Rumor mill: Microsoft is considering a significant makeover of its well-known applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Recently, the tech powerhouse circulated a survey to collect user opinions on new icon designs for its Microsoft 365 suite.
This discovery was initially reported by Windows Central, which learned about the survey from a reader who shared the email contents.
“At Microsoft, we are continually working to enhance our products and cultivate a user experience that truly resonates with you,” the email states. Participants are invited to take part in the survey, which is estimated to take around 15 minutes to complete, and can express their preferences regarding the new icon concepts.
Initial previews of the new icons suggest a move towards increased visual depth and character, a shift from the flat designs that have dominated in recent years. While flat design trends have been widely embraced, these new icons feature layered components that impart a sense of dimension and uniqueness.
This represents a notable change from the current Microsoft 365 icons, which have faced criticism for their similar appearances, differentiated only by varying colors. For example, the new iterations of Word and Excel are expected to be significantly more unique.
This redesign comes over six years after Microsoft last refreshed its Office app icons. That previous update brought a modern aesthetic in line with the Fluent design principles and streamlined ribbon interfaces in the applications. Prior to that, the Office icons had remained unchanged for approximately five years.
The upcoming icons seem to be an extension of Microsoft’s evolving Fluent 2 design language, which has also shaped other visual enhancements across its platform, like the 3D emojis in Windows 11 and a redesigned sign-in interface featuring dark mode.
Interestingly, even though the Microsoft 365 logo has undergone recent modifications – which triggered humor and criticism – the new app icons do not include branding elements such as the Copilot logo.
Microsoft has yet to make an official announcement or confirmation regarding when – or if – these new designs will be launched to the public. According to Windows Central, the feedback from this survey may be used by Microsoft to refine the designs based on user input before arriving at conclusive decisions.
Redditors have also expressed their thoughts on the possible redesigns after noticing them in online conversations. The community’s responses range from excitement about the added depth and uniqueness of the icons to curiosity about how these changes will fit into Microsoft’s overarching branding strategy.
