Why does WhatsApp look different? Messaging app has a new design on iPhone and Android

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Users might have noticed something different about WhatsApp.

Your eyes aren’t lying because something is definitely changing about the messaging app. New updates are rolling into WhatsApp to keep it simple for its users.

As of now, WhatsApp is the most widely used mobile communication programme worldwide, with over 2 billion monthly active users worldwide.

WhatsApp’s head of design, Idit Yaniv, has shared why specific updates are being made and the process behind them.

So, what are the new changes on WhatsApp?

New green colour palette

The app’s design team is implementing a fresh, unified green colour scheme. After weighing more than thirty-five hue options, they decided to stick with WhatsApp’s signature green and adopt a colour scheme that makes it possible to use harmonious colour combinations throughout the app. In order to be more deliberate about where and how they use green, they have also increased their use of neutral colours. Additionally, the team have noticed that users desired a darker dark mode. In order to lessen eye strain in low-light conditions, they concentrated on richer tones and higher contrast.

Updated icons, illustrations, and chat background

The updates also include changed animation to give it a more whimsical look. Additionally, the designers are updating conversations to use the original default background. The team discovered that while the doodle was used by most people, there was room to improve its distinctiveness and relatability to everyday chat. After going over each piece of art in the doodle, the team looked into some fresh ideas that had a more straightforward aesthetic and more accurately portrayed a variety of people and items.

Bottom navigation bar on Android

To make it easier for users to discover what they need more quickly, the Android bottom navigation bar was updated with a more contemporary appearance. A new attachment structure on iOS makes it even easier to send photographs and videos. The full screen menu has been replaced with an expanded tray so users can see the features more easily when sharing papers, polls, media and other things.

Chat management

WhatsApp has added new capabilities called chat fillers that help users focus and find important conversations faster. By relocating the navigation bar to the bottom, they were able to design filters that would show up at the top of the conversation list on Android.

Users can quickly locate the relevant chats without having to search through their whole mailbox. Users may also now select between unread and group filters with a single tap to catch up on missed messages or favourite group discussions.

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