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This is a desktop concept that I’ve recently put together for fun. I thought I’d post a few screens to see what people here think. The screens include variations of explorer, ie (with a quick redesign of windows.com and bing), media center/player, and skype. Note that I didn’t aim for the design to be completely consistent with what MS calls ‘metro’ (for instance, I specifically didn’t want loops around icons, among other things). Anyway, click on the images to see the full versions.
Comments
Looks good!
TechMark - February 24, 2012
no, it’s not good, it’s amazing! I’m a graphic designer myself and feel that what Sputnik8 did here is world class work, and way better integration with the metro style than Microsoft is doing in W8
Gechi - February 25, 2012
I’m 100% positive that Microsoft has incredible graphic designers and creative/art directors. Managing a project as big as a new Windows release is not easy and it goes a lot further than just comping a few screens. Not to discredit the work here because I love it.
Transient Jet Lag - February 25, 2012
I think it’s important to remember that while the visual style is important its the animations and transitions that really sell Metro. Creating the beautiful dynamic animations is probably the most difficult part in creating a proper Metro looking UI.
Roku - February 25, 2012
what if you dont like windows animations and turn them off?
the ui should be able to wow and stand up on its own WITHOUT animations and transitions, and i think this mock-up is a step in the right direction
zenmaster24 - February 25, 2012
What if I don’t like the Metro-like theme and turn it off? What if I don’t like explorer.exe and turn it off? What if I don’t like my computer and I turn it off!? What then, Microsoft!?
Facetiousness aside, I think that if they provide a comprehensive design vision and you start turning stuff off, you deserve what you get. If it’s worse than before, turn it back on.
Carl Simpson - February 25, 2012
i find it hard to believe that turning off transition effects is such a major thing that it causes the ui to become so bad as to be unusable. if they dont want you to be able to turn stuff off, why have the option?
zenmaster24 - February 26, 2012
Windows users love Animated Bling. like spinning wheel covers
MySchizoBuddy - February 26, 2012
Your right. They amazing employees… but what this guy did, just outclassed EVERYTHING Microsoft has done with Windows 8 so far. Microsoft needs to hire this guy immidately, pay him what ever the hell you have to, YOU NEED THIS GUY MICROSOFT!!!!
Saljen - February 25, 2012
I’m sorry but no. These screens are okay but not that amazing. There’s a lot to critique, and wouldn’t get past without a ton of revisions. That’s the truth.
The Xbox redesign for example is alot more refined than this. They have the talent, it’s just not as easy as comping a few screens.
Transient Jet Lag - February 25, 2012
I like them. They’re more human, and eliminate a lot of the chrome cruft that’s been cluttering up screens for decades now.
isights - February 27, 2012
I agree that isn’t so easy to make a reality. But they are amazing. And I think MS should look at these and think about revamping the desktop in Windows 9.
thereverandnd - February 27, 2012
Sputnik8’s main advantage over Microsoft’s designers is he (she?) doesn’t have to deal with layers of pointy-haired bosses. This is amazing work. I really wish Sputnik8 could do a Gnome theme with it ;-)
rbanffy - February 26, 2012
You said it!
Sputnik! make this Gnome theme happen!
CuriousCursor - February 27, 2012
More dangerous to great concepts like this than Pointy Haired Bosses is reality. I love this concept—and think it would make a great style guide but usually the greatest threat to a beautiful design is usability.
I say this as someone who over the last few weeks has been gutting a beautiful comp I did for an application so that it can actually be practical. Always a good idea to start from an idealistic wunderland but reality always has to trump style when you’re creating an application whose first and foremost purpose is utilitarian.
gavin.greenwalt - February 29, 2012
Same here. I just never take the time to do these types of “free design for the hell of it” projects but I’m sure glad Sputnik8 did.
DizWhiz - February 25, 2012
Translation: “Time is money friend but thx for the entertainment.”
ceteco - February 25, 2012
One, we do not yet know what the final Windows 8 desktop will look like. Two, Legacy!! Not all old apps would be befitting to this style, all the apps in these screenshots are new metro, zune like apps. Imagine running an old grey Windows forms application with old non flat buttons etc. frames by these windows, ewww. I am sure Microsoft designers know this sort of style can be adopted and likely will be adopted but at the right time.
ElBastardo - February 25, 2012
This. Exactly.
I don’t know why it’s so hard for people to grasp that the Aero desktop is legacy and getting killed off eventually! This might look nice but it totally misunderstands where Windows is going. WinRT Metro apps look better and have more design freedom, while legacy apps wouldn’t fit with this at all!
The old desktop should remain Aero to explicitly show that it is the old legacy environment. Changing the design will just add untold confusion…
alexh2o - February 26, 2012
There is already a very similar GNOME theme called Flat full but it’s for Linux only! :P
niutech - February 27, 2012
Not that similar really… The are both squares and have a whitish background but the font, spacing and design is really different. Their main similarity is that they are both minimalistic.
ThatGuy707 - February 27, 2012
It’s a pretty design, but if you consider what MS is trying to do with Metro (one OS/UI/UX for all devices), you’ll see that this is just a prettier version of Windows 7 – you would need 2-3 more clicks to get where you are / run a task than you would using Metro.
Still. Looks good.
Andrei Gonzales - February 28, 2012
I think that the minor hue and tone differences between the navigation bar and the content window R very necessary with such a clean and simple ui. You definitely need quick visual perception of ideas when working. It would be awesome to have the hue of the navigation bars be an averaged and desaturated sample of the windows and/or the desktop background.
Jerod - March 31, 2012
looks great!Very zune like and cohesive!
TeamTech - February 24, 2012
This is amazing looking stuff. Thanks for sharing. I really hope that Window 8 Desktop looks a little better than 7. Crossing my fingers.
watership - February 24, 2012
There are alot of things from your concept that would look great mixed in with the metro interface… You should render a version out with white text on black background… I like the zune software, but always hated the white look…
ReformedCtrlZ7 - February 24, 2012
I actually did make a dark version…thinking about posting it up later.
Sputnik8 - February 25, 2012
Yes, I need to see that!
jtaylor991 - February 25, 2012
do itttttt
Davey J - February 25, 2012
Please DO!!! Absolutly fantastic work BTW!
Saljen - February 25, 2012
Yeeessss give usss the prrrrecioussssss
Adolar - February 25, 2012
This is amazing! You have created something that Microsoft has failed to do with Win8. I would love for you to release this as a download, so i could have my windows to look as amazing as your concepts!
LittleBigAlex - February 27, 2012
Holy crap this is amazing dude. I love how you incorporate Metro into the desktop redesign without completely over-doing the minimalism (cough … windows 8 …) Keep refining your designs— maybe Microsoft will take notice.
soflynolie - February 24, 2012
Not a chance MS would do something like this. They’re too chicken. That’s why they have two separate UIs in the first place. They’re too afraid to make a huge change that will alienate their legacy users.
Aaron Traas - February 25, 2012
Did you miss the Office 15 screenshots? Or the new start screen? The missing start button? Very chicken of them hey?
drfisheye - February 25, 2012
XP wasn’t a visual change? Vista wasn’t?
