User interface design isn’t static. These days, a trend built on layers and subtle depth is creeping into almost every app. Glassmorphism is emerging as a major UI design trend that is shaping modern visual design. Its focus is on translucency, depth, and minimalism. This style was re-popularized in 2020 when Apple’s macOS Big Sur update. It became a mainstream trend for both web and app design, influenced by Apple’s IOS 7 and Microsoft’s Fluent design system.
Glassmorphism helps in establishing visual hierarchy and depth. However, if not used correctly or if overused, it can pose usability and accessibility issues. This effect adds depth and sophistication that reveal underlying content while keeping the focus on the foreground.
In this article, we’ll learn what glassmorphism is and how it can enhance user experience. Also, some of the famous examples of it!
What is Glassmorphism?
Glassmorphism is a visual style that reflects the look and feel of frosted glass. This design is characterized by modern elegant aesthetics. It generally uses translucent surface, background blur, subtle shadow and vibrant colors for creating interfaces that are modern, layered and light. Some of the key characteristics of this design is that it resembles a glass-like appearance, semi-transparent elements and layered frosted effects that add visual hierarchy and depth to UI components.
Glassmorphic elements and virtual glass are central to this style and help in creating the illusion of floating, translucent layers within the interface. While implementing glassmorphism, understand visual design principles that are essential for ensuring accessible, effective and visually appealing design.
How Glassmorphism can enhance UX
It can look like a trick used to enhance the style but it actually improves usability and appeal. It adds depth and guides attention.
- User Emotion: The soft, frosted glass look can calm the mind. Gentle blur and rounded edges can reduce tension. It signals safety and helps people focus. It doesn’t reflect visual noise. It also reduces distractions so that users perform the desired action. When combined with a calm mood with clear and intuitive navigation, happy customers and loyalty is ensured.
- Visual Hierarchy: It helps in organising information on screen. Designers see through panels placed over colorful or blurred backgrounds. It helps in separating more important content from less important content. It lets users focus on key areas like pop-ups or alerts. This adds depth to the design. Applying glassmorphism to interface elements such as icons and buttons and interactive elements helps in creating a visual hierarchy. Semi-transparent panels and frosted glass effect benefit from this approach making the user interface more modern and visually appealing.
- User Attention: Blurring the background can make the foreground content stand out. This contrast helps people in finding content fast. Semi transparent layers add depth and hierarchy. It helps in guiding the eyes.
- Aesthetic: It is a modern and attractive aesthetic that enhances brand perception and attracts user attention. It reinforces perception of brand.
- Usability: It enhances usability and accessibility. It is important to note that interface elements are readable and accessible.
Examples of Glassmorphism
Many big brands are using glassmorphism. Here are some of these examples
- Weather App: Weather app uses frosted, blurred layer to make the content stand out. The main screen displays temperature condition, wind speed, humidity, etc. they sit on smooth and floating surfaces that make the design clean and light. It uses colorful icons to mark sun, cloud, rain, etc. It helps in better understanding of content.
- Engel: It is a sound and productivity app that creates personalized audio experience. It uses glassmorphism panel in its design. These panels float over a smooth and moving background to show sound patterns. It helps in creating a focus and calm mood.
As VR, AR, etc is growing, transparency and depth will matter more. It helps in understanding space and direction in a 3D environment. It will be used in more smarter and efficient ways. It will enhance hierarchy depth and experience across all platforms. Lumia 360 provides interactive and responsive web design that suits the brand’s requirements. Our designs have boosted our client’s search engine rank and business. To know more about our services, email at info@lumia360.com or call at 514-668-5599.
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