Adobe Launches Its Most Extreme Design Language Overhaul Yet
By Mikelle Leow, 12 Dec 2023
Image courtesy of Adobe
Adobe has made some dramatic selections and edits across its brand. The creative technology giant has unveiled Spectrum 2, its boldest and most comprehensive design system overhaul yet. Spectrum 2 is set to reimagine the user experience across an extensive suite of more than 100 apps—a feat that’s much more than a mere update. Long story short, it’s Adobe’s grand re-entrance into the world of digital aesthetics.
When Spectrum 1.0 first hit the scene over a decade ago, it was ahead of its time. Google’s Material Design and Apple’s skeuomorphism were still on the drawing board. Adobe, however, was already crafting a unified language. Inspired by Dieter Rams’ ethos, this version was meant to tie together its sprawling product range—a range that was rapidly expanding with the leap from Creative Suite to Creative Cloud. The mobile revolution was picking up steam, and the dream of fully operational creativity tools on the web was turning into a reality.
Back then, the concept of a unified design system was still fresh, and Adobe was one of the pioneers. But as time passed, the digital landscape evolved dramatically, and so did Adobe’s vision for its design language.
“For people new to Adobe applications, the brutalist approach was anything but welcoming,” explains Shawn Cheris, senior director of experience design at Spectrum.
Image courtesy of Adobe
Over the past few years, Adobe’s designers sketched, planned, and collaborated, considering every angle. Each component of the updated system, from typography and color to iconography and illustration, was carefully considered and redesigned to cater to a diverse and expanding user base. The process involved brainstorming sessions with over 100 team members, including designers, engineers, accessibility experts, and others, leading to a reimagined design language that prioritizes inclusivity and user joy.
Image courtesy of Adobe
The company’s challenge was Herculean: how to weave together a consistent yet adaptable design language across platforms as diverse as macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, and even mixed reality? The answer lies in Spectrum 2—a system designed to flex and bend according to the unique needs of different Adobe products, all while maintaining a harmonious user experience.
Image courtesy of Adobe
Hundreds of nuanced adjustments were made in hopes of creating a significant shift in how users interact with Adobe tools.
Image courtesy of Adobe
A key focus of Spectrum 2 has been accessibility—ensuring that Adobe tools are usable and enjoyable for the widest possible audience. The design team has gone the extra mile, creating a user-centered experience that’s adaptable to individual needs and preferences by offering dynamic contrast and brightness options, thoughtful color usage, and a refined attention hierarchy.
Image courtesy of Adobe
With that, Adobe recognized that its products are as varied as its users. What works for a graphic designer spending hours in Photoshop might not resonate with a casual user popping into Adobe Express. As such, Spectrum 2 refrains from a one-size-fits-all approach and is crafted to be adaptable and versatile, serving up different flavors for different platforms, all while keeping a unified aesthetic.
Image courtesy of Adobe
Image courtesy of Adobe
Spectrum 2 also brings a fresh, approachable, and expressive aesthetic to Adobe products. Drawing inspiration from the lighter, bolder, and rounder UI theme developed for Adobe Express, Spectrum 2 blends the foundational design language of Spectrum with the approachable style of Express. This synthesis results in a system that is both fun and functional, complementing its friendliness toward novice users and pros alike.
Image courtesy of Adobe
Picture the first version of Spectrum as a serious, professional tool, akin to a sleek, modern office building. It did the job brilliantly, but maybe it wasn’t the most welcoming space for everyone. Enter Spectrum 2, which is more like a vibrant community center, buzzing with energy, color, and life. It’s professional when it needs to be, but it’s also fun, approachable, and ready to welcome all kinds of creators.
Image courtesy of Adobe
“It’s been a journey to bring Spectrum 2 from our original vision to reality, but we’re only just getting started—like any design system, Spectrum is ever-changing,” Cheris concludes. “We’re currently hard at work developing the future direction of our desktop and mobile products, which will each get their own focused version of Spectrum.”
The new system is set to start rolling out later this year, with a full-scale launch planned for 2024.
[via Adobe, images courtesy]