Alongside some of the bigger announcements at Build 2018, Microsoft has made a few smaller, but equally interesting reveals. Among them is news that the Fluent Design System, which Microsoft first debuted at Build 2017, is expanding beyond Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps.
Developers will soon be able to add Fluent Design flourishes to apps, regardless of which UI stack is being used. That means Fluent Design can be applied to native Win32 apps. Microsoft explains:
- Updates helping you support the Fluent Design System, so you can create immersive, deeply engaging experiences with Microsoft's updated design language. Now every organization can make beautiful solutions that empower your customers to do more. With UWP XAML Islands, you can access the more capable, flexible, powerful XAML controls regardless which UI stack you use—whether it's Windows Forms, WPF, or native Win32.
Microsoft's Fluent Design System is an evolution of Microsoft's design language for Windows 10. It includes a number of new design elements that add new animations, blur, and an air of fluidity to apps that take advantage of it. We've already seen elements of Fluent Design make their way to Microsoft's apps and portions of Windows 10 since its debut, as well as a number of third-party apps.
Microsoft says it will have more to share during the Build 2018 day two keynote, so it's likely we'll learn more about how this will work in time. However, it's a promising sign that elements of Fluent Design will be available to a broader collection of apps.
