Flat design is OVER. What's next?

Malewicz
29 Nov 202308:01

TLDRThe video script discusses the evolution of UI design, highlighting the shift from flat design to more innovative and creative directions. It emphasizes the importance of staying relevant in the design industry by exploring new trends like Pneumorphism and Glass Morphism. The script critiques the repetitive nature of drag-and-drop design systems, suggesting they lead to boredom and lack of innovation. It encourages designers to experiment and stand out to avoid being replaced by AI, as the paradigm is moving towards creativity and unique user experiences.

Takeaways

  • 😀 The current UI design style is considered uninspiring, with a lack of innovation and progression.
  • 🌟 Brands like Airbnb and Shopify, along with senior designers worldwide, are pushing for a return to creative roots in design.
  • 🎨 The design industry is at a crossroads, where professionals can either continue with mundane tasks or explore new creative directions.
  • 🔍 Flat design, once revolutionary, is now seen as boring, prompting a search for more visually engaging alternatives.
  • 📈 Trends like Pneumorphism and Glass Morphism represent a shift away from flat design, indicating a desire for innovation among users and designers.
  • 🛠️ Design systems, while cost-effective and efficient, are blamed for stifling creativity and leading to visually dull products.
  • 🔄 Companies copying entire design flows and elements from others without innovation contributes to a stagnation in design creativity.
  • ⚡ Change is on the horizon, with a movement away from flat design to more diverse and creative design elements.
  • 👁️ Experimentation and the introduction of schumorphic elements are encouraged, aiming for designs that stand out and enhance user experience.
  • 🤖 The reliance on design systems and repetitive tasks may lead to AI replacing those in purely operational roles, highlighting the importance of creativity and innovation in securing a future in design.

Q & A

  • What did Brian Chesky, CEO of Airbnb, recently say about the world of design?

    -Brian Chesky mentioned that the world of design is changing and to stay relevant, one must keep up with these changes.

  • What is the current sentiment towards UI design style?

    -The current UI design style is considered boring and uninspiring by some, with a lack of innovation and progression, primarily consisting of flat components.

  • What are some bigger brands doing to revive creativity in design?

    -Brands like Airbnb and Shopify, along with a group of senior designers worldwide, are experimenting and trying to bring design back to its creative roots.

  • What does the speaker suggest designers can do to push the industry forward?

    -Designers can explore new directions, experiment with different styles, and push the industry forward instead of just being drag-and-drop component users in tools like Figma.

  • What was the impact of flat design on the design industry?

    -Flat design simplified interfaces, making it accessible for people without strong visual skills to create UIs. However, it led to a homogenization of design, making everything look the same and boring.

  • What new design trends emerged around 2021?

    -New design trends like Pneumorphism and Glass Morphism emerged, offering alternatives to flat design and reintroducing visual interest to interfaces.

  • Why has flat design remained popular despite its drawbacks?

    -Flat design has stayed popular mainly due to design systems, which save money by enforcing consistent, reusable, and easy-to-access building blocks for designers.

  • What is the speaker's view on the future of design?

    -The speaker believes that while boring, repetitive interfaces will still exist, there will be a shift towards creativity, with new styles and elements being introduced alongside flat design.

  • How did Shopify and Airbnb approach the reintroduction of non-flat design elements?

    -Shopify introduced more skeuomorphic buttons into their design system, and Airbnb created satisfying, interactive elements that stand out from the background, both making their interfaces more visually interesting and memorable.

  • What advice does the speaker give to designers regarding the future?

    -The speaker advises designers to experiment with new styles and ideas, as those who stick to being drag-and-droppers may eventually be replaced by AI, which is better suited for repetitive tasks.

  • What is the main takeaway from the speaker's message?

    -The main takeaway is that designers should embrace change, try new things, and avoid falling into the trap of monotony and repetitive tasks to stay relevant and innovative in their field.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 The Evolution of UI Design and the Rise of Innovation

This paragraph discusses the current state of UI design, highlighting the shift from flat design to more innovative and creative approaches. It mentions Airbnb and Shopify as leaders in this change, emphasizing the need for designers to adapt and explore new directions to stay relevant. The paragraph critiques the lack of innovation in current UI design, describing it as boring and uninspiring, and contrasts it with the potential for emotional and artistic responses in design. It also touches on the historical context of design evolution, from the skills required before the flat design revolution to the emergence of new trends like Pneumorphism and Glass Morphism. The speaker encourages designers to move beyond drag-and-drop monotony and to embrace creativity to avoid being replaced by AI.

