Flat Design / Vector Minimalism vs Neumorphism
フラットデザイン / ベクターミニマリズム / ニューモーフィズム
Both sit in UI Expression, so the question is not what they belong to but how they behave. Both are read here as style. They are reached for with different intent, which is the fastest way to tell them apart.
Flat Design / Vector Minimalism
Reduces information to plain planes and color, portable across screens and media.
Neumorphism
Makes background and controls one material, showing relief through soft shadow alone.
| Flat Design / Vector Minimalism | Neumorphism | |
|---|---|---|
| Era | 2010s– | late 2010s– |
| Family | UI Expression | UI Expression |
| Kind | Style | Style |
| Cues | Uniform planes / Simple shapes / Few shadows / Clear color | Same-color surfaces / Two-direction shadows / Rounded parts / Low contrast |
| Best used for | Light, understandable explanation · Large sets of consistent figures | Concept screens with few interactions · A soft, quiet product impression |
| Type | A rounded sans-serif | A concise sans-serif |
| Composition | Simple silhouettes and clear hierarchy | Big margins, few controls |
| Material | Three to five colors; shadows only when they mean something | Pale ground, one light and one dark shadow, rounded corners |
| Caution | Figures easily become generic. Define your own ratios, lines and color rules. | Contrast failure comes easily. Mark key actions and states with color and outline too. |