8 votes

Why 3D logos fell out of favor overnight

5 comments

  1. [5]
    TooFewColours
    Link
    I remember seeing this video back-when, and there's a lot wrong with it. It seems like an anecdotal reckoning why the trend has gone flat - something someone might say to you at a party, but...

    I remember seeing this video back-when, and there's a lot wrong with it. It seems like an anecdotal reckoning why the trend has gone flat - something someone might say to you at a party, but doesn't actually hold much weight.

    It's so boxed-in by it's idea that all the world is using Apple products, and no world exists beyond it. 3D logos for apps and services existed long before touchscreens. A huge part of that was almost certainly because we thought they looked cool at the time, and suddenly we had software to create them.

    Likewise, the world didn't 'LITERALLY(!!)' change overnight because of Apple. The trend for flatter logos was gradual. Just compare Google's logo in 2010 to what they had before it - not flat, but certainly less bevelled. Similarly, the iOS update, while drastic, was still less flat that we're used to today. The use of gradients still give the subtle illusion of depth.

    It's fashion at the end of the day. The video pretends as though designers wished so bad they could make designs flat, but users were forcing them to put sick shines and bevels and dropshadows on everything. Let's not lie to ourselves - we all thought it looked dope in 2006.

    Also, 3D logos because Adobe developed InDesign? Come on now.

    17 votes
    1. [4]
      Kuromantis
      Link Parent
      Admittedly I have not been around long enough to remember 3D logos and skeuomorphism so TIL I guess.

      Admittedly I have not been around long enough to remember 3D logos and skeuomorphism so TIL I guess.

      1 vote
      1. [3]
        Silbern
        Link Parent
        For what it's worth, while it's not exclusively so though, I think Microsoft, Apple's, and Google's interface changes were certainly big catalysts in making this kind of flat design trendy. It...

        For what it's worth, while it's not exclusively so though, I think Microsoft, Apple's, and Google's interface changes were certainly big catalysts in making this kind of flat design trendy. It certainly wasn't a flat and gradual transition - it was moving pretty slowly up until 2012ish, where it started to massively accelerate. Between 2012 and 2015, it seemed like every company and app was changing to flatter or more minimalistic designs. And I think we're going to cruise now for another 6-10 years before I'm guessing realism and skueomorphism make a return in some form, whatever that winds up being.

        And I'm excited for when they do, I've never really gotten on board with flat design. It's become very sterile, unimaginative, and stale by this point.

        5 votes
        1. [2]
          drannex
          Link Parent
          Check out the new Microsoft Office logo, we're starting to trend back to the cool and groovy 3d designs, but with the clean qualities of flat design paradigms. Office Logo Set:...

          Check out the new Microsoft Office logo, we're starting to trend back to the cool and groovy 3d designs, but with the clean qualities of flat design paradigms.

          Office Logo Set: https://thenextweb.com/microsoft/2018/11/30/microsofts-new-office-logos-are-a-beautiful-glimpse-of-the-future/

          new Office Logo (unveiled today): https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/msldIOT1ISfGt9Y-PoGVFZ0HyD8=/0x0:1024x1024/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:1024x1024):format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19344739/Office.1024x1024x32.jpg

          4 votes
          1. Silbern
            Link Parent
            I'm still a sucker for that 2007 one but that's a big improvement, I love it. This is a modern trend I can totally get behind, cool and funky 3D! :)

            I'm still a sucker for that 2007 one but that's a big improvement, I love it. This is a modern trend I can totally get behind, cool and funky 3D! :)

            1 vote