Hello nerd family,
It used to be the consensus that 3D-looking buttons on websites got more clicks because our brains saw them as “clickable”, But is it possible that with widespread adoption of flat design and newer generations shopping, this may have changed?
That’s what I set out to research this week: should your buttons be flat or look 3D?
Researchers have tested this in different contexts, and the results are surprisingly consistent.
The research:
Two experiments tested how different button styles (flat vs skeuomorphic vs hybrid) affect speed, accuracy, and user confidence across younger and older adults [(Yu et al., 2022; Urbano et al., 2020)].
🧪The science:
Young people prefer flat buttons.
But older users performed better with 3D ones.
Why?
Flat buttons rely on familiarity. Younger users who grew up with modern apps know instantly what’s clickable.
Older users need clearer signals. A 3D look says, “yes, this is a definitely button”.
💡Takeaway
It’s not one-size fits all (though I would love every insight to be, sigh)
If your audience is younger and mobile-first (e-commerce, apps, digital products), go flat.
If your audience skews older or less tech-savvy (healthcare, government, accessibility flows), make the buttons look more 3D.
If you serve both, follow the modern hybrid trend: flat design with subtle shadows.
Stay awesome my friend,
Ksenia (the biggest nerd)
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