Firefox/Projects/3.7 and 4.0 Theme and UI Revamp/Linux Specific Visual Refresh

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Linux Theme/UI Refresh for Firefox 3.7

Fx-3.7-Mockup-Linux-i01-Joined-Tabs-T-Human-Orange.png

The UI design changes for Firefox 3.7 on Linux are much the same as what is being proposed for Windows. One goal of the theme refresh is greater cross platform visual consistency. As well as how to handle the various Linux system themes.


Update to Visual Styling

In addition to theme and UI changes already discussed for Firefox 3.7 and 4.0, there are some proposed Linux specific visual changes:

  • Consistent Back/Forward Buttons: Use the same back/forward shape as on the other platforms. The back button would use the same texture as the other buttons however it would be round and larger.
  • Buttons vs Icons: Switching to a button+glyph style for the toolbar items. This would be instead of the more representational style that is widely used. It also is a deviation from the common system standard of having icons and then a button shape on hover.
  • Curvier Tab Shape: Match the tabs to the proposed tabs on Windows and Mac while keeping the native texture and color.
  • Removing Toolbar Separators: Goes a ways towards reducing visual complexity as well as external consistency.

Alternative Icon Treatment

Fx-3.7-Mockup-Linux-i01-Rep-Icons-T-Human-Orange.png

Another Idea would be to include the back/forward shape but use traditional icons instead of glyphs everywhere else. However this looks a little strange and doesn't meet the goal of cross platform consistency.


Theme Variations on Various System Themes

The most ideal approach to handling various system themes would be to use the native button style, theme specific icons and replace the glyphs based on color scheme.

Some examples of how this could work out:

Clearlooks Theme Fx-3.7-Mockup-Linux-i01-T-Clearlooks.png

Dust Sands Theme Fx-3.7-Mockup-Linux-i01-T-Dust-Sands.png

Human (Brown) Theme Fx-3.7-Mockup-Linux-i01-T-Human-Brown.png

Oxygen Theme Fx-3.7-Mockup-Linux-i01-T-Oxygen.png


Linux Theme/UI Refresh for Firefox 4.0

Fx-4.0-Mockup-Linux-i01-ToT-T-Human-Brown.png

One goal for 4.0 is to reduce the UI footprint of Firefox. Adding tabs to the top of the UI accomplishes this among with other things.

Please keep in mind this is all customizable.

For this configuration the menubar would be hidden and Page and Tools menu buttons would be added to the toolbar. The titlebar would extend down behind the tabs.