Forum Discussion
MicrosoftIntroducing new Fluent Iconography for Microsoft Edge
Three-dimensional rendering of some of the new Fluent icons (Image by Cody Sorgenfrey)
Hello Edge Insider community!
We recently released the first of many visual updates we have planned for Edge as we modernize and evolve our design language. First, we’re focusing on our core system iconography which hasn’t been updated since the days of our second Microsoft Design Language (MDL2), circa 2014. This has been a Microsoft-wide design initiative and it was important for Edge to be early adopters of the new, open-source Fluent Design System icons which were announced at the 2020 Build conference. This effort covers more than two hundred icons, many of which have been custom made for Edge.
The new icon system builds off the visual design updates first seen in our refreshed Microsoft app icons, which includes the latest Edge logo. We’re now rolling out the first of 2 phases to update the app iconography. This phase will impact many of our high-touch user interfaces, including tabs, address bar, as well as navigational and wayfinding icons found in our various menus.
Side-by-side comparison of the Edge browser frame with the old and new icons (Image by Cody Sorgenfrey)
There were many reasons we felt this effort was worth our attention, but most notably our motivations were to start modernizing the look & feel of the user interface. The new Fluent iconography system provides functional optimizations for user experience as each icon is based on a standard keyline and grid. This will improve scannability as you browse menus and navigation. We’ve also seen optimized rendering across platforms and devices so no matter which device you’re browsing the web on the icons will appear sharp and easy to read. Lastly, if you’re a Microsoft 365 user you’ll start to see more coherence between Edge and other great products you probably already use, such as Outlook for iOS and Android where these icons are already in use.
Three-dimensional rendering of a blue refresh icon with rounded caps (Image by Cody Sorgenfrey)
The next phase of this work will cover the remaining product surfaces that aren’t being covered in phase one, which are Developer Tools and our Extension experience. Additional to iconography, we know that there are many elements that represent Fluent design. Over the next few months we’ll be actively exploring ways that we can create a more beautiful, expressive, moving, browsing experiences for all our users. Our goal is to make something unique to browsers, while delivering a modern look and feel that matches Microsoft 365 and our brand personality. We hope you’ll love the new iconography as much as we do, and as always please share your thoughts with us so we can continue to improve and evolve.
To send us feedback, head to the ... menu in the top right of your browser > Help and feedback > Send feedback. Or, feel free to leave comments on this post as well.
- Irina Litvin, Senior Program Manager, Microsoft Edge
73 Replies
IrinaL This is great; I really like the new "tab" icon and the refresh icon (even though it's just been rotated a bit) but why is the folder icon in the bookmarks bar going to different from the recently updated folder icon in my Windows 10 Start Menu? They share the same visual style, which I'm very happy to see, but they aren't actually the same, which just seems odd.
- Yes, the folder icon in updated windows 10 start menu is really awesome and if that is the latest from fluent design then team please have that same icon for bookmarks folders also. The updated bookmarks icon is too dull and not modern.
- Microsoft's design departments aren't really in the habit of talking to each other. Take the recent 19042 update of Windows 10, which removed the solid blocks of color behind app icons in the Start menu. A welcome update; those were an eyesore. They just forgot that app icons are used other places in the Windows 10 UI than the Start menu, and that those other places need to be updated as well. See, for example, the icons in the Default Apps section of Settings, which still have the ugly highlight color block behind them. |
Sorry, I'm pretty salty about Microsoft's design inconsistency lately. They're trying so hard to refresh things, but they're not bothering to refresh things in consistent ways, so it's not really an improvement.nlphite Seems to me it's an approach where they take it one step at a time instead of waiting for everything to be complete. However, I feel like the transition from Win 7 to 8 never even completed IIRC, so the amount of time it takes seems really rough.
I'd be willing to bet that design committees are changing the goals while the artists are still working on the last set of goals, so they're always playing catchup. Just a theory.
IrinaL Will the Reveal effect be done?, that in the winUI3 is presenting that option. and the acrylic option will be made? or you can make it as a theme for those who want to have that design..
- IrinaLThanks for the suggestion! The team is looking at how we can incorporate additional Fluent elements into Edge. Our goal is to make your browsing experience feel modern, expressive, and tailored to you. The elements you've noted are in consideration as we evaluate our options. Your opinion and feedback help us understand this better.
- I like the new icons, they give a fresh look to Edge and it's good to know they are going to be consistent with the rest of MSFT products
- IrinaL Cool! But I don't like some of it. Can you please use this as a toggle and not a MS-controled feature?
aliasForKam Why would they make a toggle just for icons -_-
- IrinaLWhat pieces of the update don't work for you? We'd love to know!
IrinaL I already sent feedback but here's a bug: the new tab is not round. I have the latest version: 88.0.702.0.
