Editing Design language

{{Short description|Overarching scheme that guides the design of a complement of products}}
{{Distinguish|Visual programming language}}
A '''design language''' or '''design vocabulary''' is an overarching scheme or style that guides the design of a complement of products or architectural settings, creating a coherent [[design system]] for styling.

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==Objectives==
Designers wishing to give their suite of products a unique but consistent appearance and [[user interface]] can define a specification for it. The specification can describe choices for design aspects such as materials, color schemes, shapes, patterns, textures, or layouts. They then follow the scheme in the [[design]] of each object in the suite.<ref name=design>{{cite book |title=Do You Matter?: How Great Design Will Make People Love Your Company|last1=Brunner |first1=Robert |last2=Emery |first2=Stewart |last3=Hall |first3=Russ |year=2009 |publisher=Pearson Education |isbn= 978-0-13-714244-6|pages=157–72}}</ref>

Usually, design languages are not rigorously defined; the designer basically makes one thing similarly as another. In other cases, they are followed strictly, so that the products gain a strong thematic quality.  For example, although there is a great variety of unusual [[chess piece|chess set]] designs, the pieces within a set are typically thematically consistent.

Sometimes, designers encourage others to follow their design languages when decorating or accessorizing.

==Industrial design==
[[Industrial design]] is the process of designing products for mass production. A design language can provide a range of products a similar style that sets it apart from competitors.

In [[automotive design]], the design language often uses a signature [[Grille (car)|grille]] design. For instance, many [[BMW]] vehicles share a design language, including front-end styling consisting of a split "kidney grille" and four circular headlights.<ref name="design" />  Some manufacturers have appropriated design language cues from rival firms.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cardesignnews.com/site/home/new_cars/display/store4/item131864/ |title=Car Design News Car Design Gallery on Form Language |access-date=2008-09-24 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707024602/http://www.cardesignnews.com/site/home/new_cars/display/store4/item131864/ |archive-date=2012-07-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Examples ===
[[Apple Inc.|Apple]] used the [[Snow White design language|Snow White design]] for its home computers in the 1980s, which used parallel stripes to give the impression that the enclosure was smaller than it actually was.<ref>{{cite web|last=Esslinger|first=Hartmut|date=10 September 2013|title=Keep It Simple|url=http://designmind.frogdesign.com/blog/snow-white-steve-jobs-and-apples-awakening-as-a-global-design-leader.html|work=designmind.frogdesign.com/|accessdate=21 January 2014}}</ref> The [[Apple Industrial Design Group]] is responsible for the industrial design of all Apple products.

Cadillac introduced the [[Cadillac#The Art and Science era: 2000–present|Art and Science]] design philosophy in 2000, which emphasized sharp and crisp edges &mdash; what noted automotive journalist [[Dan Neil (journalist)|Dan Neil]] described as a "fractal geometric style."<ref name="neil">{{cite web
 |title        = BEHIND THE WHEEL/2003 Cadillac CTS; Turning 100, Sparkling Like a Gem
 |publisher    = pub
 |author       = Dan Neil
 |date         = April 7, 2002
 |url          = https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/07/automobiles/behind-the-wheel-2003-cadillac-cts-turning-100-sparkling-like-a-gem.html}}</ref>

[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] used the [[New Edge (design language)|New Edge]] design language in the 1990s and early 2000s, which combined intersecting arcs to create soft aerodynamic shapes. Later Ford used [[Ford Kinetic Design|Kinetic Design]] that featured a large lower trapezoidal grill on many vehicles.

[[Mazda]] has used the [[Mazda Nagare (car design)|Nagare]] design language, which used flowing lines influenced by wind.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mazda Nagare design language - Car Body Design|url=http://www.carbodydesign.com/archive/2008/05/29-mazda-nagare-design-language/|access-date=2017-06-12|website=www.carbodydesign.com|language=en-US}}</ref> Mazda later used the Kodo design language.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Patton|first=Phil|date=2011-05-20|title=Mazda Designers Abandon Nagare, Embrace Kodo|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/22/automobiles/22KODO.html|access-date=2019-12-22|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Other examples include the Dynamic Shield design language used by [[Mitsubishi]],<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-07-20|title=Explained: Mitsubishi's Dynamic Shield Design Philosophy|url=https://thenewswheel.com/explained-mitsubishi-dynamic-shield-design-philosophy/|access-date=2019-12-23|website=The News Wheel|language=en-US}}</ref> and Dynamic x Solid used by [[Subaru]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-07-19|title=DYNAMIC X SOLID: Subaru's Global Architecture Explained|url=https://thenewswheel.com/dynamic-x-solid-subarus-global-architecture-explained/|access-date=2019-12-23|website=The News Wheel|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Software==
In software architecture, design languages are related to [[architecture description language]]s. The most well known design language is [[Unified Modeling Language]].{{citation needed |date=February 2014}}

In the context of [[graphical user interface]]s, for example, [[human interface guidelines]] can be thought of as design languages for applications.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hci.stanford.edu/publications/bds/4p-guidelines.html |title=Bringing Design to Software |first=Terry |last=Winograd |year=1996 |website=Stanford HCI Group |access-date=22 February 2014}}</ref>

