I also take issue with the idea that non-flat means skeuomorphism. That false dichotomy robbed interfaces of a lot bandwidth.
Our visual system is designed to operate quickly, on a 2D field with 3D effects.
The latter aid both our fovea and peripheral vision in quickly categorizing, grouping, distinguishing elements and their roles. They are a significant help even when we only use one eye and only see a pure 2D field.
Careful use of color, shading that raises, lifts and sinks visual areas, textures, boundaries and other cues that demark coherent interface objects (is that editable text? a button? non-editable text?), smooth motion reflecting state changes, is not a misguided attempt to pull non-useful elements of our 3D world onto the screen. It is sensible design for the sense system that is being interfaced with.
Similarly, making many user interface elements invisible until somehow discovered is not "simplifying".
Our visual system is designed to operate quickly, on a 2D field with 3D effects.
The latter aid both our fovea and peripheral vision in quickly categorizing, grouping, distinguishing elements and their roles. They are a significant help even when we only use one eye and only see a pure 2D field.
Careful use of color, shading that raises, lifts and sinks visual areas, textures, boundaries and other cues that demark coherent interface objects (is that editable text? a button? non-editable text?), smooth motion reflecting state changes, is not a misguided attempt to pull non-useful elements of our 3D world onto the screen. It is sensible design for the sense system that is being interfaced with.
Similarly, making many user interface elements invisible until somehow discovered is not "simplifying".