In this article, we explained neomorphism, the features, the psychology behind Neumorphism, the advantages, the disadvantages, implementing neomorphism, where to avoid and the rise.
Definition
Neumorphism is a user interface (UI) design trend that blends soft, almost three-dimensional elements, creating a tactile, soft UI look by using subtle shadows and highlights to make elements appear embossed or pressed into the background. It’s a combination of minimalism and skeuomorphism (design that mimics real-world objects), focusing on creating depth and a cohesive, molding-like appearance. While visually striking, it has been noted for potential usability and accessibility issues due to its low contrast.
The Features of Neumorphism
Soft Shadows and Highlights:
This is the defining characteristic, with a light shadow on one side and a dark shadow on the opposite side of an element, creating the illusion of depth and making buttons and cards look like they’re protruding or sunken into the background.
Blended, Extruded Elements:
Unlike other design styles, neumorphic elements don’t sit on top of the background; instead, they are made to look like they are part of it, appearing as if molded from the same material.
Minimalist Aesthetic:
It follows flat design principles by keeping the interface clean, with simple lines and an emphasis on functionality.
Low-Contrast Color Palettes:
Neumorphic designs often use a single, muted color with various tints and shades, avoiding stark, high-contrast color schemes.
Subtle Depth Perception:
The goal is to give a sense of realism and tactile feel without being overly complex, creating an immersive yet simple user experience.
Rounded Corners:
Often used in conjunction with the shadows and highlights, rounded corners contribute to the soft and cohesive look of the design.
The Psychology Behind Neumorphism:
Skeuomorphism and Minimalism:
Neumorphism combines the realism of skeuomorphism—the imitation of real-world objects—with the clean simplicity of flat design. Psychologically, this bridges the gap between the digital and physical, making digital elements more intuitive and relatable by connecting them to familiar physical experiences.
Tactility and Texture:
The use of soft shadows, highlights, and gradients creates a perceived sense of depth and texture, as if the interface elements could be touched. This appeals to the human desire for physical interaction, making the digital experience more engaging and tangible.
Perception of Depth:
By using dual shadows on opposing sides, Neumorphism creates a strong visual illusion of depth, making elements appear to be either raised or recessed into the background. This exploits the human brain’s natural sensitivity to shadow and light cues for depth perception, a crucial element in our understanding of physical space.
Intuitive Interaction:
The goal is to make interactions effortless by creating a cohesive digital environment where the elements themselves guide the user. When done correctly, the soft, extruded look guides users to understand the function of a button or interface component without explicit instruction.
Softness and Approachability:
The design’s gentle, “soft UI” aesthetic, achieved through soft shadows and the absence of hard lines, creates a friendly and approachable user experience, making the interface less overwhelming and more inviting.
Considerations for Usability
Contrast and Accessibility:
While visually appealing, Neumorphism’s low-contrast design can create accessibility issues for users with low vision, as the subtle differences between elements make them hard to distinguish.
Clarity and Hierarchy:
The lack of clear demarcation between elements can lead to confusion about where to click and create a clumsy user experience.
The Advantages of Neumorphism:
Aesthetic Appeal:
Neumorphism provides a soft, modern, and visually appealing aesthetic by using subtle shadows and gradients to create a tactile, 3D effect.
User Engagement:
Its distinctive, realistic look can capture user attention and make interfaces more engaging and memorable.
Intuitive User Experience:
The soft, inflated style makes UI elements appear more familiar and helps guide users by suggesting interactivity, similar to real-world objects.
Design Consistency and Simplicity:
The monochromatic, minimal approach to color and design helps create a cohesive and aesthetically consistent user experience across many screens.
Innovation:
Neumorphism represents a new way of thinking about UI aesthetics, moving beyond flat design to incorporate depth and texture in a novel way.
Potential Applications
Standing out:
Its unique visual style can help digital products and services differentiate themselves from competitors with more conventional designs.
High-end products:
The sense of luxury and sophistication associated with its refined aesthetic makes it suitable for premium applications and services.
The Disadvantages of Neumorphism
Poor Accessibility:
The reliance on soft shadows and low-contrast color schemes makes it difficult for users with visual impairments, like color blindness or low vision, to differentiate between UI elements and navigate interfaces.
Confusing Interactions:
The lack of clear visual boundaries and high contrast can make it hard to identify active states of buttons or other interactive elements, leading to confusion and frustration for users.
Limited Practicality for Complex Interfaces:
Neumorphism’s subtle nature works best in simple, minimalist designs. It is often not suitable for functional or data-heavy interfaces where clear visual hierarchies and robust contrasts are essential for usability.
Implementation Challenges:
Creating neumorphic elements can be time-consuming, requiring more effort from designers and front-end developers compared to other design styles.
Poor Scalability:
Neumorphic designs are best viewed on high-definition screens. Users with lower-resolution screens or in poor lighting conditions may not be able to discern the subtle details, making the design visually unappealing and potentially unusable.
Color and Dark Mode Limitations:
The monochromatic nature and use of soft shadows in neumorphism can limit creative branding opportunities and can be challenging to implement effectively in dark mode themes.
Implementing Neomorphism:
Same Color Elements: The element’s fill color should match the background color.
Two Shadows: Apply one light shadow and one dark shadow to the element.
Light Source: Position the shadows as if a light source is coming from a specific direction, often the top-left.
Subtle Colors: Use a monochromatic color scheme with muted, subtle colors for the background and elements.
Low Contrast: Neumorphism features low contrast between elements and the background, relying on shadows and highlights for shape.
How to Implement Neumorphism (CSS)
- HTML Structure:
Start with a basic HTML element, such as a button or a div.
- Set Background Color:
Give the body (or parent container) a background color that is not pure white or black.
- Match Element Color:
Set the background-color of your element (e.g., a button) to the exact same color as the background.
- Apply Shadows:
Use the box-shadow property with two values:
Positive/Light Shadow: A positive offset and a light shadow color.
Negative/Dark Shadow: A negative offset and a dark shadow color.
The Rise of Neumorphism:
Subtle Shadows: Neumorphism relies on two key shadows—a light shadow and a dark shadow—to create the illusion of depth. The light shadow is typically an inner shadow on the top and left, while the dark shadow is an outer shadow on the bottom and right. This dual-shadow approach gives the element a soft, pillowy appearance.
Monochromatic Palette: The style works best with a single-color palette, often a muted, pastel shade. The lack of vibrant colors allows the subtle shadows and highlights to become the focal point, preventing the design from looking cluttered or busy.
Low Contrast: The colors of the elements are very similar to the background color, creating a low-contrast look. This is a core part of the “soft” feel, as it avoids sharp lines and harsh delineations.
Conclusion
Neomorphism offered an innovative, soft-edged, realistic aesthetic that combined flat design’s simplicity with skeuomorphism’s depth and tactility, but its practical limitations in accessibility and usability led to a decline in widespread adoption after its 2020 peak. While it didn’t become the future of UI, it influenced design by introducing a focus on subtle, texture-rich interfaces and inspired hybrid approaches, demonstrating design’s continuous evolution to balance aesthetics and user experience.