Microsoft’s New Office Icons | Microsoft Office Packages Design Overhaul: It’s been a while since Microsoft last changed their icon, well some might argue that Microsoft never changed the icons to their office packages, but a closer look will reveal the modifications that has occurred to Microsoft office packages icons over the years.
As part of a broader focus on design for its various Office apps, Microsoft is currently modernizing its Office icons. This is the first time the Office icons will be changed in about five years, and this new icons is an example of simpler design and to have a modern look in order to span across multiple devices and platforms. It is widely known that Office now exists on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices, which has prompted Microsoft to build a single core code-base to make rapid monthly improvements to the apps. These icons are designed to reflect how Office has changed recently featuring new AI components, more collaborative features, and a reflection of its platform’s independence for key apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
This new set of icons de-emphasize the letter for each Office app, but still manage to look familiar. Jon Friedman, partner director of design at Microsoft stated in an interview that “Our design solution was to de-couple the letter and the symbol from the icons, essentially creating two panels (one for the letter and one for the symbol) that we can pair or separate,” which allows us to maintain familiarity while still emphasizing simplicity when inside the app.”
A closer look at the new icons will show that Microsoft has swapped the document outlines in previous icons for lines of text for Word and individual cells for Excel. Surprisingly, the icons still look instantly recognizable to those familiar with office packages, which is important for the millions of users that launch these apps every day. Another icon, that of the OneDrive and Skype icons maintain their unique look in a more modern way. OneDrive is still a cloud, whereas Skype has dropped most of its bubbles into what looks like a call button with a simpler and straight “S” logo.
It is to be noted that when these are icons are fully launched to the world, we should expect several changes to office packages because Icons are only one part of design, and Microsoft is making some subtle changes to other Office features. The software giant is simplifying its ribbon interface and bringing its Fluent Design system from Windows 10 to Office apps. The subtle color changes to modernize the look and feel of Office are coming to Windows, Mac, mobile, and the web. One of Microsoft’s most popular mobile apps, Outlook Mobile, is also getting a major design overhaul soon with shared mailbox support and new gestures notable for accounts and folders. These are the latest changes we can expect to our Microsoft Office Packages. I hope when they come, we will enjoy these changes and features.
Labels: Design Evolution, Microsoft Office, New Office Icons, Technology
