Unpacking the Future of Android Design: Material 3 Expressive and Beyond

Last week, Google unveiled Material 3 Expressive at The Android Show, giving us a glimpse into the future of Android design. The tech giant has been teasing us with hints of upcoming app redesigns, and the latest session at I/O 2025 has given us a closer look at what’s to come. In this post, we’ll dive into the key points and trends emerging from the “Build next-level UX with Material 3 Expressive” session, and explore what it means for the future of Android design.

Fitbit’s Fresh New Look

One of the first apps to get a Material 3 Expressive makeover is Fitbit. The new design features a floating action button (FAB) for Gemini, which allows users to launch a chatbot-like experience to ask questions about their fitness metrics and trends. This is a significant departure from the traditional top tabs, and marks a shift towards a more interactive and expressive design.

The video player UI for Fitbit videos is another standout feature, with large buttons that morph when tapped. This playful and expressive motion is a hallmark of Material 3 Expressive, and sets the tone for a more engaging and immersive user experience.

Google Meet: A New Era of Video Conferencing

Google Meet for Android is another app that’s getting a Material 3 Expressive facelift. The new design features a large pill-shaped button to join a call, and a more vibrant use of color. Once in a call, the toolbar provides critical actions for the current page, making it easier to navigate and control the call.

Google Chat: A New Navigation Paradigm

Google Chat is already using the new floating toolbar, which functions like a navigation bar or bottom bar. This is a significant departure from traditional navigation patterns, and marks a shift towards a more streamlined and intuitive design.

Material 3 Expressive: A New Era of Android Design

So, what does it all mean? Material 3 Expressive is more than just a design language – it’s a philosophy that prioritizes expressiveness, playfulness, and immersion. It’s a call to action for developers to rethink their approach to design, and to create apps that are more engaging, interactive, and user-friendly.

Actionable Insights

So, what can we take away from this session? Here are a few actionable insights:

• Embrace expressiveness: Material 3 Expressive is all about creating a more expressive and playful design language. Don’t be afraid to experiment with new shapes, colors, and animations to create a more engaging user experience.
• Rethink navigation: The floating toolbar in Google Chat is a game-changer. Consider how you can rethink your app’s navigation paradigm to create a more streamlined and intuitive design.
• Focus on critical actions: The toolbar in Google Meet provides critical actions for the current page. Make sure your app’s design prioritizes the most important actions and features.

Conclusion

Material 3 Expressive is a significant departure from traditional Android design, and marks a new era of innovation and creativity. As developers, it’s our job to embrace this new design language and create apps that are more engaging, interactive, and user-friendly. With its focus on expressiveness, playfulness, and immersion, Material 3 Expressive is set to revolutionize the way we design and interact with Android apps.