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Glossary · elevation

Skeuomorphism

A design approach that gives digital surfaces the visual cues of physical objects (e.g. inset key shadows, leather stitching).

Skeuomorphism dominated UI design until iOS 7 (2013) abandoned it. Modern revivals are restrained — Raycast's keyboard-key buttons (inset bottom shadow, slight gradient) are the most prominent example in AI2 Design's catalogue. The new skeuomorphism is selective: it adds materiality only where the metaphor earns interaction clarity, not on every button.

Catalogued examples

1 catalogued site demonstrates skeuomorphism in production.

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