perfect but very close to what I like my stock icons to be. I hate the fancy titsy stuff.

 

[rorschach]

Some of it is done well, some not. But I prefer any of Apple's skeuomorphic UIs over the god-awful brushed metal.

And keep in mind that brushed metal was in the HIG. You were SUPPOSED to use it for apps that mimicked real-word devices.

 

[markrox7]

I think it's nice in some places, like the Notes.app, and the Calendar.app (on the Mac it's still alright IMO). I think where this skeuomorphism gets annoying is in apps like Find My Friends. The leather stitching has nothing to do with the app whatsoever and looks out of place. If skeuomorphism can be applied, like in a Calendar or Notes app, then go for it. But if there's an app like Find My Friends that could have a simpler look, then skeuomorphism just doesn't look good, but at least it doesn't interfere that much with the functionality of the app.

 

[Rogifan]

Yeah hated the brushed metal. Bad, just like Windows Aero design language.

 

[brayhite]

I understand if someone just has a general dislike for a color, but skeuomorphic design is alright in my book. Like one poster said, the visual cues it helps establish are great. I only use iCal/Calendar in Month view so it looks like a desktop calendar. I tend to use the handwriting font in the Note app.

Some things, like Game Center, are a little goofy and unnecessary in design. Not sure why the card tabletop design is representative of a "Game Center" feel. But then again, I don't know what sort of UI would have a Game Center feel (I'd rather not see an arcade or casino-look, personally).

The brush metal isn't bad, to me either, though I'd prefer a glass/glossy-look.

Maybe my tastes in aesthetics aren't sophisticated enough to want more from Apple

 

[kmj2318]

There are many examples that I don't like, but some I feel ok about. I think the happy medium would be somewhere between iOS and Android. Windows 8 might be too sparse to be useful, even though I like some of the designs.

IMO, Google Now looks much better than the ugly linen used in Siri.

I feel like Apple way oversuses it at times, but there are times when it trumps the metro style

You obviously know what's touchable by the look of the glassy bubbles, whereas in the metro design, the flat letters don't convey teachability, even though i tend to visually prefer flat designs.

Overall I feel that Google has the best design, which is surprising considering how ugly the google homepage used to be for many years. However, the android side of things is sometimes a little too techy for me.

 

[rorschach]

Yeah hated the brushed metal. Bad, just like Windows Aero design language.

I forgot the pinstripes as well:

 

[Planey28]

It's alright to a degree, but they're way overdoing it. Game Center and Podcasts being the perfect examples; felt and wood have absolutely nothing to do with video games and it looks tacky. They really need to stop using the linen everywhere as well, it's a really ugly and overused texture.

There are times when it works well though such as the calculator and notes.

I agree that Google are doing much better in the UI design field lately, Jelly Bean looks slick.

 

[Daysight]

I hate it, frankly. Distracts from the experience of working in a slick modern OS, like driving a Porsche wearing mittens and rubber boots. Just my personal opinion of course. Wish I had the option of an alternative design.

 

[virginblue4]

There are many examples that I don't like, but some I feel ok about. I think the happy medium would be somewhere between iOS and Android. Windows 8 might be too sparse to be useful, even though I like some of the designs.

IMO, Google Now looks much better than the ugly linen used in Siri.
Image Image

I feel like Apple way oversuses it at times, but there are times when it trumps the metro style

Image

You obviously know what's touchable by the look of the glassy bubbles, whereas in the metro design, the flat letters don't convey teachability, even though i tend to visually prefer flat designs.

Overall I feel that Google has the best design, which is surprising considering how ugly the google homepage used to be for many years. However, the android side of things is sometimes a little too techy for me.

Image

I disagree with your opinion on Siri vs Google Now. I feel that Google Now looks like it has been quickly and cheaply thrown together, whereas, Siri looks like time and effort has gone into it.

 

[jacg]

In iOS it sometimes looks a bit overdone, but in most cases I will tolerate it if the app is good. In some ways it may help identify the app, especially when I am multitasking using the 4 finger sweep gesture. I didn't realise the podcast app looked like that: what a shocker. If I'm buying and trying to choose between two similar apps, i'll choose the more OS X-like app.

