(Image from fastcodesign.com)
When I first started working in digital media in 1995, I remember the then art director being terribly obsessed with drop shadows and shiny curvy bevels; often sacrificing valuable screen real estate (remember those were the days of 640x480) for skeuomorphic design wankery.
17 years later in 2012, skeuomorphism is very much alive and well in iOS.
Two recent articles discussing the pros and cons:
The Real Problem With Apple: Skeuomorphism In iOS – Forbes
Can We Please Move Past Apple’s Silly, Faux-Real UIs? – Co.Design
