If you were enamoured by the idea of a Windows interface with rounded corners, prepare to have your wildest dreams come true. Microsoft has officially released its new Office UI to testers, which highlight several key areas where the brand aims to take its user interface design forward over the next few years.
Rather than ditch the classic Ribbon interface altogether, Microsoft aims to slowly replace its classic design with an adaptive toolbar that will float next to contextual features and offer relevant options.
Interestingly, the Redmon firm appears to be limiting the release of the UI to the mobile and web versions of Office before issuing tweaks to its desktop candidates.
Notably, the first changes released by the company appear far more toned down than what the firm had previously teased; in early renders, Microsoft had depicted a simple command bar replacing the Ribbon entirely.
The move will likely coincide with the brand’s new Fluid framework, where it eventually hopes to break down some of the silos in which Word, Excel, and Powerpoint operate in – similarly to Google’s advertised Canvas features.
It remains to be seen when the redesigns will eventually make their way to a mainstream launch – though the reveal does give us great insight into how the nooks and crannies of Windows 11 will work.
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