Skeuomorph: Difference between revisions
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===Other examples=== |
===Other examples=== |
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*An early pottery butter churn, at the [[Jaffa#Jaffa Museum|Jaffa Museum]], shaped rather like an [[American football]], imitating the shape of its predecessors, which were made of hide |
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* Ornamental pylons framing modern bridges, such as the twin 89-metre [[Sydney Harbour Bridge#Pylons|pylons at each end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge]]. They do not support anything, and are there only to frame the structure itself and make it look more like a traditional bridge |
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* Non-structural brick or stone cladding on [[concrete block]] or [[steel frame]] buildings. Brick and stone are used as a veneer intended to recall the structural stability and longevity of [[masonry]] buildings |
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*Fabric attached to the shoulders of shirts, a design that derives from military uniform as a place to store things such as the baret |
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*The non-functional [[Hood scoop|scoops]] on automobiles, notably the [[turbocharger]] one on the [[Mini (BMW)#Second generation (2007 - present)|second generation Mini-Cooper]], and nearly all rear wheel brake scoops on [[Ford Mustang]]s of any vintage |
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*Fake woodgrain printing on modern items made of plastic, formica, or pressboard |
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*Ornamental stitching in plastic items that used to be made of leather or vinyl and actually stitched together, but are now either glued together or made as a single piece |
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*Tiny, non-functional handles on small [[maple syrup]] jugs |
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*Fully detailed sex toys |
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*A fiberglass boat with striations made to look like wood planking (aka "lapstrake"). |
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*A painting technique known as [[scumbling]] |
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*A modern steel [[narrowboat]] that uses decorative rivets (derisively known as [[Smarties]]<ref> "'Smarties' is the jokey term a lot of boatyard people use for the decorative false rivets on many modern copies of old working boats. Steve Hudson produces an easily recognised JOSHER hull, mostly with smarties dotted around the bow. The effect has sometimes been derided as 'washer josher', but I see it as decoration rather than pretence, just as the scumbling on steel is designed to prettify, not to fool people into thinking it's a wooden boat. " http://www.grannybuttons.com/granny_buttons/waterways_glossary/index.html </ref>) in imitation of the old iron working boats |
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*Non-functional [[window shutters]] |
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*Fake [[muntin]]s on window panes |
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*Rotary knob in an [[electric lamp]]'s socket base, meant to imitate the knob of a [[gas lamp]] or [[oil lamp]], as well as the vase shaped base of many electric lamps inspired by the oil lamp's [[Kerosene lamp|font]] (oil reservoir). |
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*[[Injection-molded]] plastic sandals that replicate woven strips of leather, or elaborate lacing on [[velcro]]-secured shoes |
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*Large-diameter concentric "hardware" encircling the much smaller [[objective lens]]es on many digital still and video cameras |
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*Hopper of a digital [[slot machine]] |
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== Digital skeuomorphs == |
== Digital skeuomorphs == |
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Revision as of 16:01, 31 August 2012
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (August 2011) |
A skeuomorph /ˈskjuːəmɔːrf/ SKEW-ə-morf, or skeuomorphism (Greek: skeuos—vessel or tool, morphe—shape),[1] is a derivative object that retains ornamental design cues to a structure that was necessary in the original.[2] Skeuomorphs may be deliberately employed to make the new look comfortably old and familiar,[3] such as copper cladding on zinc pennies or computer printed postage with a circular town name and cancellation lines.
An alternative definition is "an element of design or structure that serves little or no purpose in the artifact fashioned from the new material but was essential to the object made from the original material".[4] This definition is narrower in scope and ties skeuomorphs to changes in materials.
Physical skeuomorphs
Historically, high-status items, such as metal tableware, were often recreated for the mass market using ceramics, which were a cheaper material.[citation needed] In certain cases, efforts were made to recreate the rivets in the metal originals by adding pellets of clay to the pottery version.
In the modern era, cheaper plastic items often attempt to mimic more expensive wooden and metal products though they are only skeuomorphic if new ornamentation references original functionality, such as molded screw heads in molded plastic items. Blue jeans have authentic-looking brass rivet caps covering the functional steel rivet beneath; digital cameras play a recorded audio clip of a conventional SLR camera mirror slap and shutter click. Such ornamentation is not necessarily non-functional: the camera shutter sound is used to indicate to subject and photographer when the taking of the picture is complete. However, the function could also be provided with a different sound or feature, yet very rarely is.
Other examples
- Decorative stone features of Greek temples such as mutules, guttae, and modillions derived from true structural/functional features of the early wooden temples
- Bowsprits mounted on the bows of ships that have no sails.
- Nonfunctional pockets in clothing
- Various spoke patterns in automobile hubcaps and wheels resembling earlier wheel construction (wooden spokes or wire spokes)
- Cigarettes with the paper around their filter printed to look like cork
- Artificial leather grain on vinyl automobile dash boards.
- Flame-shaped chandelier light bulbs
- Artificial film grain added to digitally-shot movies to give a softer, more expensive effect and the expected "shimmer" of the grain pattern between successive frames
Digital skeuomorphs
Many music and audio computer programs employ a plugin architecture, and some of the plugins have a skeuomorphic interface to emulate expensive, fragile or obsolete instruments and audio processors. Functional input controls like knobs, buttons, switches and sliders are all careful duplicates of the ones on the original physical device being emulated. Even elements of the original that serve no function, like handles, screws and ventilation holes are graphically reproduced.
The arguments in favor of skeuomorphic design are that it makes it easier for those familiar with the original device to use the digital emulation, and that it is graphically appealing.
The arguments against skeuomorphic design are that skeuomorphic interface elements use metaphors that are more difficult to operate and take up more screen space than standard interface elements; that this breaks operating system interface design standards; that skeuomorphic interface elements rarely incorporate numeric input or feedback for accurately setting a value; and that many users may have no experience with the original device being emulated.
Skeuomorphism is differentiated from path dependence in technology, where functional behavior is maintained when the reasons for its design no longer exist.
One of the earliest examples of a skeuomorphic interface was IBM Real Things.
References
- Vickers, M. & Gill, D. (1994). Artful Crafts: Ancient Greek Silverware and Pottery. Oxford.
- Freeth, C.M. & Taylor, T.F. (2001). Skeuomorphism in Scythia: deference and emulation, Olbia ta antichnii svit. Kiev: British Academy/Ukrainian Academy of Sciences. P. 150.
- ^ Steve Chrisomalis. "The Phrontistery: Forthright's Favourite Words".
- ^ The Compact Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press, 1971. Volume II, page 4064.
- ^ Nicholas Gessler. "Skeuomorphs and Cultural Algorithms".
- ^ Basalla, George (1988). The Evolution of Technology. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. p. 107. ISBN 0-521-29681-1.
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