Skeuomorphs: Relics of the Past

Years ago, my dad became interested in collecting mechanical clocks.

Old wristwatches, pocket watches… he even bought a new clock for our fireplace mantle. As he learned more about them, he told us that many watches on display at a store are set to the time 10:10. Some people claim it is because the watch looks like it is smiling, or that it is the time that best shows off the hands with the rest of the face [1]. Interestingly, digital watches are commonly set to display the time 10:10 as well, despite not having hands to display or to put into a smile.

You could see this as just a humorous design choice, but if we look around us, we can notice a lot of these design choices that seem like they hold onto the past. Have you ever wondered why the phone icon on your handheld device looks more like an “ancient” 1900s style phone, and not a smartphone? Why some shoes and accessories still have fake buckles on them when they actually use magnets or zippers? Or maybe you’ve questioned why people care so much about fake candles to light their homes.

Figure 1. Many icons for digital apps look like a physical product they replaced, like a paper calendar, a video camera, a performance gauge, and a shopping bag [2].

All of these are examples of skeuomorphs [skyoo-uh-mawrfs], or products that retain purely decorative attributes from elements that once had a function in their original designs [3]. In layman terms, they intentionally feel like previous iterations of the products.

Skeuomorphs are all around us, from the apps on your computer to the decor in our homes. They can be physical products, virtual designs, or audio cues. By looking at some of these designs in our world, it is clear that this tool has some benefits – as well as potential drawbacks – whenever it is utilized.

Familiarity and Connection

The main purpose behind a skeuomorph is not to seem unoriginal, but to imprint the familiar feel of an old iteration of an object onto the new. This helps the consumer realize how it is intended to be used. It can also remind her of things she enjoyed about the original design. Take, for example, a faux fireplace that you might find in a modern home. A faux fireplace replicates the look of dancing flames and the heat that a real fire would produce, but is typically an electric heater in disguise [4].

Figure 2. A faux fireplace mimics the look and feel of a traditional fireplace [5].

While you could use a less decorative heater, which would still heat up your home, the purpose of this skeuomorph is to create the familiar atmosphere that a wood-burning fireplace brings. It is not only about the presence of heat, but the idea of warmth.

Another example: many suit jackets have buttons at the cuffs on each sleeve. Historically, these buttons had several purposes, but the main one was so they could be undone to roll up the sleeves. These working buttons are a symbol of high quality and superiority for a number of reasons, including the fact that buttonholes are difficult to learn to sew [6]. They are most often included on tailored suits. On most suit coats today, these buttons at the cuffs do not have buttonholes and cannot be undone. However, this purely decorative attribute still carries over the idea of professionalism that others recognize from working buttons. It is a way that suit designers can get more from their designs than they are actually adding to them.

Figure 3. Functional cuff buttons demonstrate a high level of professionalism [6].

In virtual applications, this design tactic is used to create connections between the application and its physical counterpart. Since the 1980s, skeuomorphs have been a design convention for graphic elements [3]. It helps to make consumer technology more user friendly. The files on a computer, for instance, are contained in “folders,” and the icon for these folders are reminiscent of paper folders used in filing cabinets. This calls to mind the categorization and storage of physical documents, connecting that purpose to the File Explorer (for PC) and Finder (for MacOS) applications.

Relics of the Past?

While this design principle can help someone understand the function of an invention, it can put a leash on innovation. If inventors are too concerned with making sure users can recognize products at first glance, they could miss out on opportunities to make their designs new and improved. Design is a balance between creating something that is not unappealing because of its newness, but that does not seem dated because of its fidelity to the original.

Figure 4. A mobile phone from the 1980s [7].

Even with good intentions, a skeuomorph may seem lazy or uninspired to those it is seeking to assist if not implemented properly. Could you imagine if the first smartphone looked like an old telephone? Instead of a sleek, mobile form, it would have a bulky, unattractive feel that may have worked for the technology of the past, but does not quite fit with the modern era.

Conclusion

A skeuomorph is incredibly useful for helping others understand the connection between an older version of a product and the new. It also has aesthetic value, which is something we might initially overlook as engineers. The next time you see a feature that does not seem to serve a functional purpose, consider what that feature reminds you of or communicates to you. It might not be there by accident.

References

[1] "Do You Know Why All Clocks Show 10.10." Ethos Watches, https://www.ethoswatches.com/the-watch-guide/why-all-clocks-show-10-10/.

[2] Skeuomorphism Mobile App 3D Modern Icon Modern Phone Application Icon. Vecteezy, https://www.vecteezy.com/vector-art/45953110-skeuomorphism-mobile-app-3d-modern-icon-modern-phone-application-icon.

[3] "Skeuomorph." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Nov. 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skeuomorph.

[4] "What Is a Faux Fireplace? A Complete Guide to Style, Comfort, and Efficiency." Realcozy, 7 June 2025, https://www.realcozy.co/blogs/resource-center/what-is-a-faux-fireplace-a-complete-guide-to-style-comfort-and-efficiency.

[5] Dreamflame. Dreamflame Wall Mounted Electric Fireplace. Amazon.com, https://www.amazon.com/Dreamflame-Wall-Mounted-Brightness-Thermostat-Overheating/dp/B0BX8ZBJ8D.

[6] "Surgeon's Cuffs Guide." Gentleman's Gazette, https://www.gentlemansgazette.com/surgeons-cuffs-guide/.

[7] "Mobile phones have shaped cinema for half a century." The Economist, 28 Apr. 2023, https://www.economist.com/culture/2023/04/28/mobile-phones-have-shaped-cinema-for-half-a-century.

To cite this article:
White, Dalton. “Skeuomorphs: Relics of the Past.” The BYU Design Review, 12 November 2025, https://www.designreview.byu.edu/collections/skeuomorphs-relics-of-the-past.