LMNTJun 28

You know, I could write a whole blog post about this—and I might—but I think we need to start addressing the very likely possibility that the *entire thesis* that “UI should get out of the way” and “apps should focus on content” is wrong.

Apps aren’t just for looking at photos or videos. They’re for navigating through these things, organizing them, editing them. The tools to do those things should not get out of the way. They should be clearly defined and separate from the content.

Show threadLMNTJun 28
The problem is not the introduction of glass as an element of the visual design language. If used as the Dock background alone, it would be totally fine! But because someone said “UI should get out of the way” and no one challenged it—instead of content literally being the focus, Apple has to intentionally put content *out of focus* (blurring) to make the glass elements visible. They have to put a gradient behind the glass so you can see it. That should’ve been the “oh, it doesn’t work” moment.
Show threadLMNTJun 28

But here we are with a new visual design language that somehow manages to compromise on both the content area *and* the UI.

I’m *living* on macOS Tahoe and I’m here to tell you that the apps that are a pleasure to use are the ones that haven’t adopted Liquid Glass (in essence... all the third-party apps.)

This should be a blog post. But I need to collect my thoughts and write it all better. So consider this a beta version. lol

Show threadJohn GruberJun 28
@louie I have never once gotten the impression that anyone on Alan Dye’s UI team uses serious pro tool apps. They love making beautiful looking things, not solving difficult UI problems with clever solutions. And I suspect when confronted with difficult UI problems, they say “Shut up with that nerd stuff.”
Show threadHimalaya
@gruber @louie where did Alan dye come from?
Jun 28 at 3:48pmIvory for iOS
Show threadJohn GruberJun 28

@Himalaya @louie Levi’s and Kate Spade.

https://debbiemillman.blogspot.com/2007/11/design-matters-live-tonight-with-alan.html

debbie millman: Design Matters Live, Tonight with Alan Dye

Show threadHimalayaJun 28

@gruber @louie I am trying to make sense of one more thing, why glass?

When Google introduced material design, it was inspired by paper & ink which makes sense tbh. We write on paper and we interact with paper in real life.

But why glass? I get that glass is a real life thing, but where do we see this liquid glass in real life? Or am I missing something and I am dumb?

Show threadJimmyJun 28

@Himalaya @gruber @louie You’re not dumb, but I don’t think Material Design is all that useful either. Translating paper and ink into a glass screen makes less sense (to me) than trying to make it feel like you’re directly interacting with the glass.

I think Liquid Glass is a great direction, but v1 definitely has some poor implementations.

Show threadAdam FairclothJun 28

@gruber @Himalaya @louie Dye himself has said that he's "terrible" and is afraid someday Cook will realize that.

I mean we all have imposter syndrome sometimes, but surely some of us are right when we think it...

Show threadJonathan HendryJun 28

@fcloth @gruber @Himalaya @louie

Sometimes the imposter syndrome is trying to help you escape a situation that isn’t right for you.