What is flat design?

Recently, if you ask about the popular trend of web design, you will probably encounter the concept of flat design (flat) every time. The rise of the concept of flat design is actually the case in recent years, but because some large companies and organizations in the web design this matter, the style has been biased, so the flat design has gained a huge popularity.

But few people know where the concept of flat design comes from. Why is this concept used in Web design? For the new concept of design, it is important to understand the historical background of a style and a technology, because when we feel that we are adopting this new design concept, An understanding of its origins can help us make more informed decisions. So we need to take a look at the flat design of the ins and outs.

　　What exactly is flat design?

For those who have never heard of, can be simply explained, the so-called flat design, is in the process of design, remove all with three-dimensional outstanding effects of style and attributes. That is, to remove falling shadows, gradient changes, surface texture differences, and all design effects with three-dimensional effects.

Flat design is now favored by designers because it allows design to be more modern, and it can also be a powerful highlight of the most important elements of design: content and information. In fact, those with three-dimensional effect of the attributes, itself is a certain period of time the popular style, so the removal of this information, you can make your design less easily outdated. Not to mention the content itself. So this style of design still has a lot of benefits.

In fact, to discuss the flat design can not be mentioned, it is the opposite side, that is, rich design style. Rich design is to add a variety of design decoration, such as drop shadow, gradient, etc., so that the overall layout is very rich. This style of design allows users to navigate the Web page more freely. The rich design and the real-life style are different, and the latter is to make the design more realistic by simulating physical objects.

　　Where does the flat design come from?

In fact, many of the style of web design can be found in the printed art of the Shadow. But it's hard to identify the original source of flat design. It should be said that from a number of design styles and periods, have been the corresponding inspiration eventually formed a flat design of this matter, such as the following:

　　Swiss Style

Swiss style is the most worthy of discussion in the history of flat design. This style of design sprang up in Switzerland, with time running through the 1940 to 1950 years. Swiss style is characterized by a large number of grid design elements, and the content and layout are very concise, in that era can often see a large photo with a simple few words, this is the typical Swiss style design. In fact, like the flat style, the Swiss style has been around for some time before making a big pop, dating back almost to Germany in the 1920 's, but has since become a huge fad in Switzerland.

　　Minimalism design

There are also minimalism design, in fact it is basically flat-designed words with the same name, some people will mix them, but it appears much earlier, has been used in architecture and visual design. Minimalism design is characterized by the removal of all the useless things, leaving only the elements needed, usually a few geometric shapes, some bright colors. So basically the above two styles of design influence the formation of flat design.

　　The appearance of flat design in it field

Although many designers now use flat style web design, but it can be said that without Microsoft and Apple, the two technology giants to promote, flat design will not develop to the current fashion.

First, Microsoft and its Metro design,2006, Microsoft, competed with Apple's ipod player, launched the Zune music player, and since then started the design style named Metro. This style highlights the font size of the text and fits the background picture. This style is quite different from Microsoft's traditional Windows style. The Windows Phone 7 system, launched in 2010, is actually a lot of experience from Zune's design. Metro's name has been circulated, so popular that Microsoft has applied it to the WINDOWS8. In addition, this design style is also used in other software, such as Xbox360 and so on.

And, of course, the Apple and its style, as Microsoft prepares its own design style, Apple has made a change, they give up the real style, and the direct use of flat design. And in the summer of 2013 IOS7 launched the listing. Because a lot of products involved, so the rapid popularity of the open. Apple has a big impact on the design landscape, and designers quickly like the flat style that makes their products look more modern.

　The future of flat design

No one can predict the future of the crystal ball, so we can almost say that the flat design will eventually disappear, will be replaced by other design styles. But designers are constantly planning and experimenting, and eventually evolving it into a new style. In fact, Google is now trying to make it and the traditional rich design, make full use of their own characteristics. In short, the design industry is always in flux.