This is essentially a great skin with some adjusted features on top of the legacy desktop view. It would not alienate their legacy users, they’ve already modified the look in the past. The Metro shell would alienate legacy users since it’s a totally different paradigm.
chaddaddy - February 26, 2012
I would honestly consider switching from OS X to this. At the very least I would dual boot this and OS X. Gorgeous. Great work!
Seb_or_Sam - February 24, 2012
Maybe switch for me but I would give MS +1000 respect points if they incorporated a beautifully minimal design that the OP created. The design snob in me thinks the menu column/font is a bit too big but that’s just nitpicking. Beautiful.
DizWhiz - February 25, 2012
Apple can learn a lot from minimalistic design these days. They seem to be cluttering things.
jaggedspike - February 25, 2012
Couldn’t agree more. I really dislike linen and all of the textured (insert term for this I can never remember how to spell) UI elements. That said OSX has a long way to go before it hit’s Win7 levels of shine/transparency/crayola colors.
DizWhiz - February 25, 2012
skeuomorphic?
aThingOrTwo - February 25, 2012
Yes that! I swear spelling is my arch nemesis. Also mushrooms.
DizWhiz - February 25, 2012
Whats wrong with mushrooms? I met one the other day and he seemed to be a… “fungi”
alexh2o - February 26, 2012
I see what you did there.
jayrulez - February 26, 2012
What a dope UI! Total Metro. Love it
Joseph_Phoenix - February 24, 2012
I absolutely love this concept and would buy an OS with that in a heartbeat.
But on another note, from a purely artistic point of view, this work is phenomenal. Kudos to you sir.
stonewall12345678 - February 24, 2012
looks good man
fogel - February 24, 2012
don’t get me wrong, this is gorgeous – but i feel like if microsoft ever tried to make this radical of a change, people would be bitching that they have no idea how to navigate through the ux.
if you don’t mind me asking, do you have any other work in your portfolio that you can show off (win8 or otherwise)?
prasantv - February 24, 2012
As opposed to metro as it is in windows 8 now?
Ruslan - February 25, 2012
I’m talking about just for the desktop metaphor, especially as it pertains to MS’s largest constituent base – enterprise. For the most part, metro probably won’t be readily adopted by businesses, however, w8 still theoretically could be.
Part of me thinks that this is why Aero is sticking around for this release because I refuse to believe MS has no competent designers/pms that could see a less jarring way to merge desktop with metro.
prasantv - February 25, 2012
Try the “Basic” theme in Win 8.. It’s completely different from the one in Vista and 7. I think it’s called “Aero Lite” now, but essentially it’s a kind of desktop Metro. It’s pretty slick.
gabi.ghita - May 15, 2012
Yeah, you’re probably right, although I think it would be fairly easy to pick up…it’s not that radical, in my opinion.
As for other work, yes, and I might upload a bunch of other OS concept screens that I left out.
Sputnik8 - February 25, 2012
I think current metro is way more radical than this, and looks way worse. This is closer to the step between classic and aero themes.
Jeff8907 - February 25, 2012
I think this is meant as the metro theme on the desktop side. Not the app metro.
catfoodstudios - May 16, 2012
Navigation looks to be the same, with minimal changes. It mostly changes just how things look, you still get from a to b the same way as before.
Saljen - February 25, 2012
Look, XP changed things around and looked different. Vista changed things around and looked different. Even 7 made some iterative advances in terms of UI.
This isn’t that huge of a change, unless you’re judging purely off the last two versions (where 7 wasn’t a huge overhaul).
chaddaddy - February 26, 2012
Love the mockups. If MSFT can do that in the actual release, i’d be very happy.
lmaung - February 24, 2012
Amazing! this is great work MS should hire you. I wish Apple would ditch the pleather/fabric crap and move more towards the clean, less chrome interface. I really like the full screens apps.
supermankd - February 25, 2012
Looks fantasic and this is the way Microsoft should metrofy the Desktop.
erosenin - February 25, 2012
A theme like this would be awesome if microsoft does not do similar to this.
Kuldeep - February 25, 2012
Nice.
franz899 - February 25, 2012
This is slick!
T.C. Sottek - February 25, 2012
I’d use this.
jonmilani - February 25, 2012
Wow, that’s nice. Send it to Microsoft for Windows 9!
redbullcat - February 25, 2012
Holy crap!
.. this is amazing..
Artstate - February 25, 2012
The taskbar is just the best
Artstate - February 25, 2012
This is so awesome
Totally love it
see_wor - February 25, 2012 via mobile
This is fanatastic and I wish that the Aero theme would be replaced by this in Windows 8, it would make moving between the Start Screen and the Desktop less jarring.
On a sidenote, this does seem pretty Metro-esque to me and I don’t believe Metro states that loops are required around icons. In some cases it doesn’t make sense for the loops and your concept is a prime example of one of those cases.
Michael Gillett - February 25, 2012
Absolutely agree. this as Desktop in Windows 8 would be the ultimate transition to Windows 9. It would actually make 8 look like a unified product.
petrol - February 25, 2012
Hey, Microsoft, you are doing it wrong! Hire this guy right now!
gustavomds - February 25, 2012
Awesome design man! It looks like and elegant blend of Mircosoft’s Metro UI and Apple’s use of color shades. Very very applaudable. May be Microsoft should hire you. ;)
asif.rulezzz - February 25, 2012
I’d tap it
Ruslan - February 25, 2012
First off Amazing job! I wish you worked for MS lol. I am so disappointed MS isn’t updating the Desktop to Metro for a more cohesive look… This looks really good in the media player and IE but I think the File Explorer is a little cluttered. Nice Job, maybe email MS lol.. you might get a job!
ThatGuy707 - February 25, 2012
Man, this is excellent looking stuff.
So much cleaner, and tidier than the current windows setup. Far nicer and cleaner looking than OSX.
Great work.
JC Carter - February 25, 2012
That UI is SERIOUSLY awesome, dude. Wow. LOVE IT. Absolutely gorgeous stuff. Clean, elegant and just beautiful. You definitely got an amazing sense for design and UI stuff. Keep it up. \m/
szabiakanich - February 25, 2012
Best UI concept on the Verge evarrrr!
Really great work and well thought out. We’re all gonna be really disappointed with whatever Microsoft release now, it won’t look this good!
daysleeper26 - February 25, 2012
Beyond sexy… I want this on my PC ASAP
andre.forbes2 - February 25, 2012
this is the BEST windows or any other GUI I have ever seen. Super liked it! Could you please make it as a theme if MIcrosoft doesnt come with this awsome UI?
venky - February 25, 2012
File Explorer looks a bit weird, but I love the rest of your work. That IE I would use over Google Chrome, really, really nice concept!
Matous Vales - February 25, 2012
Amazing! Very nice work!
Hope Microsoft takes note… Would love a Metro look like this one!
Nicolas Ramz - February 25, 2012
This looks good but appears to be based on the Zune interface. Sadly that is the 1 application that I hate using on a touch screen.
If they could fix the touch response to mirror the rest of the OS but incorporate this look, it would be a winner.
Great job on the design – MS needs minds like this on the payroll!
hysonmb - February 25, 2012
This is amazing work.
