Skeuomorphic Design: Lessons from Apple's Golden Era

Skeuomorphic Design: Lessons from Apple's Golden Era

Share this post

Skeuomorphic Design: Lessons from Apple's Golden Era
Skeuomorphic Design: Lessons from Apple's Golden Era
When the enterprise murdered relatable software development
User's avatar
Discover more from Skeuomorphic Design: Lessons from Apple's Golden Era
Skeuomorphic Design: Lessons from Apple's Golden Era delves into the transformative years when Apple, under the guidance of Steve Jobs, championed skeuomorphic design to create some of the most iconic and people-friendly digital interfaces.
Over 12,000 subscribers
Already have an account? Sign in

When the enterprise murdered relatable software development

The partnership that slaughtered emotional design: Apple and Cisco

Michael Darius's avatar
Michael Darius
Oct 16, 2023
Share

The transition away from relatable, skeuomorphic design was not only signaled by the design shifts in iOS 7 and OS X Yosemite but also underscored by the Apple-Cisco enterprise partnership around the same time period. This partnership is particularly notable given Steve Jobs' known disdain for Cisco. Jobs, whose ethos was deeply rooted in crafting experiences that resonated with people, would have likely been averse to such a partnership.

Apple, Cisco to work together for cyber security insurance discounts ...

While Jobs had a knack for forging alliances that aligned with Apple's vision, a partnership with Cisco would have been incongruent to his values. Jobs had a history of favoring holistic experiences over mere functional integration, an ethos which is somewhat at odds with Cisco's focus on network efficiency. The Apple-Cisco enterprise collaboration, focused as it was on optimizing network infrastructure and performance, veered away from the principles of crafting software that felt relatable and true to life, something Jobs would have placed paramount importance on.

Apple announces huge IBM partnership to bring enterprise services to ...

This partnership, then, can be seen as a further indication of the evolving priorities at Apple during this period, one that focused more on technical optimization and less on people’s emotional connection to the software. The series of these events—starting from the design overhaul in iOS 7 to the strategic corporate alignment with Cisco—marks a significant departure from the Steve Jobs era, where design decisions were deeply rooted in creating a sense of familiarity and delight.

The changes that began in 2013 with iOS 7 and continued through 2015 with the Apple-Cisco partnership signal a chapter in Apple's history that deprioritized relatable software development. This era leaned into aesthetic minimalism, cross-platform uniformity, and enterprise-level functionality—choices that, while beneficial in some contexts, also distanced the company from a design philosophy once championed by Jobs, which placed familiarity and people-centric experiences at its heart.

A special invitation from Michael…

Dear readers,

In the spirit of craftsmanship that has always driven our work, I'm excited to share a unique opportunity to be part of a narrative that redefined the digital era. To honor the contributions of our community, I am offering a 20% discount which is good forever for those who join as annual members in the next chapter of this adventure: a book that captures the essence of our design breakthroughs.

Get 20% off forever

Founding members will be acknowledged on the book's donors page in addition to their year membership. Your support is pivotal in bringing this story to print—a story that intertwines technology, design, and the human experience in ways that have forever altered how we interact with the digital world.

Skeuomorphic Design: Lessons from Apple's Golden Era (1999-2005) delves into the transformative years when Apple, under the guidance of Steve Jobs, championed skeuomorphic design to create some of the most iconic and people-friendly digital interfaces. Drawing from firsthand accounts of designers who worked closely with Jobs, this book offers a comprehensive guide to the principles, tools, and techniques that defined skeuomorphic design during this pivotal period. Featuring case studies of landmark Apple products and a detailed look at the design environment fostered by Jobs, this book serves as both a historical document and a practical manual. It aims to inspire and educate designers, historians, and design enthusiasts about the art and craft of creating digital interfaces that mimic real-world experiences.

Get 20% off forever

Your engagement as either an annual member or a founding member will not only help preserve the rich history of design that we have crafted together but will also continue to inspire future generations of creators and innovators.

I look forward to rekindling the magic that we created and sharing it with the world through your eyes and stories.

Warm regards,
Michael Darius
Darius/Design

Join the conversation on Twitter / X - @darius

Share
The disappearance of visionary designers
The silent suffocation of real designers and what design teams can do about it.
Oct 19, 2023 â€¢ 
Michael Darius
Welcome to: Skeuomorphic Design: Lessons from Apple's Golden Era
Unveiling the Craft and Legacy of Digital Design's Most Human Chapter
Oct 15, 2023 â€¢ 
Michael Darius
Unboxing the Genesis of the Genius Bar: A Deep Dive into Designing a Lasting Hiring Philosophy
The Art of Selecting Apple Geniuses and the Inception of the Genius Bar
Dec 13, 2023 â€¢ 
Michael Darius

Ready for more?

© 2025 Michael Darius
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share