Glassmorphism Posters

What is glassmorphism in UI design?

Glassmorphism is a design trend where interface elements appear as translucent frosted glass, allowing users to perceive content layered behind them. Coined by designer Michal Malewicz in 2020, the style creates depth through transparency, background blur, and subtle borders. It became prominent in macOS Big Sur and Windows 11, where Microsoft incorporated it into their Fluent Design System under the name 'Acrylic.'

What are the core visual characteristics of glassmorphism?

Glassmorphism relies on four key elements: semi-transparent backgrounds that allow underlying content to show through, background blur that creates the frosted glass effect, vivid background colors that shine through the translucent layers, and subtle lighting with shadows to suggest floating elements. Light, semi-transparent borders around elements help them stand out against both light and dark backgrounds.

How do designers implement glassmorphism technically?

Creating glassmorphism effects involves manipulating opacity and background blur values. In CSS, this typically uses the backdrop-filter property for blur effects combined with semi-transparent background colors. Designers adjust these parameters to control how much background information remains visible versus obscured. Adding subtle white or dark overlays at 10-30% opacity helps maintain text readability while preserving the glassy aesthetic.

What accessibility concerns exist with glassmorphism?

The primary accessibility challenge with glassmorphism is text readability. When backgrounds are too busy or text lacks sufficient contrast against the translucent surface, content becomes difficult to read. Solutions include adding semi-transparent solid overlays behind text, ensuring adequate color contrast ratios, and testing designs against various background scenarios. Designers must balance aesthetic appeal with functional legibility.