Material 3 Expressive
In 2022, after the launch of Material You, we started asking ourselves why all our first party apps were still looking so similar and uniform, despite the system UI having undergone a significant and successful redesign. Was there room to “dial up the feeling?”
We explored the implications of this conversation, iterating through dozens of rounds of design and research to find the next evolution of Material You, which we called “Material 3 Expressive.” Through 46 separate research studies with hundreds of designs, and more than 18,000 participants from around the world, we dialed in a system that’s both beautiful and highly usable. Material 3 Expressive principles are rooted in solid research and built on longstanding usability best practices, so designers can confidently use these new components and principles, knowing they’re building something that will be easy to use and that people can connect with.
Those research studies included: eye tracking: analyzing where users focused their attention; surveys and focus groups: gauging emotional responses to different designs; experiments: gathering sentiment and preferences; usability: seeing how quickly participants could understand and use an interface.
This evolution will be launching in 2025, and blends visual creativity with practical improvements, supporting clearer, more responsive, and emotionally engaging user experiences.
Introduction of New UI Components
New components such as split buttons and enhanced floating action button (FAB) menus aimed at improved interface interaction.
For example, a split button could let users choose between replying, forwarding, or marking an email—reducing the need for multiple steps. FABs are also being reimagined with more fluid animations and extended menus for better usability.
Advanced Theming Capabilities
Building upon the dynamic color system introduced in Material You, Material 3 Expressive expands theming options with adjustable contrast levels (standard, medium, high) for greater accessibility.
Color palettes are still derived from user-selected wallpapers, but with more customization and comfort for users with different visual needs.
Updated Typography and Shape Systems
The revised typography system organizes text into clearer categories—display, headline, body, and label—improving text hierarchy and readability.
A new shape system also allows components to be categorized by size and elevation (small, medium, large), adding depth and structure to the UI without overcomplicating the visual flow.
Integration with Development Tools
Robust tools to adopt the new system quickly. The Material Theme Builder helps visualize and create custom themes, while the Material Design 3 Design Kit offers pre-built components and design templates for developers.