Which leads me to the bigger problem: awful and creeping skeuomorphism by Apple in mac OS X. Here I do not want several apps on the screen at once all using different interfaces and colour palettes. That is what I dislike about windows. Full screen apps, maybe, but I never use these as it limits productivity.

Lion's iCal and address book are truly shameful. Why can't a standard OS X UI be an option for every one of these abonimation? If iWork is updated for OS X next week with leather and torn paper, it will prove that Apple have truly lost the plot.

 

[acosmichippo]

I didn't even realize this was an issue. I don't use Find my Friends, Game Center, or the Podcast app, so I can't comment on those, but I have no complaints with their other apps. In fact, I rather like it.

 

[Rogifan]

In iOS it sometimes looks a bit overdone, but in most cases I will tolerate it if the app is good. In some ways it may help identify the app, especially when I am multitasking using the 4 finger sweep gesture. I didn't realise the podcast app looked like that: what a shocker. If I'm buying and trying to choose between two similar apps, i'll choose the more OS X-like app.

Which leads me to the bigger problem: awful and creeping skeuomorphism by Apple in mac OS X. Here I do not want several apps on the screen at once all using different interfaces and colour palettes. That is what I dislike about windows. Full screen apps, maybe, but I never use these as it limits productivity.

Lion's iCal and address book are truly shameful. Why can't a standard OS X UI be an option for every one of these abonimation? If iWork is updated for OS X next week with leather and torn paper, it will prove that Apple have truly lost the plot.

Most of the non-Apple apps I use have great design. Clean, simple and uncluttered. I still scratch my head on how Steve could be so focused on refining and simplifying when it came to hardware but adding all this unnecessary stuff on the software side.

----------

I forgot the pinstripes as well:

Image

Does Apple have any designers on the software side or are they all engineers? I think you'll get a totally different outcome from someone who has an engineering degree vs someone who maybe has a fine art degree.

 

[Grolubao]

It's awful! I prefer the minimalist approach.

That leather in a lot of Apple app's is just plain horrendous.

 

[MattInOz]

I don't need faux leather and stitching to know how the calendar app operates. Or faux wood grain bookshelf to know how to browse my book library. Apple has gone overboard with some of this stuff. Maybe if we ever get haptic feedback it might make sense.

But you have a device with a relativity small screen for the function it delivers. So the design is not just how it works but placemaking or branding each app. Think of Find my Friends, Addressbook, Calendar, many 3rd party apps, all of which could be in standard supplied Person Picker when you get distracted by something look away from the screen or screen changes. You come back seconds, minutes later. How long does it take you to re-estatablish in your brain why you there. If all the apps use just used the standard UI then your lost. If each app adopts a theme element then it's another bread crumb you have to handle context shifting.

Not saying some of themes Apple uses are good chooses, but the value does go beyond purely functional visual clues.

 

[ajvizzgamer101]

It gives applications the home sweet home feeling but it also uses more resources. So it has it's ups and downs, there is definitely room for improve in some of them. iPhone glass shelves are terrible. But the brushes are nice touch.

 

[acosmichippo]

Most of the non-Apple apps I use have great design. Clean, simple and uncluttered. I still scratch my head on how Steve could be so focused on refining and simplifying when it came to hardware but adding all this unnecessary stuff on the software side.

Because if they treated every apple app like that, they'd all be boring grey blobs - just look at Lion's finder sidebar. Color and visual cues help people get things done. Maybe you aren't one of these people, but a lot of us are.

 

[Rogifan]

Because if they treated every apple app like that, they'd all be boring grey blobs - just look at Lion's finder sidebar. Color and visual cues help people get things done. Maybe you aren't one of these people, but a lot of us are.

What function does it provide though, other than bad aesthetics? Faux leather and stitching on the iCal app helps you get things done how exactly? I'm not advocating for no color or grey everywhere but taking something virtual and making it look like its physical counterpart isn't necessary IMO. It's just cheesy.