A redesigned version of Firefox, dubbed "Nova," is currently in development at Mozilla, showcasing a fresh, rounded aesthetic. The redesign features uniformly rounded tabs and an address bar, all situated within a segmented, floating island UI element. This change represents a significant departure from the current design, embodying both color and curves.
Tech blogger Söeren Hentzschel first shared internal mockups of this redesign, which highlight the use of rounded elements not only in the interface but also in hover effects throughout the menu and the New Tab Page. The icons have also received a makeover, trading sharp angles for a softer look.
Color plays a pivotal role in the Nova design, with plans for a pastel gradient across the tab bar and colorful accents in the menu and new tab page. These color choices are expected to be customizable, allowing users to tailor their browsing experience.
One noticeable aspect of the new design is that webpage content does not extend fully to the edges of the browser window or touch the tab bar. Instead, content is framed within a rounded container, similar to styles found in Firefox forks like Zen.
The browser has undergone various redesigns over the years, with notable updates including "Australis" in 2014, "Photon" in 2017, and "Proton" in 2021. While Nova aims for a softer and more approachable aesthetic, it raises questions about whether this direction resembles Chrome too closely.
As for when Nova will be available, it is still under active development, without fixed timelines or a public release date from Mozilla. Currently, there are no versions available for users to test, which leaves many curious about how the changes will perform, especially on the Linux version of Firefox. For further insights and visuals regarding the Nova redesign, readers can explore Hentzschel’s blog.