I’m sorry to say this, but the Rhino user interface no longer feels up to date, which is especially problematic for a product primarily aimed at designers. I’ve been using Rhino for about 15 years, and in that time, only minimal changes have been made. The new dark mode also doesn’t look great—I’d like to use it, but I’ve stuck with the light version because the implementation is really lacking. I can’t quite pinpoint the issue, but it’s something you notice immediately when you look at it.
This becomes particularly evident when you open it alongside Grasshopper 2, which is really well-designed.
Hello Christian, which apps you are using are ‘up to date’ according to you? I personally don’t like using dark mode in any app, but what prevents you from using dark mode?
I have no idea? Modern UI trends are mostly bad. I was just saying, “wow you just noticed that Rhino doesn’t slavishly keep up with whatever MS Office or Adobe are doing?” And good for that.
Rhino’s dark mode doesn’t feel truly dark. The contrast is too high, and the interface is overloaded with colors, visual lines, and boxes.
Better examples of well-designed dark interfaces include Unreal Engine, Photoshop, Cinema 4D, and Ableton Live. Blender still feels too cluttered to me, but it’s definitely better than Rhino.
Unreal Engine is probably the best example of a successful UI transformation. The shift from its earlier, cumbersome interface to the refined design of Unreal Engine 5 is remarkable. Despite being one of the most complex programs available, it doesn’t feel visually overwhelming.
I don’t think unreal’s ui is anything to brag about. Unreal is overly complex to the point of intense pain when things go wrong, but great results if you are willing to loose part of your life sleuthing how to do things.
Thank god Rhino’s ui is one of decent common sense. Definitely the best ui and program I have used outside of sonar which is incredible. I don’t really care that much how a ui looks as long as it works robustly and allows me to work artistically. A programs look must not get in the way of creation too much.
3dcoat is amazing software but their ui is again something that on occasion gets overly complex.
I think Blender is amazing. I like for the most part their ui and their program works. Actually one can work artistically in it and have a pleasurable session.
Long time ago I commented that they should use Grasshopper as a model for Rhino’s look, but that didn’t happen.
RM
I think all this fuzz about the UI is becoming a bit silly and I’m noticing a trend, rhinoceros will never be SOLIDWORKS, it will never be blender or unreal engine, adobe etc…
Now McNeel tries different colors with wip9 which looks like it has been dragged around the baby Section for pampers diapers making some users lose their minds
It’s not easy folks so many things to take into consideration and honestly the UI is good enough as it is how about just don’t, the thing can be customized have fun with that.
I continue to believe that while the light UI is somewhat acceptable—even if it carries a certain 90s aesthetic—the dark UI comes across as a cheap adaptation. A bit of color inversion here and a bright outline there simply isn’t sufficient to translate the icons. Moreover, the structural lines meant to organize the interface don’t function properly in dark mode.
Customizing the colors doesn’t really help either, since you can’t actually adjust all the UI elements—some remain tied to the light/dark setting from which the customization options inherit.
The underlying issue, I think, is that too many people simply don’t care about the visual quality of the UI. But considering this application is primarily aimed at designers, I believe the visual design deserves far more attention.
