Apple has released a new iOS update, and it seems they've heard the people out. Somehow. For once.
It's no new news or secret that many people right now are feeling quite nostalgic for old times. Missing old brand identities and the uniqueness and creativity of the past as a result of the lifeless corporate minimalism being forced down our throats and strangling us like we personally wronged their entire bloodline.
With this nostalgia comes a lot of eagerness to return to the basics, to what we once had. And while most of the time we're used to being heard but not listened to, for once, it seems a corporation has heard us.
Well, maybe not for once, as I've seen a good handful of some (relatively) smart brands who had half a brain enough to appeal to our nostalgia knowing it's easy access to our wallets these days (come on, like if you want us to splurge give us a good reason at least?), but for Apple, typically they don't care what we consumers have to say because they know people will continue to buy regardless.
But it seems our prayers (haha not the right ones unfortunately. God save us all...) have been answered! A distraction from the hellscape that is America! They're getting the band back together!
Frutiger Aero is back, baby!
And it isn't just Apple who is honing in on the prize, either. So it seems Windows has been edging us nostalgics like a madman with a fetish for our suffering. Sorry, this is my blog. I'm allowed to say weird shit. If you're like, a kid, look away for two seconds. I swear my phrases won't kill you, you're probably like 15 minimum if you're reading this.
If you're any younger than 15 and you're on my blog, I meant they're taunting us like the mean rich girls shaking their Drunk Elephant and Stanley's in our poor faces.
Anywho-
Frutiger Aero seems to somewhat be making a return, or at the very least, has inspired a new wave of Skeumorphic UI for the close future. Which, in my opinion, is actually quite exciting. I have no REAL issues with minimalistic UI other than how unappealing it looks to me, but I quite fancy skeumorphism a lot. Aside from the nostalgia bait, I just find it refreshing and timeless. It feels clean and easy to navigate. It always feels so new, even when it's been decades since its release. So many people favor Windows 7 for a multitude of reasons, one of which being its incredibly charming UI design. And I'll be one of many to admit that I, myself, am included in that. I used Windows 7 up until about I believe 2021ish? Back when I got my new laptop and Had to upgrade. Unfortunate day of parting for me and my beloved Windows 7... I never forget you oomf.
Well, I've seen Apple and Windows milking the everliving shitfuck out of their audience with their nostalgiabait like we're nothing but mindless cattle (and let's be real, ATP I'm not even sure we aren't), but only time will tell if they're truly going to follow through with this new direction or if they're simply hopping on the bandwagon for a quick temp cash grab. Both can be true, them doing it for the money while also deciding to go this new route, of course, but I'm curious to see if this is temporary and a one-time thing, or if this change is marking a new era, tides turning, doors opening, yadda yadda.
Thoughts & Debates
Personally, I quite like the glassmorphic UI that Apple is incorporating. I've heard it's entirely optional as well, so that's a plus. Customization is quite a lacking feature with Apple, so giving their audience the option to choose between their classic and the glassmorphic design of their new update at least provides an option for those of us who aren't all that interested, to opt out... which is something I want to ramble about while I'm on the subject.
I do find it really fascinating that Apple has decided to incorporate this glassmorphic UI, but am I really all that surprised? No, admittedly. Am I surprised at the audience reception? Absolutely.
I've seen a lot of people on Tiktok marking this as "the slow decline of corporate minimalism" and saying "frutiger aero is back," but is this really the truth? Those in disagreement have been making the argument that Apple has actually, in fact, never released anything more minimalistic than this. They feel this is the opposite indicator, that we are only further sinking into corporate minimalism with every app being colorless, see-through, and looking similar/the same. And both sides of the argument are something I agree with. I think both can be and are true to some extent.
Now, I personally am not the biggest fan of this glassmorphic UI (I don't hate it, but I think it's alright) because of the fact it is (in my opinion) quite a lazy way to cater to the Frutiger Aero fanatics while still maintaining that clean, minimalistic design that Apple is known to love. However, I do have to applaud them for somehow managing to find a way to incorporate their brand of minimalism into a skeumorphic design. I do think this new glassmorphic UI is both very "Frutiger Aero" in nature (no pun intended), while repping that more modern, slick, and clean look to it that Apple is known for.
It's a nice balance, almost a compromise between both audiences and aesthetics. In a way, it feels almost neumorphic- A design style that combines skeuomorphism and flat design.
Both UI designs aim to sort of bring back that tangibility and realism that is a key component of Frutiger Aero's design, while still maintaining modern minimalism. I can see how people do and don't see the aspects of Frutiger Aero within the release of the new Apple UI update. While I'm not a big fan of it personally, I do really like how some people are utilizing it. I think that presentation is really important with glassmorphism, as it can really change the perspective on how an individual perceives it. If it's paired with flat colors or perhaps conveyed in a more "aurora" manner (another common design that Apple loves to utilize), it absolutely can come off as minimalistic. But with the way users have been using the new update, pairing it with colors and various wallpapers (often with Frutiger Aero-esque designs), the design style seems to fit in quite well and come off very "nostalgic" and "classic."
I don't think there is a right or wrong answer to the debate going on, seeing as both sides of the argument are true, but there definitely is something to be observed about how Apple is still on their minimalism kick while somehow managing to cater to the nostalgics out there with this new decision.
What do you guys think? Do you like the new UI? Do you think other companies will follow suit and this will become a new trend? Do you think this is a step in the direction of less corporate minimalism? Why?
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