GebradenKip - February 25, 2012
I am completely blown away.. This is what I miss in the Zune.. Clean design.. large controls.. very well-arranged.. I love it :)
juniwalk - February 25, 2012
This is stunning.
Absolutely stunning.
Fantastic use of space and colours.
My only quibble woud be a lack of tree view in Explorer.
But otherwise, OH MY GOD, I want Microsoft to hire you and just use this. I don’t think they can come up with anything better. I’d eat my hat if they did.
Sinofsky needs to see this.
catonkatonk - February 25, 2012
Lol… we need to get the word out to Sinofksy!
ThatGuy707 - February 25, 2012
microsoft needs to hire you!
maxrobs - February 25, 2012
This is masterpiece.
AndrewYZ - February 25, 2012
krazyfrog - February 25, 2012
I was totally gonna post this as well!
steve19137 - February 25, 2012
^
supitsmike - February 25, 2012
Way to go! You may have just ruined the current desktop experience for everyone who’s seen this. If this isn’t at the very least a theme that I can use in win8 I will be highly disappointed. Great Job
Nexus1216 - February 25, 2012
I put this in fullscreen on OS X and actually want to use is!
B-e-a-utiful!
r.m - February 25, 2012
Right, why aren’t you on the Microsoft design team! This looks 1000x times better than Windows 8 now.
Georgesab - February 25, 2012
So… after Joanna, they’ll soon say goodbye to you when you announce being hired by Microsoft?
aalaap - February 25, 2012
This in dark mode and i’ll switch to Poison ahem … Windows in a heartbeat.
kall - February 25, 2012
I utterly love it. Just… totally gorgeous.
lovedecake - February 25, 2012
OMFG. I’d switch from Mac to Windows if they had that UI.
ConnorTurnbull - February 25, 2012
Oh, how I wish Microsoft would do this. They need consistency from Metro Start to Desktop… this is it.
qBitnaut - February 25, 2012
Would really want Microsoft to move Windows UI towards this direction. Looks awesome!
AndWeAccelerate - February 25, 2012
This is clearly a concept UI, as Skype doesn’t look like tacky garbage in it.
jonathancole - February 25, 2012
and it looks usable!
Thomas Houston - February 25, 2012
Can I sign a petition somewhere for Microsoft to hire you?
danielmalvarado - February 25, 2012
You sir, have outdone Microsoft.
aliberg - February 25, 2012
This is terrific. Great job!
vthenerd - February 25, 2012
This should be the desktop UI for windows 8 after metro
dtpacula - February 25, 2012
Great. W8 is going to suck after this post, seeing what it COULD be. Thanks a lot :(
ant1pathy - February 25, 2012
Notification area = Win-gasm!
Awesome work. Somehow I feel the whole tiles thing would not have been needed if MS used this design concept throughout the OS and made a robust desktop/launcher.
obelisque - February 25, 2012
Does it work?
musicssound - February 25, 2012
This is absolutely brilliant, exactly how I would want the desktop to look like. It’s clean and Metro whilst still keeping many of the features and elements that make the desktop to powerful. I’d be extremely happy to see Microsoft tweak the desktop mode in the final build of Windows 8 to something more like this, because at present the transition between Metro and Aero is quite jarring (even after 4+ months of use in the Dev Preview now). I’m actually seeing a lot of parallels between these renders and a video Microsoft released a few months ago on the future of computing. Great work!
FelixVanOost - February 25, 2012
Pretty good stuff.
I doubt Microsoft will go this far with their desktop skinning, but I wouldn’t be completely surprised to see some sort of Metro-like tweaks between the Consumer Preview and the actual release. Generally the UI theme is one of the last things Microsoft adds to a OS. I seem to remember Aero only debuting for the first time in a beta only a few months before the launch of Vista, though I could be mistaken.
jhoff80 - February 25, 2012
I would love if Microsoft could allow themes like these for windows 8.
Kuldeep - February 25, 2012
Wow. This is so fantastic. I LOVE how fluid the design is… though perhaps keeping the ribbon in the explorer in some fashion would be better than having text links for “Copy” etc.
ultraviol3tlux - February 25, 2012
Stunning.
Penderworth - February 25, 2012
Wow, just wow. I am a web designer and not that great at it. However I know what good design is. I have never been more inspired looking at any design than this. Its kind of like the Corning “A Day in the future” video.
Just superb.
harishchouhan - February 25, 2012
PLEAS MAKE THIS A SKIN! I Would Honestly Pay Real Monies For This! This is Freaking awesome!
epicmast - February 25, 2012
Don’t post such crap things :P Seriously can’t stop looking at it man…its so awesome :-)
Mithun - February 25, 2012
Oskwish - February 25, 2012
Exactly what I’ve been waiting for MS to do with Win8… So good. Zune is like my fav. MS software and all their UI should be done by that team.
quentez - February 25, 2012
you need to wok for them
Strikerextreme - February 25, 2012 via mobile
This is seriously amazing stuff. As a Zune user for years, this looks delightfully Microsoft while also making things completely fresh.
Only two complaints: #1 There needs to the space above the tabs in IE so that one can click and drag the window and #2 My luddite friends would never stop complaining about it. They still want things to look like Windows 95.
Unicornageddon - February 25, 2012
Incredible UI.
You should post it on http://www.dribbble.com/
If you don’t have an account, I have an invite that I’d be more than happy to give it you. Message me on twitter at @tareqismail if you’re intersted.
tareqismail - February 25, 2012
I want an Invite!!
anardo - February 25, 2012
Stunning work. Leaps and bounds above anything I’ve seen in the current market. I’m a Mac convert but this sort of thing would tempt me to try Windows again!
solaryellow - February 25, 2012
Today, I woke up thinking that Aero looked beautiful.
Tonight, I will go to sleep unhappy, thinking that Aero looks average, at best.
WilliamTM - February 25, 2012
Now that Microsoft has created the style Metro is easy to do this. Because he has not done this before Mero?
joex2 - February 25, 2012
Thanks to everyone for the responses. It makes me want to post some of the other screens that I left out.
Sputnik8 - February 25, 2012
Give us more! :) And send it to the MS so the think about it…
juniwalk - February 25, 2012
Oh god yes post them and make more!
stonewall12345678 - February 25, 2012
I WANT MOAR
HopelessWizzard - February 25, 2012
yes yes yes! post them all asap! :)
secretanchitman - February 25, 2012
IM NERDGASMING
HopelessWizzard - February 25, 2012
EA575 - February 25, 2012
Please yes! Post any and every bit of this amazing design you come up with! I really think we should start a petition asking microsoft to pursue this design path. Power with the people. Get a couple hundred thousand people to sign, and we could make this reality.
CharlieMathews - March 15, 2012
I would make the window controls (max, min, close) slightly larger so that the UI was more finger friendly. Also I don’t think every application has to be this monochrome. This is an outstanding concept though.
Roku - February 25, 2012
This concept is really great…!!! Awesome work…!
andres1905 - February 25, 2012
This is fascinatingly beautiful. I have the utmost respect for you as a designer after seeing this. However, as beautiful as it may be, the functionality of explorer seems very limited. What you have done is actually the complete opposite of what microsoft has done with explorer. Which is, to put all the tools at your disposal in the ribbon, while that may not be pretty it’s quite functional. In your UI I imagine you would need to access these things through a separate menu. With that said, if you manage to figure out that, everything else absolutely brilliant.
