The smartphone world was taken by a storm when Apple rolled out the iOS 7 update on June 10, 2013. Ten years down the line, we’re still feeling the ripples of this transformation. Here’s an exploration of how this key update became a significant turning point for the iPhone, shaping the user experience to what we are familiar with today.
The Genesis of the iOS 7 Update
Heading into WWDC 2013, Apple had to prove itself. We recalls how the tech giant was grappling with the botched launch of Apple Maps in iOS 6 and growing complaints around the stale design of iOS. As the iPhone’s popularity soared, the interface started to appear outdated. Features such as the notepad-like Notes app, the quirky linen background behind Notification Center, and the felt-ish green background of Game Center app were being scrutinized and compared to the contemporarily modern Windows Phone platform.
On June 10th, 2013, Apple CEO Tim Cook made a historic announcement: the release of iOS 7. He quickly ceded the stage to a video narrated by Apple’s then-SVP of industrial design, Jony Ive. Ive encapsulated the essence of iOS 7, stating, “I think there is a profound and enduring beauty in simplicity. In clarity. In efficiency… iOS 7 is a clear representation of these goals.”
The New Face of iOS: An Unfamiliar Modernism
iOS 7 transformed the operating system, presenting a break from skeuomorphic designs, instead favoring a more modern look. While these changes seemed radical at the time, they became the foundation of what we see on our iPhones today.
The shift was immediately evident. iOS 7’s homescreen was much brighter, with completely redesigned app icons that were flatter and more vibrant. Translucency was incorporated throughout iOS to give a sense of layers, even replacing the signal bars with five circles.
The new design was uncluttered, initially adopting Helvetica Neue Light, a thinner typeface, which translated into Apple’s apps, adjusting to match the new aesthetic and better support swipe gestures. This transition to a flatter design and thinner font was accompanied by a significant increase in the use of white space and empty space.
Early Criticisms and iOS 7’s Evolution
While iOS 7 presented a bold new direction, its initial reception was not without its critics. The unfamiliarity and stark simplicity of the new design raised eyebrows among some tech enthusiasts. Detractors took issue with certain elements, like the inflated size of the Messages’ word balloon icon, as well as the introduction of unusual symbols within apps. Recognizing these concerns, Apple responded by making subtle tweaks to the system prior to its September release. Despite these alterations, the core design philosophy remained unchanged, indicating Apple’s commitment to their new aesthetic vision.
Furthermore, early criticisms of iOS 7 often centered around perceived implementation issues, such as excessively thin fonts and a perceived lack of icon consistency. However, as highlighted by a design engineer from The Browser Company, these initial hiccups are typically associated with the roll-out of any fresh design language. Over time, these issues are usually resolved, resulting in a more refined and polished user experience.
iOS 7’s Legacy and the Desire for Change
Today, the core ideas of iOS 7 still persist. The flat app icons, the white space, and some translucency within apps like Safari and Messages, are all recognizable elements in the current iOS design. Over time, iOS 7’s novel elements have matured and become foundational parts of Apple’s design, including blurs, vibrancy, interactivity, animation, and depth.
Moreover, iOS 7 introduced new features that have since become indispensable. The then-new Control Center was a game-changer, providing a simple way to access important features like airplane mode. While initially a bit chaotic, the Control Center underwent redesigns in iOS 10 and iOS 11, making it the efficient feature we appreciate today. iOS 7 also introduced AirDrop, which has proven to be an invaluable tool for sharing between Apple devices. And the iOS 7 Camera app introduced the option to switch between photo, square photo, panorama, and video modes with a swipe—a feature still present today.
Despite the impact of iOS 7, there is a growing desire for change and personalization among users. This may be why Apple has recently provided some design control to users with iOS 16’s lock screen tools, and why some app designers are having fun reintroducing skeuomorphism into their designs.
While some users, like indie iOS developer Enid Hadaj, express surprise that the design style of iOS 7 persists in new iOS versions, the familiarity and functionality of iOS keeps Apple from rocking the boat. Even though some desire a more radical transformation, iOS continues to “just work.”
A Turning Point in iOS History
Reflecting on the transformation ten years ago, it’s clear that iOS 7 defined a crucial new direction for Apple. As Jony Ive declared in the introductory video, “Together, we see iOS 7 as defining an important new direction. And in many ways, a beginning.” A decade later, his words still ring true. iOS 7 wasn’t merely an update—it was a beginning, a transformative force that continues to influence the look and feel of our iPhones today.
Apple’s foray into a new design philosophy with iOS 7 has indeed proved to be an enduring trendsetter in the realm of smartphone interfaces. As we continue to observe and interact with our iPhones, it’s fascinating to trace back the origins of our user experience to this impactful transformation a decade ago.
