What is Metro UI ?

Microsoft Metro UI

Metro design language as used in the "Music + Videos" hub in Windows Phone 7.

What is Metro UI

“Metro is an internal code name for a typography-based design language created by Microsoft.” ~ Source wikipedia

It is a user interface created by microsoft for Windows phone 7 and zune. To keep the design simple and energatic it uses a Microsoft’s Segoe font family, Segoe WP as it’s main fon’t. It is also heard that Windows 8 next installment in microsofts operating system is using the clean and simle Metro UI.

The design principle behind Metro UI are :

Clean, Light, Open, Fast

• Feels Fast and Responsive
• Focus on Primary Tasks
• Do a Lot with Very Little
• Fierce Reduction of Unnecessary Elements
• Delightful Use of Whitespace
• Full Bleed Canvas

Celebrate Typography

• Type is Beautiful, Not Just Legible
• Clear, Straightforward Information Design
• Uncompromising Sensitivity to Weight, Balance and Scale

Alive in Motion

• Feels Responsive and Alive
• Creates a System
• Gives Context to Improve Usability
• Transition Between UI is as Important as the Design of the UI
• Adds Dimension and Depth

Content, Not Chrome

• Delight through Content Instead of Decoration
• Reduce Visuals that are Not Content
• Content is the UI
• Direct interaction with the Content

Authentically Digital

• Design for the Form Factor
• Don’t Try to be What It’s NOT
• Be Direct

Microsoft METRO UI Description