Flat Icon Design – Apple iphone iOS 7

Above: Flat icon design for for iphone iOS 7.

I think most designers interpret “flat design” as devoid of gradient/depth/texture and colour, basically everything that brings life to a design. I couldn’t disagree more. The above design contains all the “apparent” no-no’s of flat design.

I believe that flat design offers a unique challenge as it requires even more attention to detail than standard (depth/3D) design. As a designer you need to maintain the essence of art while still keeping the integrity of clean, minimal design intact. There is a fine line between flat beautiful art and lifeless, cheap looking design.

To me the new look iOS 7 is disappointingly below average.