WhatsApp Unleashes Major, Much Cleaner Redesign Filled With Neutral Colors
Image via Design at Meta
WhatsApp is rolling out a fresh look, bringing a dramatic design overhaul to both iOS and Android users. This update aims to improve the experience for its massive base of over two billion daily users by introducing several user-friendly changes and a new color scheme.
One of the most striking changes in this update is the introduction of a new color palette. WhatsApp has decided to use green more prominently—but not too liberally—throughout the app, applying it to notification badges and buttons.
Image via Design at Meta
In its quest to perfect this new look, the design team at WhatsApp explored over 35 different color iterations, “ultimately aligning with WhatsApp’s iconic green and opting for a palette that allows for harmonious color pairings throughout the app,” the team shared. It has dialed up the use of neutral tones to be more selective about where and how green is utilized, especially in the app’s dark mode.
Image via Design at Meta
Image via Design at Meta
WhatsApp’s dark mode has been adjusted to offer higher contrast and deeper tones to “reduce eye strain in low-light environments,” a move that responds to user requests for “a darker dark mode.”
Image via Design at Meta
The makeover doesn’t stop at colors. WhatsApp’s icons and illustrations have been updated to a more rounded and contoured style, and new animations and chat wallpapers have been added to give the app a more dynamic and playful aesthetic.
Image via Design at Meta
For Android users, the relocation of the navigation bar to the bottom of the screen would be a key ergonomic improvement. This “bottom navigation” design makes key functions like Chats, Calls, and Status more accessible, particularly for one-handed use, and falls in line with the iPhone version.
The streamlined interface features like Communities more prominent and easier to access. The search bar has also been moved to the top of the Chats tab, boosting the discoverability of specific messages and contacts.
Rooted in being fresh, approachable, and simple, the overhaul aims to feel like a natural extension of your phone, focusing on the conversations that matter most in users’ daily lives.
Image via Design at Meta
Idit Yaniv, vice president and head of WhatsApp Design at Meta, says WhatsApp’s design puts people at its heart every step of the way. “When designing, we consider varying levels of connectivity and digital literacy to keep WhatsApp accessible, and we’re careful with changes that affect people’s muscle memory. This helps us be more intentional about the problems we solve for and minimize product disruption,” Yaniv explains.
These design changes have been in the beta testing phase for some time but are now being rolled out globally.
[via Android Police and 9to5Mac, images via Design at Meta]
