Windows Metro - What is it?

Marc Whitlow, 18 February 2012

What is Windows Metro? Metro is an internal code name for a typography based design language created by Microsoft. This originated for use on the Windows Phone 7 but has quickly moved to other windows platforms and applications. In the metro styled design, text is used as the primary means of navigation. The intention of Metro was to have a new design which will be fast, sleek and modern and a refreshing look from that of the icon based windows interfaces.

One of the most noticeable aspects of the Metro Style design used so widely by Microsoft is that of the “Live Tiles”.  A large part of the live tiles is the use of animation or motion. Transitions which are activated based on the users interaction such as pressing a button or moving the cursor over a tile.

Windows 8 Developer Preview Start Screen

The Design seen in metro takes out certain cluttering aspects such as surplus graphics and instead uses actual content from within the application which acts as the main user interface. For example the main menu of the Windows Phone 7 utilises live tiles. These tiles show information such as missed calls, new messages and received emails rather than basic buttons leading to a given page / window. The live tiles give the ability of real time updates from the web such as news, appointments and status updates from social media applications.

There are four main principles of Metro Design as described by Microsoft, these are

• Typography – The balance of weight and positioning leading to visual hierarchy
• Motion – This brings the interface to life. Transitions are just as important as graphical design
• Content not Chrome – By Removing all notions of extra chrome from the User Interface, the content will become the main focus
• Honesty  - “Be Authentically digital”

When developing an application and/or implementing the aspects of the Microsoft Metro look. Be sure to follow the guidelines issued by Microsoft. Microsoft.com has some very helpful tutorials and courses on the .toolbox website which I highly recommend taking advantage of!

Moving forward, it is very possible that the Microsoft Metro Look could become a common sight in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 with the extended use of Html5 in web based applications.

* Image from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Windows_8_Developer_Preview_Start_Screen.png