..so What exactly is 

Material Design

Visual language that synthesizes classic principles of good design with the innovation and possibility of technology
and science. 

....In short

Visual Language + Good Design + Innovation = Material Design

Material Design

Material is the metaphor

Bold, graphic, intentional

Motion provides meaning

Environment

3D World 

..which means all objects have x, y, and z dimensions. 

Every sheet of material occupies a single position along the z-axis and has a standard 1dp thickness.

Environment

Light and Shadow

..which means virtual lights illuminate the scene and allow objects to cast shadows. A key light creates directional shadows, while an ambient light creates consistent, soft shadows from all angles.

Elements of Material Design in Android

• New theme
• New Widgets for complex views 
• New API for Custom Shadows & Animation

New Theme

Color Scheme

The material theme is defined as:

• @android:style/Theme.Material (dark version)
• @android:style/Theme.Material.Light (light version)
• @android:style/Theme.Material.Light.DarkActionBar

Color Scheme/Theme

<resources>
  <!-- inherit from the material theme -->
  <style name="AppTheme" parent="android:Theme.Material">
    <!-- Main theme colors -->
    <!--   your app branding color for the app bar -->
    <item name="android:colorPrimary">@color/primary</item>
    <!--   darker variant for the status bar and contextual app bars -->
    <item name="android:colorPrimaryDark">@color/primary_dark</item>
    <!--   theme UI controls like checkboxes and text fields -->
    <item name="android:colorAccent">@color/accent</item>
  </style>
</resources>

List and Cards

What you can make..

RecyclerView

<!-- A RecyclerView with some commonly used attributes -->
<android.support.v7.widget.RecyclerView
    android:id="@+id/my_recycler_view"
    android:scrollbars="vertical"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"/>

<!-- A CardView that contains a TextView -->
    <android.support.v7.widget.CardView
        xmlns:card_view="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
        android:id="@+id/card_view"
        android:layout_gravity="center"
        android:layout_width="200dp"
        android:layout_height="200dp"
        card_view:cardCornerRadius="4dp">

        <TextView
            android:id="@+id/info_text"
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="match_parent" />
    </android.support.v7.widget.CardView>

CardView

Gradle Stuff

dependencies {
    ...
    compile 'com.android.support:cardview-v7:21.0.+'
    compile 'com.android.support:recyclerview-v7:21.0.+'
}

View Shadows

View Shadows

<TextView
    android:id="@+id/myview"
    ...
    android:elevation="2dp"
    android:background="@drawable/myrect" />

Time for coding a material app..

...Nooooo !! So much for Android , what next .... :(

KeyPoints

1. Design = Communication
2. Visual Hierarchy
3. Users are looking for visual relationships
4. Larger the size , the greater is the importance
5. Color
6. Contrast
7. Alignment
8. Repetition
9. Proximity
10. Imagery
11. Information
12. Delight
13. Be Immersive
14. Have a point of focus
15. Build narratives

Design Sprint

A Design Sprint (invented by Google Ventures) is a 5-phase exercise which uses design thinking to reduce the inherent risks in successfully bringing products to market. 

Step 1 : Understand

1. Define the Business Opportunity.
2. Define the Customer.
3. Define the Problem.
4. Define the Value Proposition (why will people pay you?).
5. Define context-specific terms (this will act as a dictionary).
6. Discuss short term and long term business goals (What’s the driving vision?).
7. Gather and analyze existing research.
8. Fill out the Business Model Canvas (this should be continually revisited).
9. Capture our analysis of competitive products.
10. Gather inspirational and informative examples of other people/products solving similar or analogous problems.
11. If there is an existing site/app, map out the screens.
12. As they come up in discussion, capture assumptions and unknowns on a wall or board with sticky notes. Later we can revisit this wall, group related items together and make plans to eliminate risky unknowns and address risky assumptions.

Step 3 : Converge

1. Identify the ideas that aim to solve the same problem in different ways.
2. Eliminate solutions that can’t be pursued currently.
3. Vote for good ideas.
4. Storyboard the core customer flow. This could be a work flow or the story (from the customer’s perspective) of how they engage with, learn about and become motivated to purchase or utilize a product or service.

Step 5 : Test

1. Observe and interview customers as they interact with your prototype.
2. Observe and interview customers as they interact with competitive products.