Bold statement: Apple’s move to a minimalist Font Book icon under the Liquid Glass design language has sparked a flurry of debate among designers who feel a piece of the app’s identity has been erased.
Apple’s Liquid Glass approach represents one of the most polarizing shifts in UI design in recent years, perhaps the most significant since iOS 7 abandoned skeuomorphism in favor of flat visuals in 2013. This design voice has rippled across Apple’s ecosystem, reshaping icons for macOS, iOS, and beyond. While critics often focus on accessibility and aesthetic trade-offs, one icon in particular has ignited strong reactions from graphic designers: Font Book.
Font Book, the built-in font manager on macOS, has undergone a substantial simplification of its icon. The previous collage-like display of multiple typefaces forming the letter A has been replaced by a single, clean sans-serif character. Many observers argue this removes at a glance what the app does. A Reddit thread captured the sentiment: “I get the modern take, but this is disappointing, I’d rather have it say ‘Aa’ than just ‘a’.” Another comment echoed the disappointment, noting the downgrade in clarity.
Not everyone shares the backlash. Some users appreciate the cleaner look, with others calling it a matter of taste rather than quality. They point out that while the old icon communicated the app’s function more directly, the new design aligns with Apple’s broader aesthetic and can be admired for its pared-down beauty.
From a broader perspective, the debate touches on a core tension in Apple design: the balance between expressive, recognizable icons and a cohesive, minimal, and scalable visual language. The shift toward the Liquid Glass paradigm is praised for its consistency and modernity but criticized for potentially sacrificing immediate recognizability and nostalgia associated with Apple’s earlier, more colorful era.
The conversation around Font Book’s icon is part of a larger discussion about design priorities in a rapidly evolving tech landscape. Accessibility, brand identity, and emotional resonance all compete for attention as interfaces simplify and standardize.
About the author: Daniel John serves as Design Editor at Creative Bloq, covering design, branding, and lifestyle tech. He has reported from events such as Milan Design Week, OFFF Barcelona, and Adobe Max, and he has interviewed leaders from brands including Apple, Microsoft, and Adobe. His published works include a 2018 debut collection of short stories and poems, and a Substack comedy newsletter that has found notable readership.
