How The Game Center Could Look Like In iOS 7 

Last year we shared with you a mockup from a Cult Of Mac reader by the name of Adrian Maciburko who redesigned the iOS Notes application with a “Crystal Interface.” The inspiration came from Scott Forstall, the man responsible for much of the visual design of Apple’s iOS, leaving Apple and Jony Ive taking over his iOS design roles. If you know anything about Ive it is that he is not a fan of skeuomorphism; the idea of making the OS elements look like real world materials and mechanisms.

Maciburko has now took to redesigning the iOS Game Center with his “Crystal Interface” and it actually looks pretty good. He has gotten rid of a lot of user interface elements that are unnecessary and really simplified the design.

Some time ago I started to explore a crystal interface concept for iOS 7. I initially looked at the iOS notes app. Another app that I explored and applied the crystal interface concept to recently is the game center app. I believe thegame center app would benefit by changing to a slide out nav instead of the tab bar. The reason for this is that “Me tab” and “Friend requests tab” have a lower frequency of use, unlike in say the app store app where you move between featured, updates, top charts and search frequently when using the app, so in that case the tab bar makes sense.

I have also looked at placing more focus on achievements for different games. I am not sure that knowing that you are no. 11,740,241 of 11,988,582 is a necessary stat at this list view level and also creates extra noise.

While some of you may not be a fan Maciburko “Crystal Interface” I do hope the Ive makes iOS interface elements a little bit cleaner. Moreso, I hope a lot of the stock apps like weatherget a complete redesign, as why would someone want to use the stock weather app when there is beautifully designed 3rd party ones?