Microsoft is reportedly working on new icons for the Office suite, according to a recent email survey distributed to select users. The survey asks for feedback on redesigned icons for apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Microsoft 365 tools, suggesting a potential shift toward a more dynamic and three-dimensional aesthetic. It appears that the Office lineup is set to receive its first major redesign since 2018, when Microsoft introduced streamlined, flat icons that were in line with modern design trends.
Advertisеment
The proposed icons show a distinct sense of depth, a departure from the minimalist, flat designs that have dominated UI trends in recent years. Instead, these icons appear to draw inspiration from the vibrant and expressive 3D emojis that are in Windows 11 since 2023, integrating seamlessly into Microsoft’s Fluent 2 design language. This approach not only adds an element of personality, but also improves visual recognition, ensuring that the icons remain distinctive while maintaining a consistent look within the Microsoft ecosystem. Some of the new icons have been leaked on Reddit.
Notably, this potential redesign follows a long period of relative quiet. For more than six years, users have become accustomed to the current flat design, which replaces the previous icon set that remained largely unchanged for nearly a decade.
To gather information, Microsoft directly engaged its user base by offering participants a $10 gift card as an incentive for completing a short 15-minute survey. This approach underscores the company’s commitment to user-centered design principles and emphasizes the importance of feedback in refining the final product. While Microsoft has yet to officially confirm the release of these new icons, the survey shows that the company is actively testing the waters before making any official announcements.
If implemented, the updated icons will feature richer colors and an eye-catching style. The company is trying to find a balance between innovation and familiarity, while maintaining an intuitive and visually appealing experience for the vast user base of the Microsoft Office suite of applications. How users will perceive the changes remains to be seen.
Support us
Winaero greatly relies on your support. You can help the site keep bringing you interesting and useful content and software by using these options:
Will they keep the old mismatched icon for Win32 outlook then? Kinda like they did with Office 2019 and OneNote 2016, back when they tried to replace it with that UWP junk?
Hopefully the new WebApp Outlook bubble will burst too and we’ll go back to Win32 Outlook.