Windows 8 UI designer explains the original intention of Modern interface design

Windows 8's Modern style interface for touch design (formerly Metro interface) makes some old users feel very uncomfortable. Recently, Windows UI designers said that the purpose of Microsoft's move is to set up a dedicated interface for both introductory users and deep users. Enhance the reach and audience of the system.

The user, who claims to be "Windows UI Designer", named Jacob Miller, published a blog on the Reddit social news site, explaining the design philosophy of Windows 8. Later, an official Microsoft spokesperson confirmed the identity of the person, so his point of view is still worthy of reference.

Graphic: Win8 System Metro Style Interface

Design Concept: Either Work or Entertainment

Jacob Miller said that Windows 8 was originally designed to better differentiate users. Open, Modern style interface for entry users, can be elderly people who have never used a PC, or preschool children, through the graphical tile interface, allowing users to more easily use the application through the touch screen, which is consistent with the characteristics of the mobile platform . For the old and advanced users, you can still enter the traditional desktop, install traditional applications, and get productive operations. Simply put, the Modern style interface is for entertainment, and the traditional desktop is for work.

So why is the default startup interface for Windows 8 a Modern style interface instead of a traditional desktop? “The answer is simple, because entry-level users won’t explore. If we set the traditional desktop as the default, normal users still can't switch to the Modern style interface through complicated operations," Jacob Miller said.

Of course, Microsoft is also aware of the dissatisfaction of advanced users, because the Modern style interface has increased the steps to enter the traditional desktop, so Microsoft has added the option to boot directly to the traditional desktop in Windows 8.1. “In the future, our job is to make the Modern style interface look more intuitive and easier to use, and to modernize the traditional desktop design to make them better together,” explains Jacob Miller.

Note: Personally think that the Modern style interface is mainly for touch users, so it is better to say that users use the "lower and higher" users, "getting started and deep" users to locate, it is better to say that Windows 8 The dual interface is a variety of application scenarios that want to cover both touch usage and desktop use.

Looking to the future

Although the modern style interface is still a bit clumsy compared to iOS and Android, the improvement of Windows 8.1 has shown us the trend of change. Such as more size tiles, more flexible fast functions, Bing smart search and so on.

From the leaked Windows 8.1 update 1, you can see that in the Modern style interface, you can click the right button to pop up the shortcut menu to restart and shut down the computer. The Modern style interface application can also be locked to hover. A desktop taskbar for a more integrated experience. It is reported that Windows 8.1 update 1 will be released soon to enhance the experience. Obviously, Microsoft has also accelerated the speed of minor updates to the mobile platform.

Jacob Miller also said that Windows 8 is a must-have process, and that Windows 9 will become more friendly and smooth in the future. Of course, this theory is for users. It's a bit far-fetched, but we hope that after the new CEO takes office, Microsoft can reduce this mistake and try to make every generation of Windows systems a classic like XP.