I am indeed awestruck.
mehran.mo1 - February 25, 2012
Thanks. I was thinking that the additional options would slide down and appear when clicking on the options icon (as seen here). It’s not the best solution, and probably not obvious enough for new users.
Sputnik8 - February 25, 2012
I noticed that, don’t get me wrong, you’ve definitely thought this through and it’s functional. My observation was more related to the different perspective microsoft is taking here. Metro-fying the ribbon is not an easy job.
mehran.mo1 - February 25, 2012
That looks incredible. I WANT!!
DanBeaver - February 25, 2012
This is absolutely incredible. Do want.
Luke Zimmermann - February 25, 2012
Please make some Win8 desktop skins for us!
B_Sack - February 25, 2012
Unbelievable work. What do you do? Would love to see more of your work. Also hire you for freelance work. Awesome!
brianedwards - February 25, 2012 via mobile
Dude, make this into an Ubuntu/Other Linux/Hacked Windows theme!!
jtaylor991 - February 25, 2012
D: If W8 looks like this, i’m switching from mac in a heartbeat. OMFG. Where can I sign the petition for Microsoft to hire you??!!?!?1
HopelessWizzard - February 25, 2012
It’s like…if Gmail was an OS…
callum.saunders1 - February 25, 2012
more like Zune
jrtorrents - February 25, 2012
the love child of both
AbsoluteDesignz - February 25, 2012
BUT THAT’S INCEST
HopelessWizzard - February 25, 2012
Gmail from Google, Zune from Microsoft. Incest, really?
jagger27 - February 25, 2012
Yeah more like beastiality. :)
six6xis - February 25, 2012
Oops…
HopelessWizzard - February 26, 2012
That’s what I want on Windows 8, with the tiles replacing icons on the desktop instead of being in a separate view. All of the W8 interface would be nice to use with both a mouse or touch.
Andew - February 25, 2012
This is gorgeous. I’m sorry for the short comment. I really can’t express myself well right now. #mindblown
Juice1986 - February 25, 2012
As someone who loves well done graphic design……..You kicked some serious graphical ass right here sir.
TCrimson05t - February 25, 2012
That mockup of the website totally reminds me of this new tech site that did the Galaxy Note parody.
The TechBlock
randonacho - February 25, 2012
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? MIND=BLOWN
FalseAgent - February 25, 2012
I feel like clicking around, touching, manipulating. Seeing what does what.
Juice1986 - February 25, 2012
If this (and it probably won’t) never gets implemented, it’s a great style for some up and coming Linux distro to rip off. Would be cool to have as good looking Linux distro as this + it’s most likely the only way I could get my hands on the magic that is this mock up.
JX3 - February 25, 2012
This is absolutely incredible. I’ve been trying to think in my head how Microsoft could just tweak the old Windows 7 style, while keeping most of the interface for the new Aero section of Windows 8, and it was hard to picture it myself, and now that I’ve seen this, I feel like Windows 8 NEEDS to look like this. Anything less, and it will be a disappointment. Really great quality design work.
TheRealBitter - February 25, 2012
Sweet Jesus. Devoted to my Mac, but I would so cheat on it if I could get my hands on this :O
Tommeh - February 25, 2012
Can we just spam @windows with this page until they look at it?
Juice1986 - February 25, 2012
Just done it! :D
juniwalk - February 25, 2012
aaaand done!
Frank Lutulla - February 25, 2012
Seriously, make a W7 theme from this!!! :D
marpad - February 25, 2012
Is this only photoshop or you made a windows 7 theme ? If photoshop make a windows 7 theme ! You’ll see it’s not that hard.
Azzoth - February 25, 2012
I’m scared that I might start using Internet Explorer.
This is jizz-worthy.
Artful Dodger - February 25, 2012
I particularly love the simplified Title Bar you’ve come up with. Also the very Zune-like touches all throughout, the muted yet bold colors, large beautiful fonts….dear god, everything about this is just fantastic work. I’m going to go ahead and pipe in with the others hoping you try and make this a Windows 7 theme. Something along the lines of what Elune had done, which I used for quite some time before it felt like it just didn’t mesh well. Your concept though, I do not believe I could ever become bored of.
mcneildd - February 25, 2012
Please tell us that you’re working on a Rainmeter skin for this. PLEASE.
ssjsid - February 25, 2012
It’s beautiful!
techman171 - February 25, 2012
Looks more like Google than Microsoft to be honest…
kopmis - February 25, 2012
It looks more like Zune desktop than anything with some cues from Google’s recent transition to flatter UI design. (Which I’m sure took some inspiration from Microsoft.
theoutermost - February 25, 2012
I say Google should hire this guy! Because Microsoft is run by bean counter who have cero appreciation for design…
anardo - February 25, 2012
lol, I’m not going to comment on MS management, but seriously – Google? Have you looked at Android before ICS?
sarcasm?
prasantv - February 26, 2012
I don’t mean Android – I think the mockup looks exactly like the style they employ in Google +, Gmail, etc.
kopmis - February 26, 2012
Sputnik, my applause to you! Excellent mockup and very elegant.
jimmie.hansson - February 25, 2012
If you want a Zune desktop go install one of the 300 desktop themes that already exist.
Luph - February 25, 2012
Amazing. Simply amazing. I hope you really create a skin for win7 (and sell it) although Microsoft would probably sue you or something because this would affect Win8 sales.
Marivs - February 25, 2012
I have to say this is one of the few mock ups I’ve seen that really is in the spirit of the Metro design while tweaking and pushing it forward. Personally I wish this was what they’d do with desktop but doing so would call for designers on Win32 programs to change (and if anybody has been reading the B8 blog you know they wouldn’t). Again great work and add my voice to the chorus of people who say Redmond should scoop you up.
Fowler - February 25, 2012
This is incredible. Microsoft, please hire this guy.
chollz - February 25, 2012
I wish Windows looked this good. Even close to this good.
AndyTSJ - February 25, 2012
ASTONI-F-SHING!!!! Where Do I Download This?
Benyben123 - February 25, 2012
I agree, this looks great. I love the clean elegant look. I love that it is nice to look at without calling too much attention to itself.
RP2011 - February 25, 2012
I would pay money if you made this into some sort of Windows 7 theme, Rainmeter theme, whatever. This is simply to amazing to be a concept and nothing else.
Nymbus - February 25, 2012
Take my money please
chrisgrou - February 25, 2012
Where can I donate to make this into a Rainmeter theme?
supitsmike - February 25, 2012
This is very very good. You seem to have taken great inspiration from the outstanding Zune pc client, blown it out and augmented it with new, interesting ideas.
Looking at this makes me think that MS has been too conservative with its “Desktop” mode in Windows 8. They should have done something like you’ve done for Desktop mode; instead of the current jarring transition from Metro to Desktop in Windows 8, you’d ease users into an eventual merger in a Windows 9.
petrol - February 25, 2012
We don’t know if they’re done with the desktop styling yet. It would seem odd if they were as all their major dersktop program updates (Office, Visual Studio) are gaining style cues from the Zune desktop client.
theoutermost - February 25, 2012
Let’s hope so. Hadn’t thought of the fact that office 15 is looking more like this new concept.
petrol - February 25, 2012
Breathtaking!!! I hope Microsoft sees this. If they are dumb enough not to contact you about it, I hope it at least gets made into a theme for Windows 7 or 8.
sarahguitar - February 25, 2012
WOW!
