As one of the top sites in the world, Youtube UI design matters a lot. A problem here and an issue there has the potential to impact millions upon millions of users. After a lengthy period of stealth testing, Google is ready to unveil their new design for their video platform. Built on the new Polymer framework, Google is promising quicker and more frequent updates going forwards as well.
There are 3 key goals the new design is trying to accomplish. These are simplicity, consistency and beauty, all manifest from the Material Design principles borrowed from Android. Instead of the old box-like design with many dividers, Google has gone for a plain white background with everything on it. Gone too are the several redundant options from the main landing page and more importantly, the nice section headers are no longer as distinctive.
Another new feature is a new native Dark Theme. Aimed at cutting down glare for viewing, it turns the entire background black/grey and the text white. For those prone to night viewing, this is a great addition. The option to toggle the new Dark Theme can be found in the new menu hidden in the profile icon or just the menu icon for those not logged in. You get started, simply head to https://youtube.com/new and opt in early with the option to opt out after trying and delay the inevitable for a little longer.
While the design does look cleaner, it does raise issues about where UI development is going. Increasing, there has been a trend to reduce clutter by removing options. It has meant reducing dividers and removing separating lines and boxes. Though it may reduce clutter, there is a very real risk that these aesthetically pleasing solutions might not be the most practical to use, especially for new users.
