Chroma Experience

Flat Design in UI

Flat design is a design style for user interfaces that uses simple, two-dimensional elements and bold colors. All elements of flat design focus on the idea of simplicity, as opposed to highly realistic and detailed skeuomorphic design.

Flat Design im UI

The first digital applications were shown by Microsoft with Windows 8, Apple with iOS 7 and Google with its Material Design. However, the roots lie in the 1920s in the Swiss style, also known as International Typographic Style. In the mid-20th century, it formed the cornerstone of graphic design around the world. The basic characteristics of flat design are intuitive and simple shapes, lack of complex details and textures, clear typography, bright contrasting colors and subtle shadows. Minimalist design eliminates unnecessary clutter and improves usability. When a component of a design lacks utility, it can negatively impact the user experience. Originally, flat design was developed to optimize compatibility between design and functionality. The idea was to ensure that a website's content could scale smoothly depending on the device's screen size. By using simple shapes and minimal textures, Flat Design ensures that responsive designs work well and load quickly. Due to its simplicity, Flat Design provides users with a streamlined user experience.

Features:

  • readability

  • clear visual hierarchy

  • fast and intuitive navigation on the web and in mobile interfaces

  • adaptive and responsive design

  • simpler development

  • harmonious

  • minimalistic

  • functionality

  • visual balance

With all the advantages, it is also important to consider the disadvantages. Due to the reduction, it is not always easy for the user to recognize the interactive surfaces. They have to guess which surfaces are static and which are interactive. As a result, the "almost" flat design was created. It combines the best of clear and simple flat design with some differentiated skeuomorphic features such as shadows and color variations. For example, by using subtle shadows in the design of CTA elements, it increases the recognition of a button.

Flat Design Beispiel

Important elements for a good flat design

Typography

With the help of simple and clear typography, it is easier for the user to determine a visual hierarchy. Bright colors Colors are an essential part of a design. They convey a feeling and affect emotions. They can influence user behavior on the page and provide orientation.

Movement

Movement makes a design more dynamic and puts focus on a particular element. It can help guide the user through a process and provides visual feedback. User-centered design is thus enhanced even more.

Illustrations

Illustrations draw the eye and can make the next steps understandable even without words. They explain the concept in a reduced and responsive way and give the user feedback on his action. For example, when uploading a file or successfully sending an e-mail.

Symbols

Simple symbols reinforce visual perception. Typographic elements can be supported and facilitate intuitive user behavior.

Conclusion

Flat design is by no means boring, because it combines functionality and aesthetics into a harmonious whole and opens up new possibilities for user-centered design.