Notes from http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/hh464920.aspx

8 Traits of Great Metro Style Apps

Bonny Lau

1. Metro design style

• Content before chrome
  • Leave only most relevant stuff on screen
  • Remove gradients
  • Use typography to shore hierarchy
  • Controls can be in app bar (Win-Z or swipe)
  • Use project templates

2. Be fast and fluid

• Animation illustrates what is happening
• Many built into controls
• Animation library–standard animations
• Touch-first
  • Windows 8 touch language
    • Press/hold to learn
    • Tap for action

3. Snap and scale beautifully

• Screen sizes: 1024×768 on up
• Larger screens, show users more content
• Snap state

4. Use the right contracts

• Share, Search, File Picker
• Any app can share data with other apps
  • Source app provides something to share
  • Target app
• Every app can be share source
• Search contract
  • Search app from within Windows
  • Results displayed in app
• File picker contract
  • Pull files from app or push
• Invest in good tile

5. Invest in a great tile

• Front door
• Highlight content & brand personality

6. Feel connected and alive

• Dynamic/relevant/personal content on tiles

7. Roam to the cloud

• Every app gets per-user cloud storage for settings, state, etc.

8. Embrace the Metro design principles

• Do more with less
• Pride in craftsmanship (typography matters)
• Be fast and fluid
• Authentically digital (connected)
• Win as one – contracts to work w/other apps