There were rumors that the new iOS 7 UI would be flat. That it would be black and white. That it would be a complete redesign.
Well, the rumors were right!
The beta release of iOS 7 reveals the “flat design” of Sir Jony Ive, Apple’s industrial designer who isn’t a fan of UI’s copying the real world. And while there are some similarities in the user experience, the interphase itself, is a complete 180 degree shift from that of iOS 6.
Love it or hate it, the fact is that when Apple makes visual changes, the rest of the world follows … even if that change heads in a direction of design that already looks awfully familiar – which definitely is the case with the new major design changes in iOS 7.
And if you’re an app developer, this effects you in some pretty significant ways – luckily, you’ve got a decent runway to get your changes implemented before the official launch of iOS 7.
And while there are some pretty significant UI differences with iOS 7 beta, this article will focus primarily on the key icon changes you can make to ensure your app stays with (or even slightly ahead of, depending on how quickly you react) to the Apple curve.
As your icon is your visual front-line on the app store when it comes to of your marketing, it’s one simple and most cost-effective changes you can implement with little effort which can make a huge impact, especially if you outsource the re-design of your app icon.
iOS 7 App Icon Design Change #1 – Flatten out your icon
Okay, the first thing you need to know, as I and every other person you speak with will mention, is that iOS 7 has gone flat. No more shiny, rounded 3D-looking icons or graphics. Like the fat kid in dodgeball, they’re out!
You’ll notice within the new UI of iOS 7 that there are fewer soft edges and more thin, hard lines, and less “depth”.
And if you want you icon to fit in and ride this new design trend, you’ll want to consider taking some of these design cues and integrating them into your own app design.
iOS 7 App Icon Design Change #2 – Slip Into Your Skinny Fonts
Another consideration is your typeface being used in your app icon, if applicable. The font Apple is adapting seems to be a sensitive and skinny font called Helvetica Neue UltraLight as their primary. And if you want your app icon design to fit in, you may consider adapting it, or a similar skinny font.
iOS 7 App Icon Design Change #3 – Go Borderless
If your icon utilizes a border, this is something else you might seriously consider revamping. The default icons installed on Apple devices all have had a major facelift. One of the most significant change is the fact that they’ve gone borderless! No more shiny, brushed metal chunky borders with large radius rounded edges.
iOS 7 App Icon Design Change #4 – Iconography & Symbolism
Apple has adapted the adage of beauty in simplicity with their minimalistic approach of the iconography and symbols in their icons and sprinkled throughout the UI.
Instead of the literal 3 dimensional appearing app icons that over-run the app store right now, I’m predicting we’re going to see a surge in the more clean and simple style, flatter icons with the public release of iOS 7 – so why not beat the market to the punch and give your icon design a quick make-over now?
iOS 7 App Icon Design Change #5 – Color
And lastly, to accommodate and compliment in the flat and skinny design features in iOS 7, Apple has also updated its primary color schemes to be blue, red, white, black and even pastel.
So you can take a couple different routes here, design to fit in with the “cool crowd” or give your app a splash of color that will stand out and pop out of the sea of apps on the app store.
