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How Apple makes soft-UI the future

The new iOS and MacOS UI changes reflect where the industry is heading.

Michal Malewicz
UX Collective

Apple WWDC 2020 UI trends

Apple announced some pretty wild updates at WWDC 2020 today.

But technology aside, let’s focus on how their UI has changed. It went through the first bitmap representations, through Aqua, more modern styles and now all comes together in a completely new, consistent design language.

Apple Mac OS design styles
Main Mac OS design styles

The changes in both the mobile and desktop operating systems signifies which design style currently works best. Until we get morphing displays, soft UI is here to stay. There are similarities between what Apple showed today and what Microsoft developed in its Fluent UI design.

It’s funny to think that over a decade ago Apple mocked Windows Vista for copying their ideas (quite rightfully) when now they merge the Microsoft way into their products.

So here’s the list:

Rounded corners in apple OS

(more) Rounded corners

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Responses (13)

What are your thoughts?

They surely did extensive research on what most people like

Dude - Apple are world famous for doing exactly NOT that. It’s almost part of their brand, and certainly their history, that we don’t ask customers what they want. If you or anyone else has any evidence of Apple doing user research in their design process, then let’s hear it.

Nice article calling out the hypocrisy. As someone mentioned below about not doing research, I can say that is indeed false.
I worked there for awhile from 2013–2015 in the infamous marcom department. Designers did do research, they hung out on…

Great article, like always. Thank you!