Skeuomorph

Skeuomorphismus ( from ancient Greek σκεῦος container, tool and μορφή shape ) is a style mainly in design, imitating at the objects in their design to another material or a form of an older, familiar object, without that it is justified by its function.

Conceptual history

The term Skeuomorphismus is in its English form skeuomorph detectable since 1890. During this time, especially in the arts and crafts was applied, the term is now mainly in the field of software development application. About the use in English, the term found its way as a neologism in German.

Purpose

Skeuomorphismus has the purpose, especially objects in their design have either a familiar and / or quality to make it appear as the source material actually allows. Examples are imitate from an imitation leather, films that mimic wood, embossed seams with rubber soles of shoes or plastic objects, the rivets or screws for this furniture.

Swan Electric kettle, Museum of Liverpool, England.

Chrysler Town & Country with imitation wood.

In the software interface design

In the software design of the Skeuomorphismus should help to create through a realistic representation of the original real device a familiarity that makes the most intuitive handling of the software. Thus, the Skeuomorphismus receives almost a didactic function. Examples are the imitation of a notepad along with virtual spiral binding in notebook applications, the bending of the sheet when turning in many e- book readers or the arrangement of the controller, channel strips or buttons of consoles, calculators and much more

As a counterpoint to this style is often called flat design, which is characterized by a simplified and more abstract design language.

Dark Wave Studio Drum Synthesizer.

Redstair GEARcompressor AU plugin ( OS X)