Is flat design a passing trend or something more?

Recently while perusing some of the discussions that are currently happening throughout the web design community, I happened across an active dialog going on in the comments of a Tuts+ article, All About Trends in Web Design. The write-up itself, plus the lively convo in the comment section got me to thinking about “flat design”, and the nature of trends in the community. Furthermore, it got me asking whether this technique was actually a trend ready to pass in the wake of our attentions turning elsewhere, or something more?
We all know the nature of trends in the industry, and unfortunately, that tends to equate to something of a short shelf life for any one particular technique. But what if “flat design” wasn’t just a trend, but in fact, a return to a cleaner, simpler aesthetic in the wake of minimalism’s popularity and an evoloving web? What if it is in fact, an retrograde evolution in the field’s tendency toward flatness? Reaching back to a time before designers so embraced the depth creating embellishments and accents that have ruled the field for years.
It was these questions that got me up and back onto the laptop to contemplate and consider this post. Because at its core, “flat design” is really about getting back to design basics whilst simultaneously pushing forward and allowing room for working within responsive frameworks.
The Ultimate Guide to Flat Design
is a great place to get more information about this style, but we will press on examining why this design route could just be the resetting of our compasses back to a focus on basics, functionality, and a simple aesthetic flexibility.

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