Whiteout: A New Look for Android Phones

Google has released a video teasing the upcoming update of its Material Design across all of their Android apps and has given the world a sneak peek at what its designers have been working on. Though the new designs seem to require a little more work before being ready for roll out, it’s probably safe to say that this will be Google’s new look going forward.

It’s always interesting when app giants release new designs for their software, as large organisations like these really work to shape the landscape of app design for years to come. Here’s what’s in store:

What will this new design affect?

This design change, seen in a video which has since been pulled, will only affect you if you use Gmail, Google Drive, Google Photos, Google Maps or use Google’s search engine to find anything on the web… so pretty much everyone then. The new designs will affect all of their products, and though it won’t change the functionality too drastically, it’s important to keep up-to-date with the changes and make sure you’re ready.

Blank space

The new component which has perhaps been most widely criticised by commentators is the use of white space. For Gmail, the signature red banner is on its way out, and for most of the apps, there’ll only be a hint of Google’s characteristic colours, in amongst a lot of white space. Google is also tightening its logo font so that it will become more professional while remaining playful.

Curves

We don’t know about you, but we’ve noticed that the design of edges and corners in web design and app interfaces seems to be on a constant pendulum swinging from curved to straight. Google’s new plan for a refresh confirms that the pendulum is swinging once more back to rounded, and this curvature will soon adorn the edge of each rectangle in Google’s many apps and websites. From the looks of the video, Google is set to become much more circular in general, and many calls to action will be pleasingly round.

Inspired by social

The release of these new designs has led commentators to theorise how much inspiration Google is taking from social media and sharing sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Gmail is changing quite drastically so that it resembles more of a news feed along similar lines as Twitter and Facebook. Any images attached in emails will also show up in the inbox screen. Google Photos looks to be inspired by photo-sharing apps like Instagram, with a minimal design and a focus just on the pictures themselves.

How will Google’s new look inspire your own efforts as you grow your mobile app development business? Share your thoughts with us on social media!