Mozilla is working on a redesign of its open source Firefox web browser according to leaked mockups of the project. Previous attempts to redesign the browser split the community. While some heralded the changes as a move to modernize the browser, others pointed out that these redesigns were removing or changing features.
Here is an overview of the main changes according to the leak:
- Strongly Rounded Elements: The most characteristic feature of the Nova design is its prominent use of rounded corners. The tabs, address bar, sidebar launcher, website content area, and elements on the start page are all significantly more rounded. The top section (tab bar and navigation bar) now forms a single rounded unit.
- Subtle Color Gradients: Unlike the previous design, which relied on solid, single-color surfaces, Mozilla is introducing subtle color gradients across parts of the interface.
- New Color Accents: The mockups show a noticeable tendency toward violet tones. However, these colors appear to adapt to the chosen theme, as another screenshot demonstrates a mint-green start page with matching UI colors.
- Improved Vertical Tabs Integration: The redesign prominently features built-in support for vertical tabs as an alternative to the traditional horizontal tab bar.
- Return of “Compact Mode”: While Firefox currently hides its space-saving “compact mode” behind advanced settings, the Nova mockups explicitly show a visible toggle for it. This suggests Mozilla might officially support and promote a compact UI layout again.
- Split-Screen Tabs: The dark theme mockups showcase a layout with two tabs open side-by-side, hinting at a native split-screen or tiling feature currently in development.
Mozilla is not reinventing the wheel with this new design. Most web browsers look very similar in this day and age. In fact, compared to the current version of Firefox, it is focusing heavily on colors and rounded elements as the main distinguishing visual changes.
The one thing that excites me the most is the (supposed) return of the compact mode. This mode, which is still supported unofficially by Firefox, is my favorite display mode, as it reduces the size of the UI to give websites more room. Its existence in the mockups suggests strongly that Mozilla might return it officially to Firefox, a change that I would welcome with open arms. It would be another feature that Mozilla is returning or adding to Firefox in the past two or so years.
The mockups show a work in progress. This means that it is not really clear if a redesigned Firefox will look exactly like that.
Now You: What is your take on the proposed redesign of the web browser?
I have all that, 3D title bar, rounded 3D buttons with brightly colored icons.
https://github.com/Aris-t2/CustomCSSforFx Still works just fine and it’s easy to use. You read through at the detailed explanations and un rem the lines you want to use.
Those flat, cheap, cell phone ui’s on my PC are offensive.
Shapes: Strongly Rounded Elements. I’m still wondering if what I had heard about square-rectilinear vs. circle/curved is symbolic of masculinity vs. femininity. Soon maybe lipstick styled browsers? Why not say “she” when evoking the browser? We already for ships.
Talking about make-up: Subtle Color Gradients and New Color Accents. Wow. She’s gonna be gorgeous.
Personally these cosmetic changes make me smile, tenderly 🙂
For the remaining: Improved Vertical Tabs Integration, Return of “Compact Mode”, Split-Screen Tabs, these, serious as opposed to funny, are IMO welcomed.
Thinking later on about this article (as I often do about everything) came to my mind something I often complain about, silently, in front not only of my computer screen but facing graphics wherever they be, in whatever media: where do graphic designers learn their job? Colors, proportions interact within themselves and within each other in a way that the credo should be sobriety and harmony, which often it is not; this site is — no fawning — but many, too many layouts are definitely not.
Never forget that there is never elegance without comfort, be it for clothing as for graphics. How often have I not seen disproportionate titles heading the article, white color on a very light green background, lost or poorly implemented spaces, improperly located leading to users’ fatigue, hence to less focus the content and maybe exit the page more quickly than they would have on a well designed, comfortable layout.
When it comes to browsers, “Subtle Color Gradients and New Color Accents” if, in my view, it may be assimilated to “giving a new youth to a face facing years”, it definitely will bring visual annoyance if chaotic in the layout. No need for color variations other than those welcomed to emphasize visually on categories.