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Something's Rotten in the State of macOS Icon Design
macOS app icons are increasingly uniform and constrained by Apple's "squircle" design language, diminishing creativity and distinctiveness compared to older designs.
What: The article argues that macOS app icons are becoming less original, increasingly conforming to Apple's restrictive "squircle" design standards. This trend, visible when viewing icons in reverse chronological order, is seen as limiting creativity for both Apple's own apps and third-party developers, despite some designers still striving for unique work.
Why it matters: This critique reveals a tension between platform standardization and creative expression in software design, suggesting that Apple's strict design guidelines, while aiming for coherence, may be inadvertently stifling distinct visual identities within its ecosystem.
Decoder
- Squircle: A geometric shape intermediate between a square and a circle, often used by Apple for app icons on iOS and macOS.
Original article
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