05:03

🌟 The Future of Design: Breaking Free from Flat and Embracing Creativity

The second paragraph focuses on the realization within the industry that optimizing for cost savings at the expense of creativity leads to less engaging products. It predicts a change in design trends, with a move away from flat design as the dominant style. The paragraph discusses the reintroduction of schumorphic elements and the importance of using them sparingly for standout design features. It highlights Shopify's and Airbnb's innovative design choices, such as unique buttons and interactive elements, as examples of this shift towards creativity. The speaker encourages designers to experiment, try new things, and find joy in their work, while also acknowledging that AI may eventually replace those who continue with repetitive, uncreative tasks.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡AI replacement

The concept of AI replacement refers to the idea that artificial intelligence will eventually take over certain jobs or tasks traditionally performed by humans. In the context of the video, it suggests that designers who merely use drag-and-drop tools without innovating may be replaced by AI, as these tasks are repetitive and lack the creative element that AI currently struggles with.

💡Innovation

Innovation in this context refers to the introduction of new ideas, concepts, or methods that bring about significant changes or improvements. The video emphasizes the need for innovation in UI design, as the current state is described as 'boring' and 'uninspiring'.

💡Flat design

Flat design is a minimalist design approach that focuses on clean, simple interfaces with no use of realistic textures, shadows, or highlights. It has been the dominant design style for several years, but the video argues that it has led to a lack of innovation and a homogenized look in UI design.

💡Pneumorphism

Pneumorphism is a design trend that emerged as a reaction to flat design, characterized by the use of soft, rounded shapes and gradients to give a sense of depth and airiness. It is one of the new directions in UI design mentioned in the video, aiming to bring back some of the visual interest lost in flat design.

💡Glass Morphism

Glass Morphism is a design trend that incorporates translucent glass-like effects, often used to create a sense of depth and sophistication. It is another example of a new direction in UI design that offers a fresh alternative to the flat design aesthetic.

💡Design systems

Design systems are frameworks that establish consistent, reusable components for product design. They are intended to save time and resources by standardizing the design process. However, the video criticizes design systems for contributing to the homogenization and boredom in UI design by encouraging a drag-and-drop approach that lacks creativity.

💡Schumorphic elements

Schumorphic elements refer to design features that incorporate realistic visual cues such as shadows, textures, and lighting effects, which were more prevalent before the rise of flat design. The video suggests that these elements are making a comeback, blending with flat design to create more visually interesting interfaces.

💡Creative roots

The term 'creative roots' refers to the fundamental principles or origins of a discipline that emphasize creativity and innovation. In the video, it is used to encourage designers to return to the more experimental and expressive aspects of their craft, rather than relying solely on standardized design systems.

💡Drag and drop

Drag and drop is a user interface paradigm that allows users to move items from one location to another by clicking, holding, dragging, and releasing them. In the context of the video, it is used to describe a design process that is overly simplified and lacks the complexity and creativity required for truly innovative design work.

💡Design paradigm shift

A design paradigm shift refers to a significant change in the basic assumptions, values, and practices that constitute the design community's way of thinking about design. The video suggests that such a shift is occurring, moving away from the dominance of flat design towards more varied and creative approaches.

💡Schematic designs

Schematic designs are visual representations of a system, often used in user interface design to represent complex information in a simplified manner. In the context of the video, it refers to the use of simplified, schematic elements in the design process, which the speaker criticizes for leading to a lack of innovation and visual interest.

Highlights

AI is expected to eventually replace certain design tasks, but it won't eliminate the need for innovation in design.

Airbnb's CEO, Brian Chesky, emphasizes the importance of staying updated with changing design trends to remain relevant.

Current UI design is seen as boring and uninspiring, lacking innovation and progression.

Brands like Airbnb and Shopify are leading the way in bringing creativity back to design.

There's a shift in design towards more interesting directions, moving away from the monotony of drag-and-drop design tools.

The evolution of design is highlighted by the transition from flat design to more dynamic and emotional elements.

Before 2014, creating interfaces required strong visual skills due to the use of schumorphic elements.

Flat design's simplicity allowed less visually skilled individuals to create UIs, leading to a homogenization of design.

Around 2021, designers began to experiment with new ideas beyond flat design, such as Pneumorphism and Glass Morphism.

Design systems, while cost-effective, contribute to the boredom and lack of innovation in design.

The daily routine of many designers involves repetitive tasks with little room for creativity.

The industry is recognizing that optimizing for cost can lead to less engaging and potentially less profitable products.

A shift is coming where flat design will no longer be the dominant style, with schumorphic elements making a comeback.

Shopify and Airbnb are examples of companies that are introducing new design elements to stand out and be memorable.

The design community is ready for change and is seeking new directions to reignite creativity.

Designers who continue with repetitive, uncreative tasks risk being replaced by AI.

The future of design encourages trying new things, experimenting, and having fun with the process.

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