I agree but I see two reasons for the soulless, muted UI:
1. 25 years ago, computers and the internet was something new you wanted to attract people to, shiny new toys.
Today it is something people are gonna stare at 10 hours a day or more. I guess Windows XP was really tiring for the eyes after a while.
2. I believe the evolution we see in UI is exactly the same we saw in buildings and homes. I personally can't believe how depressing most modern houses are inside and outside.
This! It's not even just the web - how did we go from the amazing creativity of say WinAmp skins, to the flat lifeless interfaces of Spotify and Music.app?
The forcing of accessibility standards is what I think of first. It isn't a bad that things are accessible, just that it cuts down on creativity that's able to be expressed in the final product.
1. 25 years ago, computers and the internet was something new you wanted to attract people to, shiny new toys.
Today it is something people are gonna stare at 10 hours a day or more. I guess Windows XP was really tiring for the eyes after a while.
2. I believe the evolution we see in UI is exactly the same we saw in buildings and homes. I personally can't believe how depressing most modern houses are inside and outside.