Google Could Be Preparing Major Redesigns for All Its Apps

Google seems to be cooking up a major revamp of all its apps. The company has been working on revamping Material Design this year, with some of the changes coming to Android P.

A new video of what seems to be Google’s concepts of its redesigned apps like Photos, Drive, Trips, Maps, and Gmail has been released online, reports Ars Technica. The video was actually released by two Google collaborators, Adam Grabowski and Nicolo Bianchino, who are envisioning how the firm’s apps could look with the updated Material Design guidelines.

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Here’s the video:

There is a lot to take in here. First off, Google is adopting a new style for its icons — the company is now switching to outline UI icons, which carry less weight and possibly help present a cleaner, simplified UI. But there is one major change: a huge shift towards bottom-based navigation. Google has long been one of the main users of hamburger menus, but the firm is finally switching to bottom-based navigation that is not only easier to use, but also make apps way more convenient to use. Phones have been getting longer, though our hands are still the same size, and so moving the navigation to the bottom makes a lot of sense.

There are a lot of other interesting design elements throughout the concept video. Google is opting for a lot of context-based depth UI, and it’s notably working on what seems to be an all-white design for all its apps. It’s a little too early to say how the final products will end up looking like, however.

Keep in mind — this is technically just a concept video, and they may not be actual shots of the redesigned products. Multiple Google employees have been sharing the video on social networks, which essentially confirms a major update is on its way. Still, it’s too early to confirm whether Google is going to make such radical changes to the design of its core apps. Some of the design elements shown in the video like the outline UI icons are already present in Android P betas, so there is a possibility of the new redesigns being a reality.

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Conversation 9 comments

  • evox81

    Premium Member
    23 July, 2018 - 10:17 pm

    <p>Vimeo video seems to have gone private.</p><p><br></p><p>But definitely some good news, particularly in the area of bottom-navigation in light of all of the tall phones these days.</p>

  • FalseAgent

    24 July, 2018 - 1:41 am

    <p>and people thought Microsoft's Metro app designs were bad…</p>

  • Peter Hultqvist

    24 July, 2018 - 3:02 am

    <p>Sadly the video is private now.</p><p><br></p><p>But I had the chance to view the video earlier on my tiny phone screen.</p><p><br></p><p>First impression, it was hosted on Vimeo, which gave me the vibes similarly to when Microsoft started to become the "good guy"(no irony) meaning not strictly only using their own services but wherever is needed right now.</p><p>Sadly because the video was removed I can now only guess it was some rebellious employees that now has been punished.</p><p><br></p><p>The video itself was rapidly switching between screens making it hard to grasp the details. I was hoping to look at it on the desktop with better ability to pause and move frame by frame.</p><p>It was done to give a feeling without analysis.</p><p><br></p><p>The video was well done, not only "before" and "after" shots but real animation. For example the "+" button was moved from the current location into the new location and the transforming into the new look.</p><p><br></p><p>Next time there is anything from google I'm going to record it quickly.</p>

  • dontbe evil

    24 July, 2018 - 6:59 am

    <p>so google is going to introduce metro, ehm modern, ehm fluent, ehm material design on their apps</p>

  • Igor Engelen

    24 July, 2018 - 1:08 pm

    <p>I honestly hope they also provide a dark theme for all their apps with the upcoming updates.</p>

  • engellion

    24 July, 2018 - 2:32 pm

    <p>Bottom menu navigation? Another great feature of WP coming to Android. ?</p>

    • sibrowne

      Premium Member
      25 July, 2018 - 4:47 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#295087">In reply to engellion:</a></em></blockquote><p>Outline UI icons and bottom-based navigation. Ah, Windows Phone, if only… </p>

  • Jorge Garcia

    24 July, 2018 - 6:57 pm

    <p>This is a massive waste of resources, and a step backward. Google has JUST gotten to the point where almost all of its apps and services finally share one cohesive (albeit purposefully cartoonish) design language. All, or almost all, of their stuff still looks "fresh enough" for 2018 and they should ride it out for at least 5 more years. This new language is going to de-integrate their services once again, and make it feel like their left arm doesn't know what their right arm is doing, even if that might not be the actual case.</p>

  • sno_wacko

    Premium Member
    25 July, 2018 - 5:54 pm

    <p>Am I the only one who thinks these look very similar to the way Samsung has been redesigning their UI? </p>

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