I have some suggestions:
Taskbar:
1. Icons should be in different color (blue light for Skype) when they opened, same for the little squares .
2. In the right side should be also network and buttery (for mobile devices) icons.
Explorer:
1. Use icons instead of text, and should be one line of them that stay always (with option to close like ribbon). For desktop users it will be much better. Maybe combine this with the “120 items, thumbs only” line.
2. Bigger search icon, in the first time I missed it.
And metro icons doesn’t have to be rounded, look at Win8.
Anyway, amazing concept, wish microsoft will make this available as theme for Win8.
Waiting to read what you think about my suggestions.
And sorry for my English
nirhau - February 25, 2012
I propose that ‘Thumbs only’ needs less white space; more like Imgur or maybe Pinterest, but cleaner (as Metro is good at).
Scooterch - February 26, 2012
This is incredible work and very well thought-out. However, something about it actually reminds me more of Google’s new design language, rather than Microsoft’s. It’s clear, of course, that the new Google was inspired by Metro, but this concept seems to lean towards Google’s interpretation of minimalism (albeit far more beautifully).
aaronsamuel - February 25, 2012
agreed. i thought of gmail’s last design refresh as i saw it. regardless, this is a beautiful work , and if it were to be made as a rainmeter theme i’d use it
acidogio - February 25, 2012
I really wonder of the response to this would be as positive if Microsoft had released these screenshots.
Whenever it is anti-corporation bias or not, I am just as amazed as everyone else :b
Do you feel like you had to sacrifice functionality? I can’t see what you removed from my brief look at the screenshots, but I can hardly believe you crammed the full funktionality of Explorer or IE into that slim interface!
VWXYZ - February 25, 2012
this is so greatly amazing! with this design I would never think of changing to Mac
14mm - February 25, 2012
Wow!.
I’d be pumped about Windows 8 if it looked like this!… Love it!.
Metro doesn’t want to bring me over from OS X but this has potential.
justinhub2003 - February 25, 2012
As a developer, I have been looking for a way to Metro-fy my desktop applications for a while now (to give them that extra umph). What you’ve done is everything (and then some) that I have been trying to get ahold of for the better part of a year. I’m going to try not to steal your work, but it’s going to be hard :D
But seriously, great work! I bet there is some guy at Microsoft on the W8 team right now going “Oh, damn, we went the wrong way.”
IanWold - February 25, 2012
looks awesome and you should suggest this to microsoft
technology universe - February 25, 2012
What?!? Not a single troll from Avro? That boy is slipping!
Nice work BTW. MS really should hire you.
gwydionjhr - February 25, 2012
This is great, dude. I really love it. A few small criticisms, though.
The color scheme reminds me way too much of Ubuntu. This probably would’t be an issue, but I think it’d look better if you went with a blue color scheme for the mockups When I saw the screenshot from a distance, I thought it was something about Ubuntu.
I really think you should have used the circle-with-arrow back and forward button designs that are all around Metro. I love most elements of your design, but I those are prettier and fit better than your back and forward keys.
Otherwise, amazing stuff! Definitely get this over to Microsoft ASAP!
notoriousyid - February 25, 2012
Wow man, some seriously impressive stuff. So when are you going to start working for MS so I can get this in my hands?
Purgingomen - February 25, 2012 via mobile
This is absolutely beautiful. I’d switch back to Windows in no time if this is what Windows 8 looked like.
ajgago - February 25, 2012
Okay, there are some criticisms to be made; namely, that really, really ugly cursor. It’s way too big, not to mention hard to notice with that faint and blurry shadow.
ygaeia - February 25, 2012
This would convince me to at least use boot camp or VMWare Fusion so I can run some stuff not available for Macs. Looks kinda like a Linux distro.
lk - February 25, 2012
Microsoft most likely wouldn’t do this, so it’s up to users to actually make a working theme/shell from this. Though this is just a concept so I doubt a full theme will happen sadly :S
Joey Johansen - February 25, 2012
Just wow, this is truly fantastic. I want you to be hired by Microsoft now.
huntho - February 25, 2012 via mobile
Nice concept, but I think it needs some polish to make things easier to read and make spacing tighter, especially the the top bar. Also, it needs consistency on the placement of buttons (settings, minimize, close, etc.).
But it looks good!
firebrewd - February 25, 2012
Absurdly clean and well-thought out, though I do think you’ve taken a lot of cues from Media Center. Nevertheless you rule at UI.
Pierreism - February 25, 2012
If someone would make an equally epic concept for Apple, Apple would hire the person almost immediately. I hope Microsoft at least has the courtesy of thanking him in some way, (By perhaps using it :D )
zaid - February 25, 2012
I really doubt it, Apple is way too closed and arrogant to do that.
firebrewd - February 25, 2012
The notification guy begs to differ.
Really amazing work. Wow.
Texture - February 25, 2012
If Microsoft doesn’t hire you immidately, shame on them. On a side-note, would you be willing to work with a RainMeter developer to make this a skin for Windows 7? I would pay serious money to get that on my machine now! Kudos my friend, excelent work!
Saljen - February 25, 2012
I hope Microsoft do something like this..
nirukkk - February 25, 2012
I need this, right now. Please, send it to Microsoft! I don’t expect them to do anything with it, but it would be amazing if they did.
jackdw - February 25, 2012
Somewhere a Microsoft HR manager is crying. This looks incredible and gorgeous. I would take that in a heartbeat over any OS. I need to take a minute to wrap my head around this lol.
charlie_joslin - February 25, 2012
In the new windows 8 desktop interface they should change windows 7 to look like this.
erikejf - February 25, 2012
We all obviously think OP has something special right here. This should probably reach Microsoft, or someone who can make it into a skin!
apatkinson - February 25, 2012
Wonderful mockup , want that on my linux :)
Arialia - February 25, 2012
Amazing work Sputnik8,
I would love to see your take on various other media center views such as movie library, albums, now playing, etc, (so someone can turn your concepts into an xbmc skin ;)
sialivi - February 25, 2012
You sir should be Head of UI at Microsoft’s Windows Division.
jayhassett89 - February 25, 2012
if anyone from microsoft is reading this, please, please hire this guy and use his concept!
maxrobs - February 25, 2012
Can Sputnik8 make a skin similar to this for windows 7 or even windows 8 when it comes out so if microsoft doesn’t create something awesome like this we can just apply sputnik8’s skin.
hauluck - February 25, 2012
I have one question…!!! Why isn’t there a Microsoft decision maker hiring this guy…!!! Are they so stuck on themselves to think they only know what’s best for an awe inspiring GUI…!!! Mr. Steven S. of Microsoft Corp. why aren’t you taking serious note of this man’s efforts…!!!
Norman D. Robinson - February 25, 2012
Wow. Gotta say that looks pretty fantastic!
ravipatel - February 25, 2012
Now this is something I could use, please somebody, make a windows theme out of this.
