Great point. The early 2010s "strict flat" style has definitely matured. Today, it's more about the core principles—minimalism, clean typography, bright color palettes, and avoiding skeuomorphism—layered with modern touches like subtle shadows for depth ("flat 2.0"), bold but limited gradients, and sophisticated micro-interactions. To really spot good examples, it helps to understand the philosophy first. A fantastic article that clarifies what flat design is and isn't, including modern flat design examples, breaks down its evolution from Microsoft's Metro to today's hybrid approaches. It argues the best execution is functional, using clarity and space to guide users, not just a visual trend. This framework makes it easier to evaluate if a design is genuinely good, not just trendy.
I'm researching visual styles for a new project and keep coming back to clean, flat design. But a lot of the "best of" lists show examples from like 2015, and that aesthetic can sometimes feel a bit sterile now. Does anyone have links to contemporary websites or apps that use flat design principles but feel fresh and current? How has the style evolved?
