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Interesting Windows Desktop UI Concept

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Re: Interesting Windows Desktop UI Concept

#31

Post by nchlswu »

Not to take away from the work, but am I missing something? This strikes me as primarily being a visual design or what some people call a theme.

This is a great visual design. It's cohesive and incorporates zune/metro very well. I particularly like how the focus window is highlighted and everything else fades a little. However, I think this redesign (and Metro itself) also highlights how minimalism isn't necessarily the best trend to follow - at least not to the extremes. I see a design that's somewhat flat and we may perceive differently if the background was a solid colour.

Re: Interesting Windows Desktop UI Concept

#32

Post by willifred »

sek wrote: post #29
willifred wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can understand feeling frustrated, but it's a little unfair on yourself. Most designers hone their ability through constant application of their skill, not to mention very often years of expensive schooling. Nobody does it overnight. Although it's certainly possible to do without the expensive formal schooling. > what are the ingredients The ingredients (AKA the elements and principles of design): http://en.wikiped…

Thanks for the suggestions, what is so difficult for me is i don't see progress. How i said, i don't think it is something to learn overnight. I just don't saw a starting point yet, in the technical world there is always a tutorial. That book sounds very interesting, this is probably the thing i was looking for.

This might be helpful too, a very good book on the basics:

http://www.amazon.com/Visual-Grammar-Design-Briefs-Christian...

Re: Interesting Windows Desktop UI Concept

#33

Post by lbotos »

tikhonj wrote: post #20
kamechan wrote: post #3

reminds me of the current google design paradigms. wish the creator would make this into a gnome3 theme (and possibly a dark version)? i would totally use it.

Yeah, it would be really nice to see some Linux themes inspired more by the core ideas of Metro and less by Apple's software design (which I find lacking). Also, I can't help thinking that this sort of design is very good for tiling window managers :).

How hard is it to theme "linux"(KDE/GNOME/ETC)? I've never done it as I don't use the Linux Desktop (I need Photoshop) but I've always wanted to try and help improve the linux desktop experience. Is anyone working on a theme actively or know someone to put me in touch with?

Re: Interesting Windows Desktop UI Concept

#34

Post by lbotos »

sek wrote: post #30
lbotos wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is an underlying grid. The typography has a consistent visual flow. The elements form the structure on the "page/screen" instead of creating containers to hold the elements. Not to sound pompous, but there is clarity. You may want to look into swiss design for influences. If you wanna talk to someone who went to art school with more specific questions, feel free to email me. My email is in my profile. :)

The email in your profile doesn't work.

Fixed and responded to your email. Good luck and don't blame us when you start to see the world differently.

Re: Interesting Windows Desktop UI Concept

#35

Post by pbhjpbhj »

lbotos wrote: post #33
tikhonj wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, it would be really nice to see some Linux themes inspired more by the core ideas of Metro and less by Apple's software design (which I find lacking). Also, I can't help thinking that this sort of design is very good for tiling window managers :).

How hard is it to theme "linux"(KDE/GNOME/ETC)? I've never done it as I don't use the Linux Desktop (I need Photoshop) but I've always wanted to try and help improve the linux desktop experience. Is anyone working on a theme actively or know someone to put me in touch with?

KDE-look.org might be a good place to start, http://kde-look.org/index.php?xsortmode=high&page=0&..., if for nothing else then it can put you in touch with current theme designers.

Re: Interesting Windows Desktop UI Concept

#36

Post by Raphael »

pilsetnieks wrote: post #17
no-espam wrote: post #13

Hmmm looks like Zune. I'll argue it's one the best pieces of software to come out of Microsoft. Too bad MS just killed.

It's not killed, it's called Windows Phone 7 now.

There was a program called Zune for Windows desktop which was like Windows Media Player but with a radical UI.

Re: Interesting Windows Desktop UI Concept

#37

Post by pbhjpbhj »

Welp, I don't like it. It's too, erm, "indistinct" [which itself is a pretty nondescript description!]. For MS I suspect they couldn't use this as a major theme because of lack of contrast.

On a consistency POV, in http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/9029/desktopoy.jpg, why does the [web] browser have a separated tab bar but the file manager doesn't? No tabbed file browsing? Why are the tabs in the skype window not coloured like those of the browser window?

Aside: Which leads me on to wonder as cloud storage and web apps grow ever more the focus will we move back to the earlier concept behind IE [and Konqueror and the like] of browsing local and web-based content through a single interface.

Couple of other questions on the UI - why is the top padding inconsistent, and so large (it's massive isn't it?!); where is the limit of the scrollbar and why don't the scrollbars start a consistent distance from the top of the window.

I can see why it's loved by those being vocal about it; but it's not for me.

Re: Interesting Windows Desktop UI Concept

#38

Post by spindritf »

nchlswu wrote: post #31

Not to take away from the work, but am I missing something? This strikes me as primarily being a visual design or what some people call a theme. This is a great visual design. It's cohesive and incorporates zune/metro very well. I particularly like how the focus window is highlighted and everything else fades a little. However, I think this redesign (and Metro itself) also highlights how minimalism isn't necessarily…

> am I missing something? This strikes me as primarily being a visual design or what some people call a theme.

Looks like it's a little more than a theme, maybe a theme for a shell replacement? Like what desktop modders used to do with LiteStep* back in the day.

Very attractive, I would add -- minimalistic, clean, perhaps a little soulless. I'd use it, though, as others commented, the lack of contrast might get a little taxing in the long run, hard to say.

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LiteStep

Re: Interesting Windows Desktop UI Concept

#40

Post by nagisa »

kamechan wrote: post #3

reminds me of the current google design paradigms. wish the creator would make this into a gnome3 theme (and possibly a dark version)? i would totally use it.

There's a similar theme already called Elegant_brit. It doesn't look exactly same, but there's resemblance.

Also in this concept window manager takes really much screen estate. Even tough it looks great while looking at non-maximized windows, it would start itching really quick when working in day-to-day basis. Also I wonder how concept author would replace lost functionality of menu bar...

Finally, what bugs me most is that scroll bars are a rip-off from Ubuntu-like scroll bars. (I don't say that Ubuntu didn't ripped them off tho.)

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