Microsoft Reveals Design Concepts for New Office Icons
Microsoft has unveiled design concepts that significantly differ from the final versions of its newly launched Office icons, revealing a creative process that involved multiple iterations, reports 24brussels.
The concepts for the Word icon feature various interpretations, including a notepad-like design and innovative visualizations of documents. Among these experiments, Microsoft considered designs where the Word lettering is a focal point, along with versions that either integrate the text discreetly or omit it altogether. Ultimately, the chosen design features three horizontal bars instead of the previously proposed four, with variations that include both lettering and icon-only formats.
In regards to Excel, the designated icon heavily emphasizes the configuration of cells, mirroring the traits of its existing visual identity. Although most concept designs closely parallel the final icon, one design, titled “X,” stands out for its distinctiveness.
For PowerPoint, Microsoft tested multiple approaches to represent its traditional slide concept. Some iterations transform the lettering into a ribbon-like “P,” while others introduce a pie chart element. However, the finalized PowerPoint icon adopts a more conservative style, marked by a rounded and colorful update of its predecessor.
As the rollout of Microsoft’s new Office icons continues across Windows and iOS platforms, the company predominantly utilizes versions with lettering for Windows, while opting for letterless icons on iOS.
Readers are invited to share their thoughts on whether they prefer any of the concept versions over the final designs selected by Microsoft.