Windows Phone 7 phones have started being shipped to developers and journalists around the world, and the reviews have been flooding the interwebs. There is one thing that seems to be unanimous about the new phones, and that’s the new phone design. It’s been widely received as new, fresh and nothing like anyone has seen before.
This is largely down to the fantastic work that the Windows Phone 7 design and development teams have come up with. Instead of going with what other smartphones in the market already do, they decided to have a rethink and make it simple, doing two very important things: Focusing on the individual and on organisation (of both apps and information).
The design itself all rests on five key principles:
Clean, light, open, fast
The style behind Windows Phone 7 is to do a lot with very little. That is, don’t clutter the screen with unnecessary flotsam and jetsam so you can focus on the things you want to do.
The home screen starts things off with a set of simple, yet dynamic, tiles that show you everything you need to know. However, if the tiles aren’t telling you what you need to know straight out of the box, that’s ok because they are fully customisable.
From the start screen you move to the hubs, which are unique to Windows Phone 7. These are panoramic screens that you move sideways to reveal more information. They are open, clean, and importantly, fast and responsive. On top of this, they look really pretty!
Celebrate typography
We love typography, which is why we love the design of Windows Phone 7. Type needs to be beautiful, not just legible. Type is delicate, and messing with weight, scale and balance is a dangerous thing, which is why Windows Phone 7 has an uncompromising sensitivity to weight, balance and scale.
Also, the font that is used throughout Windows Phone 7 is new, fresh and minimalist. In fact, we’re so fond of the font, we’re on the lookout for t-shirts similar to that other font.
That is, the type on Windows Phone 7 is pretty, and they make sure it’s pretty.
Alive in motion
Motion, done correctly, can make the difference between something being new and something being a little old hat. The guys behind Windows Phone 7 have made sure that the motion in Windows Phone 7 feels responsive and alive, adding dimension and depth. They’ve said it themselves that the transition between User Interface is as important as the design of the UI itself. But not only does the motion on the phone need to be pretty and fluid, but the motion actually does something by giving context to make the phone more usable.
Content, not chrome
All of these come down to one very basic principle. People who have a Windows Phone 7 want content, not decoration. The designers have reduced all unnecessary visuals that aren’t content to make sure that there is direct interaction with the content itself.
Because at the end of the day, who needs superfluous fluff?
Authentically digital
And finally, be authentically digital. The design is for what it is, and what it’s meant to do. In the end, a Windows Phone 7 isn’t going to try and be what it isn’t.
And it seems we aren’t the only ones who like the new design. There have been a plethora of reviews and all of them are unanimous about the design. Here’s what a few people had to say about it:
The current experience is amazingly stable and fluid and I am quite impressed with what they have done.
Windows Phone 7 is easily the most unique UI in the smartphone race right now… there is real purpose and utility to a lot of what Microsoft has come up with.
Yes it is a game changer, yes it will change the way we interact with our phones, and yes it does look great
This is design we’re proud of.
