Fluent Design

Microsoft's Fluent 2 illustrations (2024)

Decade of origin

2010s (Early roots)

2020s (Realized aesthetic)

Creator/s

Independent UI Designers

Coined by

Jason Kelly (Neumorphism)
Michal Malewicz (Glassmorphism and Claymorphism)

Key motifs

Smooth 3D objects, glass textures, depth, soft lighting and shadows, rounded corners, gradients

Key colours

White, Black, Gray, Pastels

Key values

Humanism, accessibility, sophistication, playfulness

Related aesthetics

Abstract Tech
Corporate Memphis
Cyberminimalism
Flat Design
Frutiger Aero
Neubrutalism
Skeuomorphism
Y2K Futurism

Related brands

Microsoft, Apple, Figma

Timeline

Preceded by

Flat Design
Corporate Memphis

Overlaps with

Acid Design
Acidgrafix
Austurbane
Cyberminimalism
Hexatron
Neo-Vectorheart
Neubrutalism
Sportsbrut

Fluent Design is an aesthetic that includes aspects of Glassmorphism, Neumorphism, and Claymorphism, closely related design styles that blend aspects of Skeuomorphism and Flat Design to produce smooth, rounded 3D visuals, glass textures, translucent objects, subtle shading, and gradients. These visual motifs represent an amalgamation of multiple trends that have evolved over the past few years. Fluent Design is often used in UI/UX to create a more realistic and natural look and feel.

History[]

Glassmorphism's and Neumorphism's Inception (2017-2020)[]

The first elements of Fluent Design can be traced back to Microsoft’s Fluent Design System, released in 2017, and the new visuals of Microsoft Office 365, presented in 2018. Microsoft played a significant role in its inception, introducing translucent backgrounds, subtle transparency effects, rounded corners, soft lighting, and gradients—features that paved the way for what we now recognize as Glassmorphism. Since its introduction, this design approach has undergone various transformations and gained broader recognition.

The next pivotal design trend, Neumorphism, emerged in 2019, popularized by independent Figma community designers. It sought to combine skeuomorphic elements with the minimalist and flat design styles found in modern interfaces. Neumorphism was also inspired by, and owes its existence to, Glassmorphism.

Early Implementation and Claymorphism's Origins (2020-2023)[]

The first mainstream example of Fluent Design can be seen in the app icons from macOS Big Sur, released in late 2020, which featured soft forms and subtle shading. The following year, Microsoft released Windows 11, which used Fluent Design for its UI and introduced 3D emojis, icons, and abstract wallpapers. Beyond that, Fluent Design remained mostly niche, adopted by small to mid-sized companies, startups, and independent creators.

Also in 2021, a trend similar to Neumorphism emerged: Claymorphism. As the name implies, it creates interfaces and illustrations that mimic clay and can be seen as a natural progression of Corporate Memphis.

Mainstream Adoption (2023-present)[]

Since 2023, there has been a noticeable decline in Flat Design, most notably seen in the rebranding of Android and Reddit, along with their respective mascots, Bugdroid and Snoo. In Reddit’s case, the app and website also began adopting the aesthetic in their illustrations, such as in the 2023 Recap and Achievements page.

In 2024, Apple released the Vision Pro, which heavily utilized Glassmorphism throughout its UI to enhance the visualization of interfaces in Augmented Reality (AR). At WWDC 2025, Apple announced a new design language called Liquid Glass for its operating systems moving forward. This new style features glossy textures, transparency, and lighting effects, aiming to create more expressive and dynamic designs while adding greater depth to the UI. It is likely that Fluent Design will fully replace Flat Design as the dominant aesthetic around 2026–2027.

Visuals[]

Fluent Design’s visual motifs are:

Smooth 3D objects
Glass textures (either see-through or frosted)
See-through objects
Skeuomorphism
Rounded corners
Depth
Light and Dark modes
Soft shading, lighting and shadows
Gradients
Pastel colors

Sub-aesthetics[]

Glassmorphism[]

Glassmorphism incorporates elements such as glass textures, shiny translucent effects, gentle forms, soft edges, muted lighting, and subtle shadows, while borrowing some visual elements from Flat Design. Unlike the latter’s muted and minimalistic tendencies, Glassmorphism embraces a broader color palette, a more humanistic interface, and frosted/translucent layers. Wallpaper designs in the Glassmorphic style tend to be simple, abstract, and colorful—as seen in devices by Xiaomi, Huawei, Samsung, and the latest builds of iOS and macOS. The term "Glassmorphism" was coined in 2020 by Michal Malewicz, as a portmanteau of "glass" and "skeuomorphism".

Neumorphism[]

Neumorphism is a design style that combines the realism of Skeuomorphism with the simplicity of Flat Design. It retains characteristics from both but distinguishes itself through its visual depth and accessibility. Neumorphic elements often blend into the background, making use of gentle forms, soft edges, muted lighting, and subtle shadows. This results in a unique visual experience that feels both futuristic and familiar. The term "Neumorphism" was coined in 2019 by Jason Kelly as a portmanteau of "neo" and "skeuomorphism", framing it as a modern revival of Skeuomorphism.

Claymorphism[]

Claymorphism focuses on 3D visuals that mimic the texture of clay, often achieved through smooth, blob-like shapes, soft shading, and pastel colors. This creates a style that feels welcoming and accessible to general audiences. Claymorphism is commonly used in illustrations for advertising, often depicting diverse people and everyday scenarios. It is seen as a natural evolution of Corporate Memphis, taking the style into a new dimension with a greater level of detail. The term "Claymorphism" was coined in 2021 by Michal Malewicz as a portmanteau of "clay" and "skeuomorphism".