Flat Design vs Neumorphism

Neumorphism evolved from Flat Design.

Original specimen in the flat-design UI style

Flat Design

The deliberately two-dimensional interface style that stripped away skeuomorphic shadows, gradients, and textures in favor of solid color, crisp icons, and clean typography.

  • Solid, unshaded blocks of color with no gradients
  • Removal of drop shadows, bevels, and skeuomorphic texture
  • Simple geometric icons reduced to essential forms
  • Clean sans-serif typography and generous whitespace
  • Bright, often pastel or saturated flat color palettes
Full Flat Design guide →
Original specimen in the Neumorphism style

Neumorphism

A monochrome 'soft UI' trend where elements appear extruded from or pressed into a single background using paired soft inner and outer shadows.

  • Single monochrome background color
  • Paired soft inner and outer shadows
  • Elements extruded from or pressed into surface
  • Very low contrast, borderless forms
  • Soft, plastic, tactile minimalism
Full Neumorphism guide →

At a glance

Flat DesignNeumorphism
Erac. 2010–20172020
DisciplineGraphic DesignGraphic Design
RegionGlobalGlobal
FamilyDigital, Corporate ModernUI/Interface, Digital
Formal traitsflat-color, minimal, sans-serif, iconographicsoft-shadow, monochrome, extruded, low-contrast

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