---
title: "Has visual design fallen flat? - The Intercom Blog"
description: "The post surveys the flat design trend of 2013-2014, characterized by flat rectangles, minimal shadows, large photography, bold typography, and slick animations, inspired by iOS 7 and Material Design. It argues that while this minimalist style brings clarity, its ubiquity has created an aesthetic monoculture where many products look indistinguishable, making design a commodity. The author draws a parallel to Le Corbusier’s modernist architecture, warning that repeated simplicity can become lifeless, and cites Jane Jacobs on the value of organic diversity. He speculates that future design diversity may be driven by new technologies, cultural influences from a growing global online population, or a backlash against flatness. The post concludes that flat design may persist but will likely eventually give way to new styles, though it offers no definitive prediction."
---

# Has visual design fallen flat? - The Intercom Blog

[Intercom](https://yomu.fyi/company/intercom) · Oct 13, 2026

**Type:** Explainer

## Summary

The post surveys the flat design trend of 2013-2014, characterized by flat rectangles, minimal shadows, large photography, bold typography, and slick animations, inspired by iOS 7 and Material Design. It argues that while this minimalist style brings clarity, its ubiquity has created an aesthetic monoculture where many products look indistinguishable, making design a commodity. The author draws a parallel to Le Corbusier’s modernist architecture, warning that repeated simplicity can become lifeless, and cites Jane Jacobs on the value of organic diversity. He speculates that future design diversity may be driven by new technologies, cultural influences from a growing global online population, or a backlash against flatness. The post concludes that flat design may persist but will likely eventually give way to new styles, though it offers no definitive prediction.

## Context

The post is written in 2015, reflecting on the flat design trend that emerged around 2013-2014. It discusses the origins (Microsoft Metro, iOS 7, Material Design), the common visual tropes of the time, and the problem of aesthetic homogeneity. It uses historical parallels (Le Corbusier, Jane Jacobs) to argue for the value of diversity in design. It speculates on future drivers: new technologies, global cultural influences, and natural fashion cycles. The author does not propose a solution but raises questions.

## Takeaways

- Flat design became dominant in 2013-2014, influenced by Microsoft Metro, iOS 7, and Google Material Design, characterized by flat rectangles, minimal shadows, large photography, bold typography, and slick animations.
- The ubiquity of flat design has led to an aesthetic monoculture where many software products look similar, making design a commodity rather than a differentiator.
- The author speculates that future design diversity may come from new technologies, cultural influences from a growing global online population, or a natural backlash against flatness, possibly leading to a multiplicity of trends.

## FAQ

### What are the common visual design tropes in software today?

The post lists flat rectangles with minimal shadows, large photography or video backgrounds, lots of negative space, grid layouts with low information density, bold clean typography, borderless edge-to-edge blocks, vibrant color palettes, blurring effects, and slick animations.

### Why did flat design become so prevalent?

The post suggests it was influenced by the introduction of touchscreen devices, which made flat design feel 'native' to glass surfaces. It also notes that the style is easy to imitate cheaply, contributing to its rapid spread.

### What might come after flat design?

The post speculates that future trends could include a multiplicity of styles, driven by new technologies, cultural influences from a global audience, or a backlash against homogeneity. It also considers that flat design might persist for a long time.

**Tags:** [Design](https://yomu.fyi/topic/design), [Flat Design](https://yomu.fyi/topic/flat-design), [Mobile](https://yomu.fyi/topic/mobile), [Typography](https://yomu.fyi/topic/typography), [Visual Design](https://yomu.fyi/topic/visual-design)

- Source: [Intercom](https://www.intercom.com/blog/has-visual-design-fallen-flat)
- Source URL: https://www.intercom.com/blog/has-visual-design-fallen-flat
- Ingested by Yomu: 2026-10-13T18:00:57.139Z

[Read original post](https://www.intercom.com/blog/has-visual-design-fallen-flat)