According to 9to5Google, Google accidentally published a blog post detailing the thinking and research behind Material 3 Expressive, its “bold new direction for design.” The post, saved by the Wayback Machine, reveals that Material 3 Expressive is the “most-researched update to Google’s design system, ever,” aiming to create interfaces that connect with people on an emotional level.
Material 3 Expressive was born out of research spanning three years, involving 46 separate research studies with hundreds of designs and over 18,000 participants worldwide. The studies included eye tracking, surveys, focus groups, experiments, and usability testing to gauge emotional responses and preferences. Google found that expressive designs are easier to use, helping users quickly spot key actions and navigate more quickly.
The fundamental parts of expressive design are the use of color, shape, size, motion, and containment. Material 3 Expressive is characterized by bold use of shape and color, creating delightful user experiences. Research showed that participants were able to spot key UI elements up to 4x faster, and time to tap on key actions decreased by seconds across different designs tested.
Concept designs born out of Material 3 Expressive include a “floating toolbar” with a pill-shaped bottom bar that doesn’t span the entire width of the screen. Other concept designs show a clock app, voice input, photo editor, payments, and wallet. Google’s research found that expressive designs are not only more usable but also perceived as “cool,” with a 32% increase in subculture perception, a 34% boost in modernity, and a 30% jump in rebelliousness.
Android 16 is getting a built-in spy detector
Google’s user testing uncovered that a “well-applied expressive design is strongly preferred by people of all ages over non-expressive design.” The research also indicated that expressive design makes a brand feel more relevant and “in-the-know.”
