Skeuomorphic Design: The Tactile Illusion

In today’s fast-paced technology market, user interface designers are constantly trying to find ways to engage the user and simplify their experience. While new technology can offer a variety of benefits to the user, adoption of that technology is often hindered by an level of user hesitation. Treading into new waters can be frightening. That’s where skeuomorphic design comes in. It’s an often used technique that has helped bridge the gap between the technology and the user.

Skeuomorphic design is the idea that an interface uses elements that are now obsolete to the object, but were once essential to the original. Its intention is to make the user experience more comfortable by adding a level of familiarity. The key here is to not only make it look like something familiar, but to make it work like something familiar as well. The more comfortable the user is, the higher chance they will buy the product.

Take a digital book as an example. Designers have implemented a variety of skeuomorphic designs to make it less daunting, and more familiar. To bring the user beyond the glass interface, they have brought elements from the real world such as leather textures and page curls, and implemented them into the digital book. Hand a digital book to a first time user and they will be able to inherently flip the pages, because it is familiar.

Apple’s use of skeuomorphioc design in the iPad has arguably revolutionized the tablet market. The user interface is simple and engaging, which fostered mass adoption by less tech-savvy users. In order to get these new users to adopt technology faster, we need to help them realize that it is basically the same thing they know from the real world. This increase in consumer adoption, and opportunity for profit, pushes the rest of the market to adapt, driving competition and innovation.

As we shift into an age of glass based interfaces, why do designers continue to do this? Is it just a design trend? Or is it a proven method of increasing the usability of these devices? Embedded devices such as phones and tablets are being pushed out towards everyday people who have had very little interaction with advanced technology. With that lack of experience comes a steep learning curve. Implementing skeuomorphic design is a way of helping make this curve seem less like Mount Everest, and more like rolling hills.

With that said, littering an interface with skeuomorphic textures isn’t always the best way to increase its overall usability. The user cannot physically feel this texture, it is there to be visually appealing. Making the device less boring and more interesting adds to the overall value and experience. If you meet someone at a party and strike up a conversation, you may be able to get all of the info you want from them easily. But if they are boring and monotone, you can’t wait to escape. Sometimes presentation can be as, or more important than the usability. Designers must find an appropriate balance where the skeuomorphic elements in the interface don’t impede its usability.

Skeuomorphic design is helping companies reach a market that extends past just the tech-savvy consumer by creating easy to use products that perform incredible tasks. They are comfortable, approachable, and accessible. At the end of the day, skeuomorphic design has made the consumer technology market better by opening the doors to more users. More people using better technologies makes everything more efficient. While there are plenty of skeuomorphic critics, it’s difficult to dispute its positive impact on the technology market.

Moving forward, where does skeuomorphic design fit in the future of this space? Will it continue to play a vital role in the adoption of new technology, or will it become obsolete? While Siri hasn’t nearly reached it’s full potential, and does not contain skeuomorphic design, one has to believe that Apple will use this tactic to make Siri more accessible in the coming months and years.

How do you feel about skeuomorphic design? Do you think it impedes or patronizes the user? Or do believe that it fosters adoption, pushing innovation and sales in the technology market?