The origins of Metro style from Swiss international graphic design

Although the flat design existed before the Metro style, it was the birth that really caught the attention of the people. Metro style starts with Segoe fonts. Segoe is a Western-style sans-serif, for Microsoft's many new products in the user interface font. Segoe's design is inspired by the Helvetica and Swiss International Graphic design, which is designed as a simple and accurate tool for conveying information. Without superfluous decorations and moving parts, Segoe is a new way of showing clarity, accuracy, and precision.

Segoe and Helvetica

Swiss International Graphic Design

The generality of Swiss international graphic design and Metro style design

Since the metro style was developed by the Swiss International graphic design, it was surprising to find a striking similarity between the two: they were designed to be simple and easy to identify. Simple and clear style, accurate communication functions, the pursuit of geometric rigor. The use of asymmetric layout organization. The alignment uses the grid as the basis for design using a symmetrical method of left and right lengths. form a highly functional, rational design style. Use of the no-decorated line as the main design font.

Windows8 Start Interface

Swiss International Graphic Design

From the limitations of Swiss International graphic design to the limitations of Metro style interface

The so-called needle has no two benefits. The advantages of Swiss international graphic design are precisely his shortcomings. First of all, Swiss international graphic design works must be objective impersonal design. Individual preference, the special requirements of customers, the pressure of publicity should disregard. The only criterion is the power and effect of vision. Excessive rationalization and formulation led to a humane corridor devoid. Ignores the general public's need for emotion. Second, the Swiss International Graphic design form for the digital grid focus on mathematical logic and rational thinking of the lack of perceptual thought to the designers caused a great limitation. Not conducive to the divergence of thinking and the formation of the layout is too rigid, binding lack of more free, more personalized characteristics.

Grid design

Finally, the development of Swiss International graphic design to the United States gradually deviated from the original intention of the design pioneers. It gradually became a style rather than a motive that became the formalism of the Void.

With history as a mirror, can be known, according to Swiss International graphic design of the demise of the Metro interface can be derived from the limitations.

Excellent WIN8 design

1. The erasure of personal emotional ideas. Different and iOS of the proposed physical and emotional design. Metro style is the most abstract of texture. Interface design for the high light, shadow, such as the basic elements are discarded. is the pure graphic design style The user wants? When the real world and the internet world completely fragmented, the future of the interface design, in the end is not the intersection with the real world of parallel vision system?

2. Overly restrictive network format configuration is a great limitation to designers. First of all, there is no denying that the grid design has good guidance, will make the interface more uniform. But using grids does not mean boring design, a good designer can not only apply the rules based on grid layout reasonably, but also break these rules in time. But when the rules can't be broken, how do you start a creative design?

3. Increase cognitive and learning costs. How can we distinguish this information quickly when it is presented to us in its entirety? At present, the Metro interface uses color blocks to quickly locate the appropriate modules. But what about color blindness? They can see it, or the following is an illegible picture.

What is called poor is change, and change is a pass. From the origins of Metro in Swiss International graphic design, we have seen the crisis and opportunity. How to solve the corresponding Metro style of the interface design? In fact, such as no printing products and IKEA related design inside, already can find the relevant answer. In order to simplify, the information is clear on the basis of open layout, the appropriate increase in texture, add human flavor. The following figure is also a direct listing of the information, but the use of pictures to bring natural texture. Flexible plate, in the rules and simplicity to bring a different flavor.

is the continuation and development of Metro style so far still an uncertain question? He may be a rather powerful branch of the current UI trend. But will it be like a futuristic interface in a sci-fi movie filled with simple line and icon information evolved from Metro style? I think it's still unknown.