Why We Need Skeuomorphism #FlatDesign

A few friends of mine have tweeted out / posted pictures of iOS 7. Design geeks seem to love the minimalism of it. They praise the lack of skeuomorphism (the non-functional elements that remind us of previous technology). And, in many respects, they're right. Sometimes skeuomorphism is awful. I can't stand reading an eBook and having a page turn. It feels fake. But I also like a transition (a soft blending, for example). But I don't like to open an app and see fake mahogany staring back at me. It's the digital version of linoleum. I get irritated by a high-gloss, shaded finish on every app. But there's dark side to it. In the drive to be minimal, the new iOS looks cartoonish. It looks like they were trying to copy Windows 7 (which feels like a clustered mess of bad street signs).    A few thoughts on it

1. Transitions Matter: We are looking for continuity, for story, for a sense of blurfing between transitions. It's why I like the  term "motion pictures," even if it's dated. And I like terms like "site" and "page" and even "book" to describe eBooks. I love the sense of story. I love the echoing voice of the past, still crying out, "I may not seem relevant to you, but I matter." 
2. Vintage Matters: Sometimes vintage is best. I mentioned this in a blog post about vintage versus futuristic ball parks. There is a real danger in chasing novelty and forgetting about sustainability. 
3. Decorative Matters: I think there's a danger in going for things that are purely functional and missing out on the need for the decorative. I don't need a belt to keep my pants up (my increasing waste size has done a great job at that already).
4. Texture Matters: I see this with logos. Taking away texture makes sense. Take away too much, without enough intentionality to depth of space, and you end up with something that looks like clip art. I like shadows between windows. I like the sense of depth and texture in apps.