skeuomorphism

American  

[skyoo-uh-mawr-fiz-uhm] / ˌskyu əˈmɔr fɪz əm /

noun

1. the quality or fact of having, incorporating, or using skeumorphs in an object or design.

   In a talk on skeuomorphism in Greek temples, the professor explained that the detailed stonework carving was intended to reproduce the look of wooden beams.

2. a style of digital design marked by three-dimensional graphics that mimic physical objects, either for decoration or to assist the user interface.

   After 2007, there was a radical shift in the design community away from skeuomorphism and toward purely digital representations.

---

Etymology

Origin of skeuomorphism

First recorded in 2000–05; skeuomorph ( def. ) + -ism ( def. )

Example Sentences

Responses to the clip have been suitably mocking, criticizing the VR experience for its pointless skeuomorphism and outdated visuals.

From The Verge • Jan. 5, 2022

The glorious simplicity of the app is that it sounds like what it does; it achieves the audio equivalent of skeuomorphism, the design principle of recreating the familiar materials and visual cues of old objects.

From The New Yorker • Aug. 23, 2014

There’s less of an obvious “button” feel – after the skeuomorphism uprising of last year – things are a flatter now, with single colours.

From Forbes • Jun. 27, 2014

It’s not that I hold any particular affection for Forstall personally or even take his side in the great skeuomorphism controversy that’s been roiling Apple circles for a while now.

From Slate • Nov. 8, 2012

What Apple's designers are being accused of, it turns out, is the grave sin of skeuomorphism.

From The Guardian • Oct. 6, 2012