TheRevTastic - February 25, 2012
If MS makes the desktop UI look like this in Windows 8 I will be one happy camper. (If not, I will be hoping this guy makes a skin available)
Kreets - February 25, 2012
There are no words for how awesome this is.
SithToast - February 25, 2012
This thread is getting mentioned in so many places. It’s a really amazing concept that Microsoft needs to at least acknowledge.
Techarted - February 25, 2012
Man Sputnik8, why did you post this? I was so excited for Windows 8 and all of the awesome changes they are doing. Now, when I use the desktop environment I don’t think that I’ll ever really be satisfied. I will always know how much cooler it could be if they implemented a design scheme like this one. I feel like the windows team is so focused on the Start screen and all of those new metro features that they might be overlooking how a refresh to the desktop environment, such as this one, could really unify the windows 8 experience. I feel like I am saying this in vain but, hopefully someone from Microsoft is taking note of what Sputnik8 has done here.
gtenney - February 25, 2012
Wow! Not only is that ui cleaner and more awesome looking, but it looks like it would be lightweight. Windows would be a lot faster. Nice!
chuckiels - February 25, 2012
Thanks for showing me and Microsoft how Metro style should be done. What font is that you’re using?
ralexand56 - February 25, 2012
This is gorgeous, wonderful job!
Adolar - February 25, 2012
SOME FROM THE VERGE SHOULD DIRECTLY CONTACT MICROSOFT (MAYBE THE UX GUY FROM THE OFFICE DIVISION,THAT WAS INTERVIEWED A FEW WEEKS/Months Back).
failing that Microsoft is hiring UX Designers all the time, apply man and wow them::
https://careers.microsoft.com/search.aspx#&&p4=all&p0=UX+designer&p5=all&p1=all&p2=all&p3=all
tandeh - February 25, 2012
OH JUST WOW,LOST FOR WORDS, THIS ON a VISIO All in -one or an Asus Ultrabook, would blow my Apple sheep friends minds ( i like Apple but cant stand the sheep’s comments, especially when they friends dont know what they’re talking about)
tandeh - February 25, 2012
This guy should seriously make a theme.
herp - February 25, 2012
This is what I’ve wanted from Microsoft with their new direction. It’s a shame that I can’t see it actually happening, due to time, your outsider status, and unfortunately, probably the opinions of those within MS who are actually involved with Windows’ design now.
Duotronic - February 25, 2012
Some pics are missing for me… but what I see looks great! If it were like this, Metro would work.
bl0wf1sh - February 25, 2012
I like it, but the back button definitely need to be changed to the official zune/wp7 one. And what do you mean by “loops” around the icons? Really like some of the design though. I like metro, but I really want aero to go away, it looks so awful next to metro. I think the big reason people hate metro on windows 8 is because the screenshots are all on those godawful green and purple backgrounds. put one on black and it would look so much better. Also, what software did you use to make this?
onedrummer2401 - February 25, 2012
Where can I download and install this theme for Windows 7?
dan325013 - February 25, 2012
Can this be made into a Win7 Visual Style/Theme? I’m dying for one like this right now! It’s great!!
jaskfla - February 25, 2012
WHERE CAN WE DOWNLOAD THE WALLPAPER?
tulio.jarocki - February 25, 2012
More than Microsoft, Ubuntu should start looking at designs like this.
jeswin - February 25, 2012
Awesome awesome & awesome. If this in the case, I will forget about MacBook for sure.
@Microsoft, are you listening?
masud7827 - February 25, 2012
The looks great, much more appealing than a metro/aero mash up.
Though I should point out a couple of criticisms in regards to the first mockup, which I believe is the only one to show multiple windows on the screen at once. In your mockup you have the selected window at 100% luminosity, with the other 2 down to 90 or so. Whilst this is effective in implying a z-depth that differentiates the active window from those inactive ones it also brings to light a couple of problems.
Reducing the luminosity of an entire window is an elegant way to visualize the state of that window, but it does so at the cost of the integrity of the content in that window.
One of the advantages of a ‘windowed’ UI is that It allows the user to make comparisons between content in different windows. If you change the luminosity of a window that is not active then you are changing the content in it. If the user has two windows side by side and are comparing colour coded charts, then at an OS level you are ensuring the colours in those windows can never be accurate at the same time.
d5tryr - February 26, 2012
damn it I wish I didn’t look at this. anything other than this in windows 8 will be a disappointment…
capone428 - February 26, 2012
Anyway this could be a rainmeter theme? Very pretty.
helloimjosh - February 26, 2012
Looks amazing. Two little nitpicks: maximise, minimise and close in the title bar, and navigation pane in explorer. You’ve probably created the best mock-ups of those elements I’ve seen, but I still think there’s something off with both of them/
chaddaddy - February 26, 2012
ALL OF MY WANT
cf_torchie - February 26, 2012
Dear Sputnik8,
I hate you from the bottom of my heart. Yes truely. For you have shown us what kind of awesome UI is possible, but we will not get it. Now who will make Microsoft take your UI and implement it?
meelahi - February 26, 2012
Inspiring work. It’s a beautiful riff on the spirit of Metro – which is so strong. I’m buying my wife a Nokia phone next week.
dvdduncan - February 26, 2012
I have been foaming at the mouth over Windows 8 and what it’s becoming. This… positively make me realize how much more I dislike where Windows 8 is going!
Great work
MiroM - February 26, 2012
Amazing work! Much better than what Microsoft has come up with.
nsnsmj - February 26, 2012
The Twitter button is a little out of touch on this post at times…
byderekj - February 26, 2012
This looks great, but it’s incomplete! Without depicting the start menu, you haven’t yet fully redesigned the operating system.
Would you be interested in helping me design software UI for a product in the future?
epheterson - February 26, 2012
It’s just a mock-up.
Rxcketeer - February 26, 2012
This is beyond beautiful! I love seeing well designed mock-ups.
Checkout my MobileMe/iCloud mockups I made last year: MobileMe Revamp.
Rxcketeer - February 26, 2012
looking great good job you should you are Pro artist / designer
narmez - February 26, 2012
Showed * not should =/
narmez - February 26, 2012
It’s gorgerous. I beg you, post this to MS. Maybe some they will implement at least a part of it.
AlexSSE - February 26, 2012
Although your design might be pleasing to the eyes and give “oh’s” and “ah’s” when people see it at first, there are a number of design flaws:
1. Older people have trouble reading text that does not contrast enough with the background (so, the dark gray text on light gray is not going to work).
2. Also younger people scan text slower when the contrast is low.
3. Users will have trouble dragging the windows when you over-use the title bar in this way.
gedejong - February 26, 2012
Now we just need someone to make a wpf-style to adhere these design guidelines, and post it online. I’ll start using them right away :) xD
Alxandr - February 26, 2012
i want it how do i get it
Guidomq - February 26, 2012
This is a nice Metro design.
