The Death of Flat Design

We spent a decade flattening the world. We removed shadows, we removed gradients, we removed texture. We told ourselves it was for "clarity" and "usability," but in reality, we were just making everything look the same.

The pendulum is swinging back. Not to skeuomorphism—we don't need leather stitching on our calendar apps—but to depth.

The New Materiality

Interfaces are becoming tactile again. We want to feel like we can touch the buttons. We want to see where the light is coming from.

"A digital interface is not a piece of paper. It is a window into a world."

Why Flat Failed

1. Lack of Hierarchy: When everything is flat, everything is equally important.
2. Touch Uncertainty: Users don't know what is clickable.
3. Emotional Void: It feels sterile and corporate.

This return to dimension allows for better hierarchy. When things have depth, we instantly know what is on top, what is clickable, and what is background.