Upon its 2021 rollout, Microsoft directed considerable attention toward the aesthetic evolution of Windows 11, marking a significant departure from the design vernacular established by Windows 10—an operating system that had merely adjusted the framework introduced by Windows 8 in 2012. Post-launch, Microsoft has persistently refined the user interface, subtly enhancing individual applications and foundational elements such as the Taskbar, system tray, and Windows Explorer.
Currently, the tech giant is experimenting with a revamped iteration of the Windows 11 Start menu. This novel design retains most familiar components from its predecessor, while reorganizing them and affording users additional customization possibilities. On its Microsoft Design blog, the company elucidated the nuances of the new design and disclosed various concepts that were ultimately set aside during development.
This alternative Start menu design contemplated an almost Windows XP-inspired left-hand sidebar, among other elements.
Microsoft asserts that its design concepts were subjected to rigorous scrutiny, having engaged “over 300 Windows 11 enthusiasts” in unmoderated studies, in addition to numerous others during collaborative sessions. The feedback garnered from these testing phases proved instrumental in determining the designs that merited retention and those that were discarded.
Noteworthy among the rejected concepts were larger previews for recently accessed files, increased prominence for calendar notifications, and curated “For You” content areas. One iteration even featured a “create” button ostensibly aimed at activating some generative AI functionalities. A comparative analysis of these discarded designs elucidates that Microsoft opted for a more measured reimagining of the Start menu, favoring a synthesis of existing elements over a radical overhaul.
Vocabulary List:
- Aesthetic /esˈθɛtɪk/ (adjective): Concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty.
- Refined /rɪˈfaɪnd/ (verb): Improved in style quality or meaning.
- Iteration /ˌɪtəˈreɪʃən/ (noun): A version of something especially a computer program that is developed or released in a series of stages.
- Elucidated /ɪˈluːsɪdeɪtɪd/ (verb): Made something clear or easy to understand.
- Instrumental /ˌɪnstrəˈmɛntəl/ (adjective): Serving as a means of pursuing an aim or policy.
- Contemplated /ˈkɒntɛmˌpleɪtɪd/ (verb): Thought deeply or considered carefully.
How much do you know?