===Examples===
[[Apple Inc.|Apple]] has created some software design languages. The [[Appearance Manager|Platinum]] design language was used for [[Mac OS 8]] and [[Mac OS 9|9]] and emphasized various shades of gray. The [[Aqua (user interface)|Aqua]] design language was introduced with [[Mac OS X Jaguar]] and emphasized flatter interface elements and liberal use of reflection effects and transparency.<ref>{{cite web|title=Developer documentation on Aqua|url=https://developer.apple.com/documentation/MacOSX/Conceptual/OSX_Technology_Overview/UserExperience/chapter_6_section_2.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Apple PR|date=July 19, 2000|title=Apple Introduces iMovie 2|url=https://www.apple.com/pr/library/2000/jul/19imovie.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117080543/http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2000/jul/19imovie.html|archive-date=January 17, 2008|access-date=January 5, 2008|work=Apple.com}}</ref> [[Brushed metal (interface)|Brushed metal]], first used in 1999, was intended for programs such as [[QuickTime Player]] that mimic the operation or interface of common devices.

[[Microsoft]] has used the [[Windows Aero|Aero]] design language for [[Windows Vista]] and [[Windows 7]]. The Aero design language used semitransparent glass like window borders as a distinctive feature. The [[Metro (design language)|Metro design language]] focused on simplified icons, absence of clutter and basic shapes. Metro was used in many Microsoft products including [[Windows 8]], [[Windows Phone 7]], the [[Xbox 360]] and [[Xbox One]].<ref name="wired-metro">{{Cite web|last=Chang|first=Alexandra|date=8 August 2012|title=Microsoft Doesn't Need a Name for Its User Interface|url=https://www.wired.com/2012/08/microsoft-doesnt-need-a-name-for-its-ui-metro-or-not/|website=[[Wired (website)|Wired]]|publisher=[[Condé Nast]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kruzeniski|first=Mike|date=11 April 2011|title=How Print Design is the Future of Interaction|url=http://kruzeniski.com/2011/how-print-design-is-the-future-of-interaction/|website=Kruzeniski.com|publisher=[[WP:SPS|Self-published]]|access-date=11 May 2021|archive-date=14 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314071640/http://kruzeniski.com/2011/how-print-design-is-the-future-of-interaction/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Fluent Design System]] was developed as a revamp of Metro in 2017, and used more motion, depth and translucency effects.<ref name="ars-fluentdesign">{{cite web|title=New Windows look and feel, Neon, is officially the "Microsoft Fluent Design System"|url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/05/new-windows-look-and-feel-neon-is-officially-the-microsoft-fluent-design-system/|website=Ars Technica|date=11 May 2017 |accessdate=11 May 2017}}</ref>

[[Google]] developed [[Material Design]] in 2014 which emphasizes smooth responsive animations and transitions, padding and depth using lighting and shadows. Many of Google's products have implemented Material Design including Android, Android applications and web applications.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Material Design|url=https://material.io/blog/google-material-custom-theme/|access-date=2020-09-06|website=Material Design|language=en}}</ref>

[[Flat design]] is a design language and style that simplifies elements and colours.<ref>{{cite web|author=Xavier Bertels|date=March 5, 2014|title=The History of Flat Design|url=https://xavierbertels.com/blog/the-history-of-flat-design|access-date=December 23, 2014|work=Xavier Bertels}}</ref> It has influenced user interface design in Microsoft's [[Zune]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]] starting with [[Android Ice Cream Sandwich|Android 4.0]],<ref name="verge-duarte">{{cite web|title=Exclusive: Matias Duarte on the philosophy of Android, and an in-depth look at Ice Cream Sandwich|url=https://www.theverge.com/2011/10/18/exclusive-matias-duarte-ice-cream-sandwich-galaxy-nexus/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212191122/https://www.theverge.com/2011/10/18/exclusive-matias-duarte-ice-cream-sandwich-galaxy-nexus/|archive-date=2012-02-12|access-date=November 28, 2011|work=The Verge|publisher=[[Vox Media]]}}</ref> [[iOS 7]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Pavlus|first=John|date=2013-06-10|title=Why Jony Ive Is Flattening iOS 7|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/1672780/why-jony-ive-is-flattening-ios-7|access-date=2020-04-06|website=Fast Company|language=en-US}}</ref> and [[OS X Yosemite]].<ref name="ars-yosemiteui">{{cite web|title=OS X Yosemite unveiled at WWDC, features big UI overhaul|url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/2014/06/os-x-yosemite-is-coming-and-it-will-redesign-the-entire-mac-desktop/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140603214032/http://arstechnica.com/apple/2014/06/os-x-yosemite-is-coming-and-it-will-redesign-the-entire-mac-desktop/|archive-date=June 3, 2014|access-date=June 3, 2014|website=Ars Technica|date=2 June 2014 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In 2021, the [[GNOME Project]] expanded its focus of [[Adwaita (design language)|Adwaita]] to allow it to prosper as a design language for [[GNOME]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://adrienplazas.com/blog/2021/03/31/introducing-libadwaita.html |title=Introducing Libadwaita |author=Plazas, Adrien |date=March 31, 2021 |accessdate=January 3, 2022}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Graphic design]]
*[[Human interface guidelines]]
*[[Object-modeling language]]
*[[Complementary architecture]]
*[[Pattern language]]
*[[User interface design]]

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/ Human Interface Guidelines]

{{Design}}

[[Category:Design languages| ]]
[[Category:Design]]