What is frutiger aero?

Frutiger Aero (also known as Web 2.0 Gloss) is an aesthetic that prevailed from roughly 2004 to 2013, succeeding the Y2K Futurism aesthetic. Overlapping with the McBling and Electropop 08 aesthetics, it is characterized by its use of skeuomorphism, glossy textures, cloudy skies, tropical fish, water, bubbles, glass, lens flare, sprawling patterns, "humanism," aero glass, bokeh, Frutiger fonts, abstract tech, auroras, and bright, vibrant colors (typically white, green, and blue). The aesthetic's timeline coincides with the early days of Web 2.0 and the transition from feature phones to smartphones.

This aesthetic was originally unnamed; at the time, its visual elements were often associated with specific software packages or web design kits intended as workstation tools for developers and designers (e.g., Windows Aero, iOS's skeuomorphic icons, and the visuals of Mirror's Edge and Spore) rather than a broader aesthetic. While some referred to the glossy elements as "Web 2.0 Gloss" during its mainstream period, this term described a specific aspect of Frutiger Aero rather than the aesthetic as a whole