Microsoft Office apps are getting new icons

The logos haven't been updated in five years, and Office has changed a lot since then.

Microsoft is rolling out a redesign of its app icons for Office 365. The redesign will first apply to programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, Outlook and Skype, among a few others.

Microsoft has unveiled a new set of icons that the Office apps will start using. The new icons for Office 365 have been created to embrace the history of Office while giving them a "bolder, lighter and friendlier" look.

"We've infused our tools with powerful artificial intelligence: you can get insights from data with less effort, write a paper using your voice or make your resume using LinkedIn insights". Not only this but Outlook Mobile is also getting a design change but the information has not been shared yet. "While each icon has a unique and identifiable symbol, there are connections within each app's symbol and the collective suite".

Microsoft was one of the pioneers of the current trend of flat design, but recently the company has been evolving its aesthetic into something a bit more three-dimensional. For example, for Excel, letter "X" is in it's own green box while the symbol representing spreadsheet cells are behind it as it's own element. Microsoft Office, which was available only on Windows and Mac initially is now also available on mobile platforms such as Android and iOS as well.

Since the death of Windows Phone, Microsoft has changed focused and embraced other platforms.

The redesigns implement Microsoft's language which the company has incorporated into Windows 10 since previous year. The design changes to Office go beyond just the icons, however. The new set of icons is part of Microsoft's ongoing overhaul of the Office experience with a shift towards a more cloud-centric service.