iOS 7 Looks Great, But…

As many people are aware, Apple unveiled the update to their mobile operating system titled ‘iOS 7‘ recently. Many of the features look like a huge improvement but I have to be honest and say that I was a little disappointed with the visual appearance of the new mobile operating system.

The functionality looks like a massive improvement but is the visual appearance of iOS 7 really cutting edge form a visual design perspective?

So rather than just saying something for the sake of it, I had better back up these opinions with something substantial or meaningful…

The first expectation I had for the new mobile operating system was for it to be visually stunning but in many ways Apple has not followed the developing web design community that has chosen to leave behind harsh gradients and rounded corners in pursuit of simplicity. As I run a web design studio I am probably more likely to focus on web design trends and styles but this is just something I feel as a designer, person or over opinionated idiot!

In the past web designers went crazy with rounded corners and gradients as soon as CSS allowed this but after many years of experimentation with these techniques, it was realised by many that ‘overdoing it’ with effects like drop shadows, rounded corners and harsh gradients was not an elegant solution for visually pleasing websites and applications.

A good example of this visual simplification would be Microsoft with their new identity which incorporates many of the respected web design techniques into their mobile operating system. Such techniques include the absence of extremely rounded corners for icons and buttons. Flat colours or very subtle gradients have also been used instead of harsh gradients. Many web designers would consider harsh gradients and extremely rounded corners to be a trend of the past, but these elements are very much noticeable with the new iOS update.

From a functionality perspective though iOS 7 looks fantastic. Many of the new features will surely be appreciated by iPhone and iPad users such as the new translucent backdrops which give the iOS platform a totally new feel and the thin elegant typography that adds sophistication to the applications. The new features for viewing and managing photos also looks set to be a real iOS user pleaser.

So iOS 7 looks great but part of me was hoping to see more of this visual design simplification movement within the app symbols and general design. That said, it still looks like a huge improvement and I can’t wait to start using it on a daily basis.