Why flat design is not anti-skeuomorphism

When Apple introduced iOS 7 in 2013, many said it spelt the death of skeuomorphism in design. And in 2015, when Google rolled out Material Design, many agreed that it hammered a final nail in the coffin for skeuomorphism.

Well, they were quite wrong.

Because flat design — as seen in Apple’s iOS, Google’s Material Design, as well as countless popular websites and apps we use daily — is actually not the opposite of skeuomorphic design.

To really understand why, we need to first understand what exactly is skeuomorphism.

So, what is skeuomorphism?

Skeuomorphism is derived from the Greek words “skeuos” (meaning vessel or tool), and “morphe” (meaning shape). In plain English, skeuomorphism is simply the use of visual cues from one object in another object.

One of the most commonly cited examples of skeuomorphism is Apple’s old design style pre-iOS 7. For instance, the iBooks app looked like an actual bookshelf — i.e., the visual cues of a bookshelf (wooden texture, shadows and sense of depth, etc.) were used in the app’s user interface.

The point of skeuomorphic design is to provide instant context to users: by mimicking the visual cues of well-known everyday objects, skeuomorphism reduces the cognitive load required by users to understand what and how to use a product.

Understood this way, skeuomorphism is actually a little bit more than just a design trend. It also encompasses a design philosophy, where real-life objects are used as visual metaphors to make products more useable.

Why we need skeuomorphism

With the release of iOS 7, skeuomorphism became villainized overnight. It was an eyesore, most would complain. The faux leather stitching was visual design overkill, others would chime in. While these statements are generally true, many have forgotten why we needed skeuomorphism in the first place.

When Apple introduced the iPhone in 2007, there was really no other product quite like it. No one was familiar with controlling a device by touching, swiping, and pinching on a piece of glass. So how could Apple show its consumers how to use its product?

By making it intuitive — so one look is all you need to know what the app is for, and how to use it.

Wait, so what about flat design?

Skeuomorphism in flat design