Android 12: Material You

The Material You design language was introduced in 2021 as part of the Android 12 update. An evolution of Material Design, it focuses on customization, personalization, and user expression, letting people create a more individualized and adaptable interface.

The language emphasizes dynamic color theming that adapts to the user's wallpaper and system elements, and supports a more fluid, playful approach to animations and interactions. Material You also brought shape-changing buttons, dynamic elevation, and new iconography, for a more intuitive, immersive, and delightful experience across Google's products.

As design lead for the Motion team, I collaborated directly with the Material team to shape the design direction for Material You; Android was its alpha consumer and initial launch vehicle. The redesign landed on every surface at once: all-new quick settings (toggles separated from notifications, a full-width brightness slider, consolidated internet controls), larger type through every menu, a new power menu, a charging animation that sweeps up from the port, and bouncier, friendlier motion throughout. The centerpiece is dynamic color: Wallpaper & Style extracts a palette from your wallpaper and themes the lock-screen clock, quick settings, and accents to match, so the whole device reads as one cohesive piece. MKBHD called it the biggest Android redesign ever in his Android 12 walkthrough.