Image Credits - bleepingcomputer
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Microsoft is rolling out a significant update to the design of its illustrations across its products and services. The tech giant is transitioning from flat, vector-based designs to more dynamic 3D Fluent illustrations, aiming to create a more playful and engaging experience for users. This marks a return to skeuomorphism, combining rich, saturated colors with designs that echo natural shapes and contours.
The previous flat illustration style, which could be found in apps like Microsoft Teams, Skype, Office, and parts of Windows, has been replaced with these new 3D Fluent illustrations. According to the Microsoft Design team, the older style, while colorful and inclusive, often came across as “uninteresting and emotionless.” In a blog post outlining the shift, Microsoft explained that the flat vector style, once popular across the industry, was no longer effectively communicating the company’s values. Instead, the new 3D designs are meant to feel more expressive and vibrant, in line with the company’s evolving design goals.
The new illustrations form part of a broader push to unify Microsoft’s products under a distinct visual identity. The updated style integrates elements of the Fluent design language, including the use of more shapes, curves, and symbols. The saturated color palette and soft contours are designed to harmonize more effectively with text, reducing mental strain and avoiding duplication of information that was common with the previous design approach.
Microsoft is also moving towards more general-purpose illustrations that can be reused across multiple platforms, reducing the number of bespoke illustrations in its ecosystem. This helps create a more cohesive look across its suite of products. The Fluent iconography will now play a key role in connecting objects and creating a unified experience for users.
While the 3D Fluent illustrations are already rolling out, the challenge for Microsoft will be updating all of its products and services in the coming months. The company is constantly evolving its iconography, illustrations, and Fluent design system, so it’s likely that these latest designs will continue to be refined over time. Users can expect to see these 3D Fluent illustrations become a standard feature across Microsoft’s platforms as the update progresses.