Is Glass still Class?

Posted by Matt Davies on March 27th, 2006.

Creative designer and founder of Attitude Design. View our Graphic Design Portfolio.

http://attitudedesign.co.uk

Matt Davies has posted 27 articles.

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After being in design for some time now, I’ve seen a few fads come and go. One that I have never been sure about is the “glass” effect. You know the one, pioneered by Apples OSX operating system and then seemingly “copied” by windows (a bit harsh you may think but check out Windows Vista and tell me if the glass buttons, rollovers, tabs and overall style is not looking like apple’s OSX).

Many sites started to be produced with this style (and still are being produced). For example CPC Packaging. Some of the newer sites being produced show influence from the original styles, although a little more subtle - for example Pin Dance and Wishing Line.

Many tutorials were produced at the time of Apples’ adoption of this style (for example here’s one from Home Xonnet and another from New tutorials). Also designers still seem to be interested in this style now, here’s a tutorial I produced recently about creating this effect in Adobe Illustrator: “How to create the glass effect” and I have had quite a few positive responses to it.

The question I wish to pose to you, dear Fadtastic reader, is this: Is glass still class? Do we still like the glass effect or do we associate it still with the period just after we expected the millennium bug?

I speak to many designers and there seems to be mixed feelings about this one. Seems to be like Marmite - some people love it, some people hate it. The people who hate it claim it will soon die and become a negative thing like beveled text has become after it was introduced as a filter by Adobe Photoshop. The ones who like it say its classy and clean and that as a style it can say all the right things. They will remind you that the future is 3D and that this style will easily carry through to that future day.

Personally I like to see a bit of shine, not too much, but just enough to make me feel that site is post 2002. I think it works best in a corporate style but should not be used as an over kill - in fact this site has just about got it right (do I get a mars bar for saying that?).

Anyway, people of Fadtastic, lets here your views. Is glass still class?

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I laughed out loud when I saw the remake of the Stockholm University (Sweden) website. Webdesigners there have got the glass-fever I’m sure and this just looks ridiculous. Check out http://www.su.se

Andie
March 27th, 2006
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If used with taste, yes, glass is still class. But it has to be subtle.

giz404
March 27th, 2006
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Andie,

I take it you don’t like the style then? Just out of interest, why?

Andrew Faulkner
March 27th, 2006
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Oh boy, I could talk about this forever…

My question is, why? Why use a style that is so closely associated to another brand? Apple used it for very good reasons in my opinion - it created a huge distinction between OS X and all other operating systems. However, it’s so strongly associated with Apple that it is what people think of when they see it. Why then would a designer want to use a design element that makes someone think of an entirely different brand? It is a meaningless trend that, in my opinion, can easily get in the way of creating a strong design.

P.J. Onori
March 27th, 2006
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Sure but Windows is now using it and so many other websites have started to tap into the look and feel that glass shines give you - why should apple have exclusive use of it? Isn’t that like saying that because MacDonalds uses red and yellow no one else should use it?

Matt Davies
March 27th, 2006
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I would argue that the glass style is much more specific than a color combination. Sure, you can go ahead and use it, it just is very problematic when that element is so closely associated with another identity.

P.J. Onori
March 27th, 2006
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like the “used”-look back from 2003/04 glassy is a gorgeous look. also its one of the most used looks around. it has become a staple design, and to be honest, im a bit tired seeing it.

jakob
March 27th, 2006
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I agree P. J. and Jakob. I am not for or against this style I too thnk that this style might be on its last legs in terms of what you can do with it - but with all the operating systems trying to look the same I’m sure it will just keep being used until one day we all decide that 2d design was better anyways and we will forget the whole sorry epesode of the glass effect. The next question is, when will that happen?

Matt Davies
March 27th, 2006
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Hopefully it will go the way of the drop-shadow. It’s a trick that works with restraint.

Joel Birchler
March 27th, 2006
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To build on Matt’s post that ends, “the nest question is, when will that happen?”. I feel that, actually, the next question is what is the next dominate style? As Matt cited in the post, design seems to be moving towards “influence from the original style”. Is that the next big trend? All tends and styles keep adding to the visual ammunition we use for designing. And what about fashion recycling? Maybe we will go back to bevel and embossed menu labels.

Chris Shaddock
March 27th, 2006
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I guess it’s still working for TLC, who just redesigned their logo a la glass.

Nick
March 30th, 2006
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Yes I think many new brands have caught-on to the glass style - see for example the new Quark logo, which I feel has been influenced by it.

Matt Davies
March 30th, 2006
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I agree that this style has been over-played, but I also admit that I’ve used it on more than one occasion. To be honest, I’m a bit jealous of the designers that first introduced it. How great would it be to see your style on such a huge number of sites today. But, though the article does ask some interesting questions regarding the glass effect, it seems as if some of the comments are missing the point. Ultimately, I could care less if a designer chooses to rip off apple, as long as they do it in a creative and original way. It really isn’t so much about the tools that are used, but rather the reaction that they elicit.

Jeremy
March 31st, 2006
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I still like the glass effects if not used too excessively, but I think the next big fad will be something like “organic” design.

Birgit
April 1st, 2006
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I don’t know if ‘organic’ design is the next thing. I think that was tried already back in the day when sites like surfstation.lu were the big fad (or is that distressed?). Of course it was more the graphical style that was ‘organic’ - which, I believe, is now being called maximalist design. Anyway, but it made be think; if ‘organic’ design is the next style would it be a functional aesthetic? I mean to say, what constitutes ‘organic’ and can that definition be transferable to layout with the technology we use today?

Chris Shaddock
April 6th, 2006
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My New Opera Logo concepts…

I was reading the member of the week post on lya, a resident My Opera artist / designer and I got curious. Ilya had logo concepts for Opera and many approving comment ……

ForThatMatter
April 19th, 2006
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I read and I’ve seen few screenshots of OS X Leopard. It looks like iTunes. It’s toned and matte. I can see the latest designs are based on matte look and light, silky gradients. So now when you’ll see matte designs, will it remind you of Apple as well?

I’m also getting tired of glass look and wetfloor. It can be used there and there for a reason and then it’s ok. Currently I’m also going matte it seems even better to me with the next design i produce.

Tonny Corelli
May 4th, 2007
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