Windows, but with a fresh face

Windows 10 will soon look and feel different, courtesy of Microsoft’s new Fluent Design System.

The Fluent Design System will overhaul the OS not only to be more visually appealing, but also to make its interfaces more intuitive to use.

Building on the touch-first ethos of Microsoft’s earlier Project Neon, the Fluent Design System is aimed at creating an OS that works across all sorts of Windows devices, encompassing PCs, phones, tablets, and VR and AR headsets.

The overhaul will add a design that is more distinctive than Project Neon, adding light, depth, motion, and the quality of physical materials to Windows’ UI and apps. UI elements will also scale to remain usable, whether on a widescreen monitor or a pocket-sized phone.

This new look will be phased in over time, with the first iteration of Fluent design already popping up in some apps, and a lot more due to be introduced with the release of the Fall Creators Update in October. Fluent Design will not just inform the look and feel of Windows, but Microsoft has also released guidelines so third-party developers can incorporate it into their software.

Here’s what Microsoft’s Fluent Design System looks like.

Image: Microsoft