Microsoft unveils Fluent Design to make Windows 10 look new again

Project NEON leaked earlier this year, revealing a glimpse into the future of Windows 10’s design. In the months since, Microsoft has started to add elements of the language to existing Windows apps. Today, it officially introduced the Microsoft Fluent Design Language during its ongoing BUILD developers conference in Seattle.
Fluent has five fundamentals that combine to create the visually distinctive apps shown off on-stage today and in previous leaks. Microsoft is focusing on light, depth, motion, material and scale, using each keyword as a reminder of what Fluent apps should look like and how they should run.
As Ars Technica reports from the event, “light” reflects the interface’s need to avoid being distracting. Important details are highlighted to draw your attention without intruding on your work. Depth alludes to the use of layering in Fluent apps while Motion links to the enriched use of animation and transition encouraged with the new language.

Outlook Mail Project NEON concept artwork [Image via MSPoweruser]

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Material and Scale both concentrate on the Universal part of “Universal Windows Apps,” describing how Fluent apps should work seamlessly across devices. Whether the app’s running on a phone or a 50-inch TV, it should adapt to make the most of the available screen size and the device’s capabilities. “Fluent Design will deliver intuitive, harmonious, responsive and inclusive cross-device experiences and interactions,” Microsoft said.
The result of the buzzwords is a radically fresh take on the core Windows UI. There’s a renewed focus on spacing and typography, important traits of Microsoft’s original “Metro” design language developed for Windows Phone. This evolved into Modern Design Language (MDL) for Windows 8 and 8.1, followed by the current MDL2 for Windows 10.
The “Fluent” name conveys the focus on subtle animation within. Apps are supposed to use animation tastefully to draw attention to important interactions. The overall look is flat, modern and minimalist, with the underlying complexity hidden by the use of varied font sizes.

Groove Music Project NEON concept artwork [Image via MSPoweruser]

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Fluent isn’t just about fancy artwork though. It’s also meant to address one of the most frequent criticisms of Windows 10’s design since its launch. MDL2 doesn’t come with a comprehensive set of guidelines so developers can’t unite around a single cohesive look. Even Microsoft’s own apps differ widely in their use of MDL2.
Fluent finally puts an end to this, returning more stringent guidelines similar to those published with Windows 8. Fluent apps have a set layout and look which will improve desktop cohesion and create an experience that feels like the “one Windows” Microsoft has been advertising for years.
Microsoft won’t be ready to release Fluent this year, although elements will begin to appear in more Windows 10 apps as the project nears completion. You can already experience some key components of the design in apps like Groove Music and Films & TV. Its presence will be expanded in the Windows 10 Fall Update later this year – announced by Microsoft today – before the transition is completed in 2018.