According to an event calendar on its website and a Google blog post that was inadvertently published, Google will reveal a new version of its Android design language during its next Google I/O developer conference. The title of the I/O session suggests that Android’s design system will undergo substantial modifications in the future, moving from “Material 3” to “Material Design 3 Expressive.” According to the blog post that was leaked, Google’s new design would prioritise developing user interfaces that “connect with people on an emotional level.”
Updates to the design system like these have an impact on how app developers create for the platform and personalise user experiences, which in turn affects how using an Android device feels overall.
Although there are still many unknowns regarding the implementation of Material 3 Expressive, the blog post included some high-level information, such as the new system’s “bold use of shape and colour — creating delightful user experiences.”
Google’s open source design framework, Material Design, was first released in 2014. It provides instructions on how to construct user interfaces for Android applications in areas such as visual, motion, and interaction design. In May 2021, “Material You,” often referred to as Material 3, was unveiled as the system’s next major update. It featured an adaptive interface that let users customise the Android interface in new ways. For example, updating your Android wallpaper will change the colour scheme of the entire Android experience.
Though it is an evolution of the Material You language, Material 3 Expressive might not be as radical.
The blog article that was leaked concentrated more on the research and justification for the update, pointing out that studies showed that users tended to favour more expressive designs that enhance usability. According to Google, this kind of design highlights crucial components and crucial user activities, resulting in “significant gains in performance.”
Notably, the business said that this kind of design actually levels the playing field for customers of all ages by making it simpler for senior citizens to utilise apps.
Google said that there isn’t necessarily a “one-size-fits-all solution” when it comes to expressive design, and that various app developers would still need to adhere to other established design patterns and standards when altering the interface of their apps.
9to5Google was the first to notice Google’s blog article, which has since been preserved by the Wayback Machine. The I/O session titled “Build next-level UX with Material 3 Expressive” indicates that Google is ready to unveil the upgraded design system later this month at its developer conference, even though the firm swiftly removed the article.
I/O developers will learn how to leverage “new emotional design patterns” to increase user engagement, product demand, and usability, according to the session description. In order for developers to start experimenting with the changes before a public release, the business also intends to share files and alpha code at that time.
