Material 3: Google's New Android Design Language

Google Introduces Material 3 Expressive: A New Android Design Language

At the Android Show preceding Google I/O, Google officially presented its latest Android design language, Material 3 Expressive. This update aims to provide users with a more personalized and responsive mobile experience, according to the technology company.

Enhanced Fluidity and Responsiveness

Material 3 Expressive incorporates novel, dynamic animations intended to enhance the perceived fluidity of phone interactions. For instance, dismissing a notification will now be accompanied by a detach transition and subtle haptic feedback.

Similar animated effects and haptic responses will be integrated into various actions, including dismissing applications from the recent apps screen, adjusting the volume slider, and pulling down the quick settings shade.

The update also introduces a subtle background blur, creating a sense of depth and maintaining contextual awareness during phone navigation.

Building on Material You

“In 2021, we launched Material You, representing a significant advancement in design focused on reflecting a user’s individual identity through features like dynamic color theming,” explained Mindy Brooks, VP of Product and UX, Android Platform, during a press briefing.

“We are now expanding upon the core principles of Material You with our newest design update, Material 3 Expressive. This expansion introduces new components and capabilities designed to infuse emotion into product user interfaces, delivering a more premium, engaging, and user-friendly experience, ultimately adding a touch of delight to key interactions.”

Personalization and Customization

Android users will benefit from updated dynamic color themes and more prominent typography, enabling greater customization of their devices to match their individual styles and preferences.

These visual customizations will extend across various Google applications, including Google Photos and Gmail, ensuring a consistent aesthetic.

Improved Quick Settings and Live Updates

The Quick Settings panel is also receiving an update, allowing users to add more frequently used actions, such as Flashlight and Do Not Disturb, for quicker access.

A new Live Updates feature will provide users with easily trackable progress notifications from supported applications. For example, users ordering from Uber Eats will receive a real-time visual update on their order’s status.

This functionality mirrors the Live Activities feature available on iOS.

“We are introducing Live Updates to highlight essential information, allowing users to remain focused on their current activities,” Brooks stated. “We’ve all experienced the situation of placing an order while engaged in conversation. With glanceable live updates, tracking your order becomes effortless, allowing you to return to real-life interactions. These real-time updates from your preferred delivery, ride-sharing, and navigation apps will be implemented as part of the redesign later this year.”

These design enhancements will initially be available on Pixel devices later in the year with the release of Android 16.

Wear OS Enhancements

For Wear OS watches, Material 3 Expressive introduces a more fluid design with scrolling animations that adapt to the circular display. Similar to smartphones, the new design language will contribute to a heightened sense of depth.

Google is also refining everyday experiences, such as using the pin pad and controlling media, with motion-based and responsive feedback.

Smoother transitions and dynamic color-theming will also be implemented on watches, allowing the chosen watch face theme to be applied consistently across the device.

“We are pleased to announce the introduction of color theming to the watch,” Brooks added. “Now, the theme selected for your watch face can theme the entire system within Google Apps, enabling a truly personalized experience. Regarding task completion, glanceability is paramount. For watches, we’ve developed a system of buttons that closely conform to the display, making them more easily tappable and space-efficient, utilizing an underlying polar grid.”

More Engaging Tiles

Tiles will also be made more engaging, providing quicker access to information and actions, such as messaging favorite contacts or initiating a workout.

These changes will be rolled out to the Pixel Watch first later this year with Wear OS 6.

Further details regarding the livestream and additional information from Google I/O can be found online.