Google will unveil a new version of its Android design language at its upcoming Google I/O developer conference, according to an event schedule posted to its website, as well as an accidentally published Google blog post. The I/O session title hints at significant changes in store for Android’s design system, which will evolve from “Material 3” to “Material Design 3 Expressive.” The leaked blog post indicates that Google’s updated design will focus on creating interfaces that “connect with people on an emotional level.”
Design system updates like this influence how app developers build for the platform and customize their experiences for users, affecting the overall feel of what it’s like to use an Android device.
While still little is known about the specifics of how Material 3 Expressive will be implemented, the blog post offered some high-level details, like how the new system is characterized by “bold use of shape and color — creating delightful user experiences.”
First introduced in 2014, Material Design is Google’s open source design system that details how to create user interfaces for Android applications, including in areas like visual, motion, and interaction design. The system’s next biggest update was revealed in May 2021 as “Material You” (also known as Material 3), offering an adaptive interface that allowed users to personalize the Android interface in new ways. For instance, if you updated your Android wallpaper, the entire Android experience would also update to match its color scheme.
Material 3 Expressive may not be as big an overhaul, but an iteration on the Material You language.
The leaked blog post focused more on the research and reasoning behind the update, noting how people tended to prefer a more expressive design that improves usability when studied. This type of design draws attention to key elements and important user actions, Google noted, leading to “significant gains in performance.”
Of note, the company said this type of design also makes using apps easier for older adults, essentially leveling the playing field for users of all ages.
