Rebuilding Windows 98's UI
Interface Design
2023
@
FH-Potsdam
Project type
Student Work
Role
Student
Rebuilding Windows 98's UI
Interface Design
2023
@
FH-Potsdam
Project type
Student Work
Role
Student
Rebuilding Windows 98's UI
Interface Design
2023
@
FH-Potsdam
Project type
Student Work
Role
Student
Summary
An exploratory design study focused on understanding and replicating a historical UI to compare past and modern interface principles.
Summary
An exploratory design study focused on understanding and replicating a historical UI to compare past and modern interface principles.
Summary
An exploratory design study focused on understanding and replicating a historical UI to compare past and modern interface principles.
Context
In this UI design project, I explored historical interfaces and compared their usability to modern UI systems. My focus was on identifying which qualities of past designs—specifically the Windows 98 interface—offered greater clarity or functionality compared to today’s solutions. The goal was to uncover what we might re-learn from older design systems.
Context
In this UI design project, I explored historical interfaces and compared their usability to modern UI systems. My focus was on identifying which qualities of past designs—specifically the Windows 98 interface—offered greater clarity or functionality compared to today’s solutions. The goal was to uncover what we might re-learn from older design systems.
Context
In this UI design project, I explored historical interfaces and compared their usability to modern UI systems. My focus was on identifying which qualities of past designs—specifically the Windows 98 interface—offered greater clarity or functionality compared to today’s solutions. The goal was to uncover what we might re-learn from older design systems.
Research & Exploration
One of the most striking differences was the clear hierarchy in Windows 98. Its strong use of color contrast—especially blue on gray—made active states easy to recognize and allowed users to navigate deep menu structures more confidently. In contrast, many modern interfaces rely on tone-on-tone color palettes and transparent layers, which often reduce clarity and make interaction states harder to read.
Research & Exploration
One of the most striking differences was the clear hierarchy in Windows 98. Its strong use of color contrast—especially blue on gray—made active states easy to recognize and allowed users to navigate deep menu structures more confidently. In contrast, many modern interfaces rely on tone-on-tone color palettes and transparent layers, which often reduce clarity and make interaction states harder to read.
Research & Exploration
One of the most striking differences was the clear hierarchy in Windows 98. Its strong use of color contrast—especially blue on gray—made active states easy to recognize and allowed users to navigate deep menu structures more confidently. In contrast, many modern interfaces rely on tone-on-tone color palettes and transparent layers, which often reduce clarity and make interaction states harder to read.
Design Approach
To better understand these contrasts, I decided to replicate a screen from Windows 98. This hands-on process revealed how differently past interfaces were structured and styled compared to modern UI practices.
Recreating the interface required pixel-perfect attention to hard light edges, sharp shadows, and precise color gradients. Unlike today’s minimalist, flat UI trends, the Windows 98 design emphasized dimensionality and texture. Replicating these details deepened my appreciation for the craft behind older interfaces and sharpened my ability to analyze different design systems critically.
Design Approach
To better understand these contrasts, I decided to replicate a screen from Windows 98. This hands-on process revealed how differently past interfaces were structured and styled compared to modern UI practices.
Recreating the interface required pixel-perfect attention to hard light edges, sharp shadows, and precise color gradients. Unlike today’s minimalist, flat UI trends, the Windows 98 design emphasized dimensionality and texture. Replicating these details deepened my appreciation for the craft behind older interfaces and sharpened my ability to analyze different design systems critically.
Design Approach
To better understand these contrasts, I decided to replicate a screen from Windows 98. This hands-on process revealed how differently past interfaces were structured and styled compared to modern UI practices.
Recreating the interface required pixel-perfect attention to hard light edges, sharp shadows, and precise color gradients. Unlike today’s minimalist, flat UI trends, the Windows 98 design emphasized dimensionality and texture. Replicating these details deepened my appreciation for the craft behind older interfaces and sharpened my ability to analyze different design systems critically.
Conclusion
This project helped me develop a more nuanced understanding of UI evolution. It reinforced how much modern design has moved toward simplicity, and how some strengths of older systems—like clear structure and contrast—can still inspire more effective interfaces today.
Conclusion
This project helped me develop a more nuanced understanding of UI evolution. It reinforced how much modern design has moved toward simplicity, and how some strengths of older systems—like clear structure and contrast—can still inspire more effective interfaces today.
Conclusion
This project helped me develop a more nuanced understanding of UI evolution. It reinforced how much modern design has moved toward simplicity, and how some strengths of older systems—like clear structure and contrast—can still inspire more effective interfaces today.
