McDonald’s Universal Icons for 109 Countries [pdf]

Post by usaphp » Sat, Jun 03, 2017, 11:40 PM UTC

Eric_WVGG wrote: post #77

commieneko wrote: post #76

The older I get, the more I'm convinced that icons are not a terribly good way to convey information. Some things and concepts, sure. Others, not so much. Especially in technology and science. Navigation can make good use of icons. Left, right, up, down, start, stop, these kinds of things can be learned and used widely. Somethings like text manipulation icons, cursors, insertions, selections, can be used effectively,…

A heretical opinion, but one I agree with. I feel like the success of iOS and Android proves that the world of windows and icons from desktop computers was fine for nerds but ultimately a failure for mainstream use. hell, just look at fabric instruction icons… https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/a0/6b/b9/a06bb91bc...

Post by woobar » Sat, Jun 03, 2017, 11:57 PM UTC

skookumchuck wrote: post #97

microcolonel wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you saying it would be better to just teach their customers the English words for these things? Esperanto? I mean, I might probably agree with that, but I don't know that the customers would.

> Are you saying it would be better to just teach their customers the English words for these things? Yes. It's the same amount of teaching and learning. Actually, it's probably less of both, because: 1. A fair fraction (most?) of the customers would already know some english, whereas zero know what those icons mean. 2. Knowledge of english words is valuable to anyone and is transferable to other domains. Knowledge o…

Post by mxfh » Sun, Jun 04, 2017, 12:04 AM UTC

skrause wrote: post #90

owenversteeg wrote: post #85

Okay, I've got a crazy idea. Why not create a combination of words that expresses the thing, instead of these very weird and incomprehensible-at-first-glance icons? For example, for proteins: the word "protein" is understandable in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Greek and Swedish. The Russian "belok" should be understandable to Polish and Russian speakers, and the Dutch "eiwitten" should be understand…

As a German I would not understand "eiwitten" as "Eiweiß". However, the word "Protein" is also used in Germany as a regular alternative to "Eiweiß".

Post by skookumchuck » Sun, Jun 04, 2017, 12:09 AM UTC

woobar wrote: post #113

skookumchuck wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Are you saying it would be better to just teach their customers the English words for these things? Yes. It's the same amount of teaching and learning. Actually, it's probably less of both, because: 1. A fair fraction (most?) of the customers would already know some english, whereas zero know what those icons mean. 2. Knowledge of english words is valuable to anyone and is transferable to other domains. Knowledge o…

They explains it in the paper. There are cultural and legal limitations. So your knowledge of English will not help when you travel to a country that requires packaging in native language. On the other hand, learning 'universal' icons will help you everywhere.

Post by Banthum » Sun, Jun 04, 2017, 12:13 AM UTC

13of40 wrote: post #102

nicky0 wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From TFA: > “We realize that some of the visuals may not already be strongly linked in consumer minds to the nutrient they are meant to depict in all markets.” > “We intend to promote understanding of the images through supporting materials in Europe, from web sites to images explained on tray liners and via in-store displays,” ... > “After repeated exposure to these images, customers should eventually grasp their me…

So why not just snap to simplified Chinese? You'd get a billion person headstart and the ideograms are probably just as arbitrary.