Its a design language cycle, Chewy. History is filled with these "repeats". Think back to the '60s and automobiles. Soft curves, sensuous lines. E type Jag, Ferrari, 356, 300SL. Shapes influenced by LeMans and Daytona. Then the '70s. Squared off, bloated body shapes. Look at Plymouth, Dodge, Chevy. Then the '80s. Angularity was in (think TR7, MR2, Diablo, Countach, etc.) Then the '90s saw the return of slimmer "squares". Then in 2000, it was softer again, less discernible lines. 2010 saw the emergence of "chiseled" lines in cars against more aerodynamic lines.
Devices have become more "organic" in their interface and tactile form. Its only natural as the technology becomes small enough to be crammed into a shell where form can dictate its size and shape. Lighter, thinner, more subtle curves. These are all principles of Industrial Design language and Apple certainly has been a front runner in it for decades. And they mostly derived their original influence from a company called Frog Design, until Jonny Ive arrived on the scene.
All design trends are pushed by social culture. The more conservative society is, the more voluptuous design languages become to lead society into less "constriction". The more "liberal" society is, design language begins to "tighten up".
Clothing is effected by it too. You will see numerous symmetries in all these categories occur simultaneously: autos, fashion and "gear". Embrace it. You can not stop it from revolving.
