Sketches

2014

STORY

Back in 2014 I was having fun redesigning Windows and some other parts of Microsoft’s ecosystem, at a time when Microsoft Windows Phone and Universal Apps were still a thing.

It did age but it was refreshing then. And many features actually exist today.

Goal

◻ Imagine what could be.

Remember that this is what Windows actually looked like back in 2014.

FACES

New logos to emphasize and distinguish the various Products.

Windows

Apps icons require a strong visual identity. The OS fundamentals can use clean white-only icons.

Start Menu

It gathers notifications, recent files (downloads, last modified etc.), a short list of the last installed apps and Cortana. The user is notified of new existing notifications by a blue Windows button.

Action Center

The Action Center is brought by a click on the clock or a slide from the right border of the screen.

It displays the next appointments for the day, quick settings and removable disks.

The Start menu and Action Center bring quick access to the most useful functionalities anytime anywhere.

Apps View

Apps view is brought by a click on the Apps View button or by pushing the home button of a touch device.

It is possible to drop information such as the name or the logo of an app when the user has acknowledged the app by resizing it.

Task View

Task View is brought by a click on the Task View button or a 3-fingers pinch on the screen. Touch devices also offer the possibility to quickly switch between last opened apps by sliding from the bottom border of the screen.

Continuum

Continuum switches from regular desktop mode to tablet mode. Its main job is to simplify windows management (no floating window) and to enlarge the right click menu system-wide. Apps should not have to specifically adapt to this behaviour since they should already adapt to regular window resizing.