Neumorphism - Audioplayer
The more or less useful design trend "Neomorphism" had caught my attention. In the course of this, this audio player was created as a test project.
The challenge
Less of a challenge and more of a pure interest in trends and the approach of rethinking the familiar. The challenge was much more about choosing the right colours and giving the interactive components the attention they needed.
The solution
Imagine a classic iOS app for a music player. You have a background on which we place various components that add layers and create depth. With Neumorphism, you would create a soft interface where the UI elements are not placed on the background - but behind it. It gives the impression that components such as buttons or cards are actually in the background and are only visible because they protrude from the background.
The general style revolves around solid colours, low contrast and the right play with shadows. But how can we create a user interface that offers a "wow factor" without flashy elements? Neumorphism is all about the use of shadows and light. Broadly speaking, the key ingredient is to ensure that the element and the background are exactly the same colour. So we can create the feeling that these components are coming out from within the background by using the shading to create the prominent look. However, this creates the challenge of actively guiding the user's gaze, as everything is very similar.
Where does Neumorphism come from?
It is very interesting that Neumorphism is composed of Skeuomorphism and other popular trends such as Flat Design, although both styles are completely opposite, Neumorphism is a mixture of both and places itself between these different styles.
The trend focuses on getting rid of conspicuous aspects of the user interface and creating a soft appearance that remains consistent across the entire product. It's not about replicating reality in the digital world, as with skeuomorphism. Instead, the aim is to create something completely new.
A trend with disadvantages
It's true that neumorphism, like all trendy design styles, has both good and bad sides. On the good side, we have all the excitement and freshness of something new and unique. As a visual style it is appealing, that much can be said objectively. But if Neumorphism is great all round, why don't we see it in real products?
For all the great visual effects it brings, Neumorphism has one major weakness: user-friendliness.
The problem is that there is a very small range of colours and contrast in which Neumorphism works. The slightest deviation in saturation can mean that the entire sublime effect on which Neumorphism is based simply no longer works. Thus, a closer look at the trend reveals more and more disadvantages and problems. An example of one of these problems is the button. Showing a hover effect, for example, is already a challenge, as the colour of the button has to be adjusted. There is the aforementioned risk of losing the desired soft effect.
These problems make this trend difficult or even impossible to realise. User-friendliness comes first, always!