Google’s about to give Android a fresh new look and feel with Material 3, and it feels like something really different. Leaks about this redesign have surfaced online thanks to a now-deleted blog post and an updated session listing, which have all but confirmed the debut of a new design language. 

What is Material 3 Expressive?

According to the leaked information by 9to5Google, Material 3 Expressive is all about creating interfaces that connect with people on an emotional level. The design language emphasises bolder shapes, louder colours and a stronger focus on usability, especially for older adults and users who need more clarity in their interfaces. The entire revamp is about making key elements pop for easier navigation.

The update won’t be a complete overhaul like Material You, but it’s clearly a push to evolve the design system toward something more alive and engaging. The main reason behind this new makeover is that Google conducted a research and found users actually preferred more expressive UIs. It also revealed that they didn’t just like them more but the UI performed better with them as well.  

So, What’s Actually New?

From what’s leaked so far, we can expect new floating toolbars, like the pill-shaped bottom bar already seen in Google Chat. But that’s just the start. The whole interface is getting a makeover with bolder shapes, louder colors, and a more dynamic layout overall. Motion and containment also play a big role with subtle animations and smarter grouping of elements that naturally guide your eyes without feeling overwhelming.

Image Source: 9to5Google

Why Does It Matter?

As an Android user, people will be getting a new look and feel for their UI and for developers it is all about new guidelines, tools, and possibly some alpha code to play with during I/O. According to the session titled “Build next-level UX with Material 3 Expressive,” developers will learn how to use emotional design patterns to make apps more engaging and intuitive. 

Material Design first launched in 2014 and has been through a few changes. Material You let Android adapt to your wallpaper’s colours, bringing a personalised touch to your interface. Material 3 Expressive seems like the natural next step as it keeps things adaptive, but is about dialing up the overall personality of your UI.