Instagram is Testing a Flatter, Simpler Design for iPhone App

Instagram has selected a group of users to test a version of its app with an overhauled design, which can be seen in a series of screenshots sent to MacRumors by reader Sebastien. Unlike the previous Instagram design, which utilizes a white feed bookended by blue and black borders and blue accents, the new design features a more monochromatic look.

newinstagram

The new color scheme appears to be part of an effort to help photos, specifically color photos, pop more in a user's feed. The icons have also undergone design changes. The camera button on the bottom bar is no longer singled out with a blue box around it, and the camera button in camera mode is now a grey ring rather than a blue circle. The activity button on the bottom bar is a simple heart rather than a heart in a speech bubble and the profile button on the bottom is the outline of a person rather than a user's photo.

Instagram tells Mashable that the company often tests "new experiences with a small percentage of the global community" and that this test was "a design test only." It's unclear whether this design will become official in a future update or whether the company decides to not move forward with it.

More recently, Instagram has been making tweaks and changes to how its app works. Two weeks ago, the company added video channels to its "Explore" feature. Before that, it expanded video clips from 15 seconds to 60 seconds and announced that it would introduce an algorithm-based feed.

Instagram is available in the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Tag: Instagram

Top Rated Comments

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wegwhehwegqwegqew

40 months ago

Could they extend that to their app icon? I always keep it in a folder because it's so inconsistent. It's a nice piece of art but they need to let die already.

Rating: 10 Votes

Col4bin

40 months ago

Speaking of Instagram, time to get rid of that Scott Forstall-esque skeuomorphic design and modernize that 2007 looking icon already!

Rating: 5 Votes

Altis

40 months ago

There seems to be a direct relationship between Instagram usage and narcissism. Would like to see a study on the subject.

Rating: 4 Votes

Caliber26

40 months ago

No, I like it how it is. I don't want a sterile looking app. That's just me, though.

Rating: 4 Votes

v0lume4

40 months ago

Honestly, I like the app in its current form. I understand the pursuit of "less," however, unfortunately, since everyone else in the world is pursuing minimalism in their app designs, many apps are beginning to look the same. And at what point is "minimalism" form over function?

Rating: 4 Votes

Bbqthis

40 months ago

As a UX designer, this almost looks like a wireframe to me, not a finished UI. But that's probably because I'm expecting the current palette.

Rating: 4 Votes

Col4bin

40 months ago

There seems to be a direct relationship between Instagram usage and narcissism. Would like to see a study on the subject.

Think you can add most social media platforms to that argument. Most useless distraction of the century.

Rating: 3 Votes

Michael Scrip

40 months ago

I miss the blue.

It's too white now!

Well... they can't regress any further... the only color left is clear!

Rating: 3 Votes

chriscrk

40 months ago

Could they extend that to their app icon? I always keep it in a folder because it's so inconsistent. It's a nice piece of art but they need to let die already.

I saved an image with a flat icon to replace the original Instagram one on my home screen. It doubles the process of opening Instagram because it's just a "link" icon, but that's how much I despise the original one :)

Rating: 3 Votes