What’s neumorphism in web design?

You know at Cultrix and Cultrix Digital we love to talk about techie subjects. But we always want to do so in everyday terms and language that’s easy to understand. So here we are to clue you up on a design term in plain English.

Neumorphism is everywhere

Neumorphism sounds more mysterious than it is. In fact, you will actually see neumorphism in design many times every single day; when you look at apps on your phone, websites and other tech interfaces that you view on a flat screen.

But if you’re someone who likes to be in the know about design and design trends, particularly in web design, here’s what neumorphism is and why it’s come about, so that you’re not lost in ‘design talk’.

What is neumorphism?

Neumorphism is a type of design, a ‘look’, that is known for being minimalistic and ‘real’ looking.

Because so much of design in web design and development is about user interface (UI) neumorphism is a hot buzzword when it comes to designing apps and websites – anywhere where a browser has to physically interact with a screen.

Where did neumorphism come from?

This is easy to answer as there’s quite a straightforward history behind neumorphism.

Do you remember when Apple used to have backgrounds like, ‘Corinthian leather’ and ‘baize’, and where the microphone actually looked like a real, 3D microphone?

This was a design trend called skeuomorphism. Buttons to press looked like actual buttons and bookshelves look like real wooden bookshelves. The theory was this would help browsers know what to do because it would look like real life – sort of.

One word – tacky.

As a kickback from this, design trend moved firmly into flat design. The design world rejected obviously fake realism in favour of super-flat, 2D design with basic shapes and lines of simplicity.

But then this got boring too!

That’s when neumorphism was born.

Design that looks real, but in the future

Neumorphism is still about making interfaces look real, but real, as they would look in the future, made from more ideal materials than leather and wood.

And pressable areas, like buttons in interfaces, are not flat or floating above the background as they would be in flat design, they are protruding, with shadows and lighting to make the browser feel they are actually coming out to them and pressable.

Creating neumorphic design

Technically, neumorphic design seems as if it would be harder to achieve. And certainly, the range of shadows, lighting and measurements are more technically demanding. However, the comprehensive range of UI-based software means the technique is easily accessible for designers, for example, with Adobe XD, Figma, Sketch and others.

The design world moves so quickly that it will be interesting to see what the next movement and related trends will be in the world of digital design. You can count on Cultrix Digital to keep you posted. 

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