The word “Skeuomorphism” has been mentioned multiple times throughout the last few weeks within lectures and with my peers especially in relation to the development of Apple and their icons.

Skeuomorphism is a term most often used in interface design to describe icons or objects that mimic how they look in the real world or how the user can interact with them. A well-known example is the recycle bin icon used for discarding or deleting files. Skeuomorphism makes interface objects more familiar to users by using concepts they recognise from previous real life experiences.

Within the early development of the Apple IOS, they used skeuomorphism heavily across its user interface such as the buttons resembling real buttons or photos with white borders looking like physical photographs. It is thought that Apples use of Skeuomorphism in iOS was part of the reason why the interface was so intuitive to use by people who had never used a touch-based smartphone before. It can be argued now however that now as people have become as accustomed to smart phones that skeuomorphism is no longer required in modern interface design and that some skeuomorphism can look cluttered or old fashioned such as a floppy disk icon being used as the save button.

This is why when Apple developed IOS 7 they identified that users no longer needed physical buttons as much due to stronger understanding of how touchscreen technologies worked. This is why Apple changed their skeuomorphism icon style to a more simplistic, lightweight flat style icons with textures being replaced with white or more subtle gradients and a lot less depth. However skeuomorphism was not completely removed with some icons replicating real world such as the drawing tools in the notes app still reflecting their real world look.

Interfaces are forever changing and although Apple did not create skeuomorphism, their influence on its use throughout the tech and design industries does not go unnoticed. As the real world objects continue to get replaced with digital ones due to technology evolving, the use of skeuomorphism minimises but I would imagine it will never disappear completely.

<aside> 💭 Reflection

It was really interesting to learn about how skeuomorphism can be seen as a way to connect the unfamiliar technologies with familiar real world objects. For example, the use of realistic textures such as leather and wood in Apples early IOS app designs created a sense of tangibility and made users feel more connected to their digital devices. It was also interesting to learn about how the designs moved more towards a minimalist and flat design aesthetic due to people being able to understand technology easier due to ore experience and finding the skeuomorphic designs cluttered and overwhelming.

Reflecting on this evolution, it's clear that design trends are subjective and can be influenced by cultural and technological shifts. While skeuomorphism had its advantages in making technology more accessible, the move towards flat design reflected a desire for a cleaner and more contemporary look. Apple's willingness to adapt and embrace new design principles demonstrates the company's commitment to staying relevant and meeting the evolving needs of their users. As a designer, it's essential to appreciate the different designs and understand that preferences evolve and change overtime due to users preferences. The evolution from skeuomorphism to flat design in iOS serves as a reminder of the dynamic nature of design trends and the importance of finding the right balance between aesthetics and usability in the ever-changing landscape of technology.

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