Blending Glassmorphism & Neumorphism for Modern UI

Design trends come and go. Some are loved for their aesthetics. Some are lauded for their ability to enhance the functionalities of digital products. Some stick around longer than others.

Glassmorphism and neumorphism are two design trends that have all of these traits. Some love their aesthetics, and their ability to enhance the functionalities of digital products is lauded by many.

But, which one will stick around longer?

More importantly, which design trend should you incorporate into your product’s design to balance aesthetics with functionality?

Let us assess both of these design trends to find out.

The Rise of Neumorphism

New + Skeuomorphism = Neumorphism

Skeuomorphism’s new, flat-design version has a soft, minimalist, yet realistic visual style. In neumorphic user interfaces (UIs), buttons and elements appeared raised slightly above the background. This effect is achieved through shadows and textures and it gives neumorphic UIs a sense of depth and three-dimensionality.

This design went viral in 2019 when UI designer Alexander Plyuto uploaded an innovative graphic. In this graphic of a banking app Ui, Plyutocobined the semi-realistic and floating-like effect of skeuomorphic design with the soft, monochromatic aesthetics of flat design.

But, what is skeuomorphism and what is flat design?

Skeuomorphism is a design style that relied on real-world aesthetics and was used extensively in the early days of smartphones. It aimed to onboard first-time smartphone users by making elements in the UI appear intuitive and familiar. The realistic and graphic-heavy UI elements of skeuomorphism achieved their goal of familiarizing users with smartphone and app interfaces.

But, when responsive web design grew in popularity in the early 2010s, Flat Design and Material Design took the forefront.

Flat Design is a minimalistic graphic style that uses simple elements, typography, and flat colors to create a streamlined and efficient interface. Material Design is a visual language developed by Google. It combines traditional Flat Design principles with tactile surfaces, bold colors, and minimalistic, fast-loading graphics.

While these design styles were highly customizable, easy to implement, and could easily adapt to any screen size or resolution, there was still a suppressed desire for a Skeuomorphism-era, tactile-looking UI, in the design world. Hence, neumorphism was born and that’s why it went ‘viral’ so quickly. Other key features of neumorphism included:

• Low contrast with very subtle color differences between the background and other design elements.
• Monochromatic color schemes to enhance the UI’s simplicity.
• Subtle shadows that gave the design elements a soft, embossed appearance.

These characteristics gave UIs a “neumorphic” effect.

Should You Use Neumorphism?

Yes, but with caution. Brands like Apple, Nicecard, and Stripe have successfully incorporated neumorphism in their website designs. Like any design style/effect, neumorphism has its advantages and disadvantages.

Let us focus on the advantages first:

• Neumorphism offers a fresh visual appeal and addresses the UI/UX design world’s suppressed need for making Flat UIs more tactile.
• Its soft shadows and gradients gave UI elements the much-needed three-dimensional look.
• Neumorphism strikes a balance between the detailed realism of skeuomorphism and the simplicity of flat design.
• It used shadows and textures without overwhelming the user with excessive detail.
• The minimalist approach of neumorphism allowed designers to easily maintain consistency across multiple screens.

Neumorphism also presents many usability-related challenges:

• One of the most significant drawbacks of neumorphism is its low contrast.
• The poor contrast makes it difficult to perceive visual hierarchy.
• The reliance on subtle shadows and monochromatic color schemes also made it difficult for some users to distinguish between interactive and non-interactive elements.
• Users often struggle to identify buttons and links on neumorphic interfaces, particularly if they are not clearly defined against the background.
• This lack of clarity detracts from the overall user experience.

Due to these flaws, neumorphism is not too popular among all UI/UX designers. While working on neumorphic designs, you have to test your creations repeatedly to create the perfect balance of aesthetics with functionality. This process is time-consuming, so if you create neumorphic designs, create them with caution.

The Rise of Glassmorphism

Glassmorphism is characterized by its glass-like effects. Elements in this style appear translucent or transparent, especially against colorful backgrounds. UI/UX designers often apply a blur effect to enhance the glassy appearance. The goal of Glassmorphism or ‘Glassmorphic UI/UX design’ is to create interfaces that resemble floating glass panels. This design gives elements an airy feel, mimicking frosted glass.

What drove designers to create this type of design?

In recent years, digital illustrations of all sorts — hand-drawn, isometric, and abstract art, have gained popularity across various design styles, including Flat and Material Design. So, with the emergence of web-based 3D design tools, it was not a surprise to see 3D illustrations gain popularity. A notable outcome of this trend was the soft, inflated 3D style.

This approach, when combined with Flat or Material Design, brought a vibrant and playful energy to user interfaces. As this trend evolved, more and more UI/UX designers started experimenting with it. These experimentations led to the birth of Glassmorphism.

Here are some other distinct features that define this experimental design style’s aesthetic:

• Glassmorphic designs typically consist of a strong background, a translucent layer, and interface elements on top — this layering creates a three-dimensional effect.
• UI elements such as buttons and windows appear translucent or semi-transparent, resembling frosted glass.
• The contrast between vivid backgrounds and semi-transparent elements creates a noticeable blur — adding depth and improving visual hierarchy.
• Adding shadows to different layers enhances depth and gives elements a more enhanced three-dimensional look.
• Interface elements often feature highlighted borders to define their shape and enhance the glass effect.

Should You Use Glassmorphism?

More importantly, does glassmorphism balance aesthetics with functionality?

Yes and no. Like any design trend, Glassmorphism manages to balance aesthetics with functionality only when it is used judiciously, as brands like Frosted Glass, Behance, and Coffee have successfully done.

Overusing this style can lead to many problems:

• If every element mimics the glass background, it can confuse users about what is interactive.
• Text on blurry surfaces can be hard to read — designers must take extra steps to ensure that text has enough contrast against the background for maximum clarity.

It is better to use glass effects selectively on cards or backgrounds rather than on all elements. For example, glassmorphism can be effective in:

• Creating visual hierarchy and adding depth to UI elements; for instance, a button with a glass effect can draw attention against a colorful background.
• Highlighting content or emphasizing important content sections like notifications that appear to float above the background.
• The depth and visual appeal of Glassmorphism also make it well-suited for creating layered onboarding screens in mobile apps.

Overall, Glassmorphism is a versatile design style that enhances user engagement through its interactive and visually appealing interfaces. However, its unique characteristics and dynamic effects are only able to balance aesthetics with functionality when they are used strategically.

Which One Should You Choose?

People’s aesthetic tastes and the functionality-related requirements of digital products will always evolve with time. There will never be one UI/UX design style or trend that will always manage to balance aesthetics with functionality.

What we are trying to say is that your users will only appreciate Glassmorphism and Neumorphism when they are used judiciously and in the right places, in your product’s design.

Conclusion

Brands must prioritize working with agencies that know when to apply different design styles — be it Glassmorphism or Neumorphism — to get that perfect balance between aesthetics and functionality. Every leading UI/UX design agency in New York employs professionals who specialize in different design styles and trends — not just Glassmorphism or not just Neumorphism.

Such agencies are also likelier to evolve and master new design styles and trends in the future. They will always maintain that balance between aesthetics and functionality in your product’s design — regardless of the design trend they work with.