This is a response to those clamouring for changes to the way MS have done Win8. Remember the desktop is there to run legacy applications and so converting the desktop from Aero to this will still be jarring because you will still be running Aero applications. This is still not as finger friendly as the full-on Metro side to Win8. People need to see some familiarity, to be reassured that this is still Windows, lots of people are slow learners and many upgraders will be upgrading from XP as their machines give up the ghost. They need something more familiar even though it is less modern, for now that means keeping Aero; there are lots of people who won’t be able to adapt so quickly to Metro, so whilst keeping Win8 as a double-sided halfway house is ugly, it works in that it provides choice between living in the past and living in the future. Doing the above design would not be the MS way, it would be the Apple way (of pushing people into the future and leaving behind those stuck in the past).
That said, I would like to see something like what you have shown become reality, perhaps in Windows 9 on a shortened release cycle. One has to remember, your design only works because both applications and the desktop are following the same design language. Conversion of applications rests largely in app developer’s hands, MS just needs to focus on getting the best tools out there and plenty of documentation the way there is comprehensive support for Win32.
TheBigM72 - February 26, 2012
Very similar to Linux Ubuntu.
vodopad27 - February 26, 2012
How on earth is this simlar to ubuntu?
Alxandr - February 26, 2012
Ubuntu 7.04 and Ubuntu 11.10
StrikeRfa - February 26, 2012
Just one word! It’s beautifull!
manveru1986 - February 26, 2012
Just missed the Windows Live (MSN)…
You’re the man, this 100% perfect, you just need to work at Microsoft, the look of Windows 8 is pretty ugly compared to this al.
ponnere - February 26, 2012
Oh My God! I am Brazilian and I never saw something like that is amazing and spectacular! If Windows was in this way would make a huge success. Congratulations to the creator, is amazing!
mrGuri - February 26, 2012
Sputnik8, are you going to limit this project to comps, or do you plan to ever bake it into an actual theme (with or without Rainmeter)?
Gameboy70 - February 26, 2012
Omg, its beautiful, perfect! At least it should have a skin to download. Just saying :D
miysalvatore - February 26, 2012
this is bloody awesome, Microsoft needs to hire you and use that
sarreqteryx - February 26, 2012
Currently I use Google, simply because I find Bing really, really fugly. But with your take on it, I’d jump on it immediately. Hell, your entire suite here is incredible.
htwyford - February 26, 2012
Similar to Ubuntu 7.04 and Ubuntu 11.10. Windows 8 METRO UI FAIL in Brasil. Ubuntu 12.04 FANTASTIC.
Ubuntu 7.04
StrikeRfa - February 26, 2012
Uau… now microsoft is copying ubuntu? It’s so similar I was fooled for a moment. How things turn so quickly nowdays. I don’t like it very much, as I didn’t like the ubuntu design. At least for linux guys there are a shit load of options to desktops. I hope microsoft copies that too…
nandou - February 26, 2012
I prefer Ubuntu 12.04 LTS ALPHA 1, FANTASTIC :
StrikeRfa - February 26, 2012
That looks like crap and nothing like this concept.
ralexand56 - February 28, 2012
fanboy detected.
There is absolutely no resemblance between the interfaces.
ubuntu is a system of 80’s with a “beautiful” theme, only that
As the canonical pays you to keep telling these lies?
yankee2008 - February 29, 2012
Reading failure? This has nothing to do with Microsoft, it’s an amateurs take on what a metro styled desktop would look like.
mehran.mo1 - February 27, 2012
Would it be possible to get the color-scheme for this?
Alxandr - February 26, 2012
Love the design. You said you did a dark version as well? Would love to see it. Also, what font is used in the left side bar?
chrisabrams - February 26, 2012
That would be one of the Segoe family. Microsoft’s take on Apple’s Myriad font.
A lot of Windows 8 UI consists of Segoe, and the ‘handwritten’ font on notes in windows were part of the segoe family, too.
MudHolland - February 27, 2012
This is absolutely incredible; I really hope someone high up from MS takes a look and is inspired.
midnightz - February 26, 2012
This looks so good.
TheComment - February 26, 2012
we put together this theme for gnome? would be great!
Eliel - February 26, 2012
WOW!!! Awesome mockup. You should be hired by Microsoft already. I saw some comments to put this theme to Linux, KDE or Gnome, that’ll be awesome too. Or WindowBlinds theme on Windows that’ll be sweet.
mfaudzinr - February 26, 2012
Man, I would love to see Windows 8 like this, still including the new start menu. Still, I think they will never do this, because by keeping the ‘Windows 7’ part they can still sell it to business partners. By throwing everything around, companies will wait for the next iterations, because every minute of every employee that’s spent on ‘training’ the new UI is a minute that is thrown away.
Maybe Microsoft could continue the Windows 8 thought, and include these parts for Windows 9. Along with streamlining the start-menu to look more like this.
Few thing i don’t like though:
-The mouse cursor fits in just well, but the shape is awful!
- The left column on the left side in explorer looks too big. Nowhere in the entire UI is there a font so big.
- Minimize/maximize/close buttons could be a tad bigger and spread apart so it could function well with touch input. Maybe even keep the greyness like in the IE screen so it’s clear what part is a button and what not.
Don’t get me wrong: I’ve never seen a mock up so perfect, but i would love to see these a little updated and how it would work with different highlight colors and background (not wallpaper) colors. Also, a revisioning of the new Metro start menuthat works with this mock up would be verrrry interesting!
MudHolland - February 27, 2012
Its good and clean design, I have been working on metro design for long time and to my mind this design is based on Metro Design Philosophy also this design has all those elements which are required and important in Metro Design, like Big fonts, clean icons, square tiles/sections etc… I feel this design is close to Zune software design. But overall this is really good.
pneurgaonkar - February 27, 2012
I love this design it is so clean and sharp and Microsoft could do a lot worse than to steal it :p.
I have a few minor points though, I think your settings minimise, maximise and close should be in the same place for consistancy.
In internet explorer there are two stars one with an additional plus. and what I think is a refresh icon. I think all of these could be removed to make the design even sleaker. However, if it is widely thought that these are important features to be kept I would keep them together on the right handside so users know general window operations are always on the right and additional functionality specific to the application starts on the left.
That being said great work!
Scott Sherwood - February 27, 2012
Amazing work !
Now you can do it for real :
http://www.custopack.com/
Cocola - February 27, 2012
If somebody puts this in a Linux shell somehow, I will definitely use it :-) It looks great!
kevinpelgrims - February 27, 2012
Not bad, but not good enough to fullfill all the UI challenges an OS needs. Just try to make Adobe Photoshop with this UI and you will find some candyness idea you made in one weekend it doesn’t works.
minid - February 27, 2012
can you make a version of this theme to Windows Blinds?
gradashy - February 27, 2012
What sucks about this is I’ll never be able to use it. Thanks. Thanks for waving this in my face. Looks amazing though. Great concepts, great vision.
bryan.garvin - February 27, 2012
Hi, this is just awesome! Can I get the original files (photoshop or whatever)? please… I would love to try it out on some other applications.
amolbhave - February 27, 2012
It’s much better than the original! I would like to have it here =/
lype91 - February 27, 2012
It looks nice at first glance, but as a designer you notice the flaws after looking at it. This looks like the first attempt from soneone just studying interface design, or somone who thinks they are a designer because they have a hacked copy of photoshop. Reminds me of gnome shell combined with google docs. I sure MS had very simplistic ideas like this at first too, but people like balmer probably vetoed them, also there are usability and design problems apparent in these designs.
