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Material 3 Expressive: Google’s Bold New Design That Aims to Feel More Than Just Look Good
- Kattiya Jantas
- May 6
- 2 min read
Google is preparing to unveil a new design language for Android at Google I/O 2025 called Material 3 Expressive — an evolution of the familiar Material You (Material 3). But this time, it’s not just about appearance; it’s about design that connects emotionally with users.
What is Material 3 Expressive?
Material 3 Expressive, or simply M3 Expressive, is a new UI design approach that makes interfaces feel more “alive.” Instead of being purely clean or minimal, it embraces bold use of color, shape, scale, and motion to draw attention and leave a lasting impression.
Google calls this an “emotionally resonant design,” and says it’s the most heavily researched update since the inception of Material Design.
The Research Behind It
Over the past three years, Google conducted 46 studies involving more than 18,000 users worldwide, including:
Eye Tracking: To analyze visual focus and user attention
Surveys and Focus Groups: To measure emotional responses to design
Usability Testing: To test how quickly users could understand and interact with the UI
The results were impressive:
Users located key buttons up to 4 times faster
Time taken to tap critical actions significantly decreased
Users felt apps were more “cool, usable, and modern”
Examples of the New Design
The Send button in an email app, once tucked away at the top of the screen,→ is now larger, clearly visible, and placed near the keyboard
A floating toolbar replaces full-screen menus, creating a more open and modern look
Easier for All Ages
Google also found that the Expressive design made apps easier to use for older adults, helping to bridge the generational usability gap and making apps more inclusive.
Boosting Brand “Cool Factor”
Another standout research finding was that M3 Expressive helped brands appear:
34% more modern
30% more bold and creative
32% more trendy (as perceived by users)
For Developers and Designers
At Google I/O 2025, Google will reveal in-depth documentation, sample code, and design files under the session titled “Build next-level UX with Material 3 Expressive”, enabling developers to start experimenting ahead of the official launch.
Why You Should Watch Material 3 Expressive Closely:
Bold use of color and shape
Easy to understand and interact with
Designed for users of all ages
Makes your brand look more modern
If you're a developer, app designer, or Android brand owner, now’s the time to get ready for the shift to Material 3 Expressive, because the app world is about to change — and user emotions are becoming the new design frontier.
Sources: TechCrunch, 9TO5Google
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