What best defines "flat design"?

Flat design is characterized as a minimalist design style that emphasizes usability and simplicity. Its primary focus is on creating interfaces that are clean and straightforward, often using bold colors, typography, and simple icons without the use of three-dimensional effects such as gradients, shadows, or other embellishments that create depth. This approach allows users to interact with digital products more intuitively, as it reduces visual clutter and directs attention to important elements.

By embracing a flat aesthetic, designers seek to enhance the overall user experience, as the absence of complex textures and 3D elements makes navigation and comprehension easier for users. Additionally, flat design often aligns with responsive design principles, allowing for consistent performance across different devices by rendering quickly and maintaining clarity.

In contrast, other options describe features not typical of flat design, such as richness in three-dimensional elements, dark color schemes with heavy textures, or the use of gradients, all of which detract from the simplicity and clarity that flat design aims to achieve.