The examples provided are very simple applications, please make some examples showing adobe illustrator/photoshop, 3dstudio max, gimp, or ms office, and some of your flaws will become obvious to you. Also use the standard icons that come with programmes, don’t expect software companies to make icons that fit this design, because they won’t, and MS won’t provide icons either. Adobe won’t want to provide different icons for different OSs or versions of OSs so your designs will have to use the icons that come with the applications, including the quicklaunch on the desktop.
supernatural - February 27, 2012
I noticed the same things after 30 seconds of watching those examples. Isn’t an aesthetic problem, it’s UI usefulness wich, only works for those examples made. If we test it with real-life computer use, we will find heavy UI problems.
Also, I don’t know if you look it at Skype but it is the same crappy App with skin re-style, no major improvements and, year or so before people brag it a lot with the Skype UI.
I don’t see this re-skin working out of the box.
minid - February 27, 2012
Here’s my attempt at Word.
I tried to stick to sputnik8’s conventions as much as I could but I am aware that his implementation could be very different. After all, it’s his design :)
danijelb - February 27, 2012
Well, if it looked like this I would have a nice reasong to start using Office again… :)
Amazing work dude!
MatheusMK3 - February 27, 2012
It’s nice but I prefer the official Office 15 design:
ThatGuy707 - February 27, 2012
Most of the applications that you mentioned use their own custom chrome not the default windows one so they would continue to look the same. Microsoft has no control of those apps and their looks.
ralexand56 - February 28, 2012
whoa… bravo
uberlaff - February 27, 2012
Gorgeous. Amazing. Incredible. Aweome. Fantastic!
Adamo Pinheiro - February 27, 2012
This is really, really beautiful! Please post some more pics if you got them, this is awesome! Good work man!
AndersAa - February 27, 2012
This is sexy and I want it. Hopefully MS picks up the stylings for Windows 9. Or picks you up! That would be rad.
jrronimo - February 27, 2012
Please go working for Canonical and help them to design Unity!
The mock-ups look absolutely beautiful!
jeroenverh - February 27, 2012
It’s a pretty design, but if you consider what MS is trying to do with Metro (one OS/UI/UX for all devices), you’ll see that this is just a prettier version of Windows 7 – you would need 2-3 more clicks to get where you are / run a task than you would using Metro.
Still. Looks good.
Andrei Gonzales - February 27, 2012
That’s almost Ubuntu O_o
kudrin.s.v - February 27, 2012
The concept is pretty solid… I love the streamlined and clean feel…. it’s lacking some much-needed Metro and more beautiful typography to give that sleek design some substance
msft777jf - February 28, 2012
Looks awesome. I would love this as a theme for Windows 8
clholly - February 28, 2012
sir…chapeau..a great design. some things that i dont like, but still great design alternative for win8. if i had the skills to change the configuration and theming of 8 i would love to use sputniks design, well with a few changes (but i wouldnt be able to do even that).
oresama - February 29, 2012
I like this way better than in the consumer preview, even if it’s not as familier as the Win7 bar.
maxrobs - February 29, 2012
Looks like Google’s new unified theme got some DNA in there.
yofal - March 1, 2012
do the same for ubuntu!
kabanek - March 2, 2012
Guidomq - March 3, 2012
Guidomq - March 3, 2012
This makes me feel like the first time I saw Aqua.
Windows 8.5 would be perfect with something like this.
pancho.avila - March 3, 2012
THIS IS AWESOME!
Moc - March 6, 2012
this is absolutely fantastic. microsoft needs to see this!
kidjenius - March 6, 2012
Can we get someone to make this into a skin or Rainmeter skin or SOMETHING?
Nymbus - March 6, 2012
From a designer to a designer: nice f’n work.
fwdslash1 - March 6, 2012
meh, I don’t like this at all, this would not be good on a touch screen. I love Windows 8 it really captures what is good about Windows Phone and brings it to the computer and will be great on touch screens. The Start Screen I thing is a logical replacement for the Start Menu as that was hard to use on a touch screen while the Start Screen is very finger frendly. For thoes of you that just hate Windows 8, Stick with Windows 7, but I encourage everyone to give Windows 8 a chance, I did and I love it.
Usefulwindows - March 8, 2012
Nicely done! If Win 8 would look like that I would be be much more positive about it. Should be fairly simple to create applications with such a style though :)
jellever - March 12, 2012
This is definitely what Microsoft needs if they want Windows 8 to do well in the market. Well, at least one of the many things they need to work on before release. They can’t half ass it like they’re doing now by throwing Metro on top of the completely different desktop UI.
tehnets - March 12, 2012
At first sight, I thought it was http://www.metrotwit.com/
Art Blackey - March 26, 2012
Absolutely perfect!
el_alien - March 27, 2012
Send it to MS windows depelopment team so they can save Windows 8 on the desktop
el_alien - March 27, 2012
Nice. I hope MSFT go all out to metro-fy their desktop.
They can still innovate the desktop, to make it a better workspace.
nobox - March 27, 2012
What I like about Windows 8 the most is that it makes it soo easy for me to launch and find my apps. How would I launch my apps using this desktop? Do I use the start menu or the taskbar? To me start menu and taskbar is not as good as metro. By being able to see all your apps nicely organized makes it very easy to find and launch applications.
I like the idea of being able to run metro on your desktop. I like the concept. I been using desktop only on Windows 8 CP and its pretty damn good.
based_graham - March 27, 2012
Totally love this. Less is more.
Superwoody5000 - March 31, 2012
Your mockups look awesome and would be a good start for building a serious of quick prototypes. However, after a couple of iterations, the result would/should look much different. Reality is a bitch. It would be quite an amusing experiment, to use all the people screaming “I would use this” for extended usability tests.
Some quick subjective comments:
1. I love the metro-advice “get rid of hairlines and borders”. I know it’s hard. But your design could work with even less borders.
2. Some interaction stuff (like dragging the icon filled header to move a windows) is unclear but might work with mouse over (but not with touch screens).
3. I just love the search-field pointing to the Microsoft logo. It just screams “search me, please search me”.
4. The explorer is the most tricky one: Reusing the name column header for a status headline (number of files etc.) might seem clever, but it is unlikely. Also, I would love to see more files.
So, awesome mood-boards! It would be an extremely exciting task to turn them into something usable without loosing their beauty. Building an ubuntu theme might indeed be a good exercise.
pixtur - March 31, 2012
Looks more like the current Google’s design than the Microsoft’s Metro.
vojtechhauser - April 16, 2012
DAM SON!….
this would probably be the first version of windows i would buy….
draculahowsby - May 14, 2012
Great work!
dazorange - May 14, 2012
ok so can you make this please as like a theme for win 7. because that would just be awesome
Guidomq - May 15, 2012
I come back to this a few weeks later and it looks plain now… I much, much prefer the colours of 8CP.
rikkit - May 16, 2012
windows 9 anyone ??
Althepckid - May 16, 2012
I’m certainly quite a large fan of it. Shame a mere visual style couldn’t recreate it ( as well as the apps) Skype looks far better.
catfoodstudios - May 16, 2012
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