Designer shows a look for Windows 10 inspired by Windows 10X

Windows 10x Acrylic Concept (Image credit: vGLAD)

What you need to know

A designer created a concept of what Windows 10 would look like when utilizing some design elements of Windows 10X.
The mock-ups show the Windows 10X Start Menu within Windows 10.
The designs also show an app splash screen with acrylic effects.

A designer decided to take some inspiration from Windows 10X to see what Windows 10 would look like with a refresh. The mock-ups take elements from the new Windows 10X and mix them into Windows 10. In addition to focusing on acrylic effects and transparency, the designs bring the new Start Menu from Windows 10X into Windows 10.

#ProjectAcrylic Some new ideas about Acrylic effect, which are inspired from win10X. ;-) @MicrosoftDesign @panos_panay @itsmichaelwest @tomwarren @zacbowden @JenMsft @Clarkezone @boxnwhisker @zeealeid pic.twitter.com/9FP6XpwoZS #ProjectAcrylic Some new ideas about Acrylic effect, which are inspired from win10X. ;-) @MicrosoftDesign @panos_panay @itsmichaelwest @tomwarren @zacbowden @JenMsft @Clarkezone @boxnwhisker @zeealeid pic.twitter.com/9FP6XpwoZS— vGLAD (@vastglad) February 22, 2020 February 22, 2020

The designs show off similar effects within the splash screen of the Weather app and within the app itself. vGLAD created a video as well, so you can see the effect in motion.

#ProjectAcrylic Opening animation for Weather. @MicrosoftDesign @panos_panay @itsmichaelwest @tomwarren @zacbowden @JenMsft @Clarkezone @boxnwhisker @zeealeid pic.twitter.com/cg1H9L2tCu #ProjectAcrylic Opening animation for Weather. @MicrosoftDesign @panos_panay @itsmichaelwest @tomwarren @zacbowden @JenMsft @Clarkezone @boxnwhisker @zeealeid pic.twitter.com/cg1H9L2tCu— vGLAD (@vastglad) February 22, 2020 February 22, 2020

Blur effects can be very attractive, but with the wrong wallpaper can become distracting. It takes skill to balance the depth of acrylic effects while maintaining an app and operating system's functionality. What do you think of these designs? Would you like to see these elements make their way to Windows 10? Let us know in the comments below.

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Sean Endicott is a News Writer at Windows Central, where he covers Windows 11, Surface hardware, Microsoft 365, AI, apps, and the broader PC ecosystem. Since joining the site in 2017, he has written well over a thousand articles across the Microsoft landscape, covering breaking news, analysis, and feature reporting.

He writes Windows Wrap, a weekly column covering the biggest stories in Windows and the PC industry, and what they mean for the platform going forward.

Before joining Windows Central full-time, Sean worked in journalism and media production after earning a First Class degree in Broadcast Journalism from Nottingham Trent University. Outside of tech, he is an award-winning American football coach based in Nottingham, England, and was named BAFCA Youth Coach of the Year in 2024.