Timelessness
The surface of an interface dates in about two years. The decisions underneath it do not, if they were decisions.
The things that still look right on work I did years ago are structural: one accent used only for the primary action and key data; neutrals tinted a few percent toward the brand hue instead of dead grey; a type scale with a ratio I can say out loud; spacing on an 8-point grid; round meaning pressable and square meaning content. None of that is a trend, so none of it goes out of fashion.
The things that dated were textures, gradients used as identity, and motion that showed off. Those belong to a moment, and the moment ends.
- Shape is affordance: round or pill signals pressable, flat or square signals content; colour then carries state and identity
- Sixty–thirty–ten: dominant neutral surfaces, supporting tones, about ten percent accent
- Hierarchy from weight and colour before size where you can; fewer sizes age better