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Ask DN: Thoughts on Google's Material Design

almost 9 years ago from , Founder at ZaKidd Development

What are everyone's thoughts on Google's Material design? Is it a good move forward for Android? Does anyone think this will play well on the web?

I think it is a good move for google on Android, but for the web... I'm not sure. Probably because I haven't really seen much designed for the web with Material.

9 comments

  • Jonathon HalliwellJonathon Halliwell, almost 9 years ago

    Love it. Not been so impressed with a set of guidelines and detailed documentation for a while...

    3 points
  • Matt SistoMatt Sisto, almost 9 years ago

    Best part

    0 points
  • Sam MularczykSam Mularczyk, almost 9 years ago

    I think their guidelines are fantastic. Android L is shaping up to be the best looking release yet, however I'm not sure how well it will go on the web.

    The basic principles are great, for sure. Animation is a key centerpoint and builds on what Microsoft's already doing with Metro - it's pretty cool. It's kind of what I hoped Mattias Duarte would do years ago: post Web-OS releases of Android have been a little dull in the UI department, until now.

    I don't think the actual style of Material Design (as in, the aesthetics) will really take off - not in the way that Bootstrap has, for example. I think it's a great thing for UI design/designers in general, and brings a huge amount of consistency to Android - something that's sorely needed. But the web... not so sure how useful it will be.

    0 points
  • Cosmin NegoitaCosmin Negoita, almost 9 years ago

    I think the new design language is top notch. It is avoiding trends and such and focuses on bringing simplicity to the table.

    It is not only a step forward for Android, but for the entire web. As they said, they encourage everyone to follow their guidelines. I always loved Google's app designs.

    Gmail is a very good example of a good interface and Material Design been used by Google before they knew about it.

    I'm really excited about this and I'm really eager to experiment with this as much as possible.

    0 points
    • Darth BaneDarth Bane, almost 9 years ago

      "It is avoiding trends"

      I disagree, 'Material Design' is a trend in itself, just like flat, skeuo, long shadows, etc.

      1 point
      • Ian GoodeIan Goode, almost 9 years ago

        Trends are made by people. Skeuomorphism is not a trend, the use of it is the trend.

        1 point
      • Cosmin NegoitaCosmin Negoita, almost 9 years ago

        Material Design is a design language, not a trend. Material Design IS flat, but it means much more than "no gradients or highlights". It's more about how things work.

        0 points
        • tunde cockshotttunde cockshott, almost 9 years ago

          Material design is just another trend. It is a direct response to skumorphism, more than that is it is a response from a design perspective, not necessarily a UI perspective.

          The approach is based on paper and ink. Which is an appropriate metaphor for certain applications but not all. We are in danger of throwing out the baby with the bath water.

          Sure skumorphism went over board and became a form of digital gothic design, but at its heart was the attempt to bridge the gap between the system model and the user's understanding/expectation of the application model. By using real world visualisation, the UI provided a short cut to help the user grasp the function and behaviour of the user interfaces.

          By going 2.5D and living in the graphic design world, ( with the additions animation and interaction add) we may simplify the UI to a level where the ordinary user has problems. The very name is an explicit acknowledgement of the benefits of skumorphic design that have been lost by going flat(ish), Material Design? It is an attempt to define a new material for this digital stuff we poke and swipe.

          Every new media starts by mimicking the most relevant preceding model, movable type - manuscript, film - theatre, desktop computing - the office. Our digital users are now more visually educated and it may be the time to break free and define a model which is uniquely appropriate to responsive digital delivery. Material Design may be it, but I doubt it will still be the dominant model in 5 years time.

          0 points