9 Rules for Clear and Intuitive Icons

#1

Post by andrewvalish » Mon, Oct 31, 2011, 8:24 PM UTC

9 Rules for Clear and Intuitive Icons
uxmovement.com

Re: 9 Rules for Clear and Intuitive Icons

#2

Post by untog » Mon, Oct 31, 2011, 8:53 PM UTC

I'm not sure I agree with all of these. I would never have guessed that a paper plane could represent sending an e-mail.

Similarly, I would never associate an underlined, blue L with a link. Maybe I'm too far into the web development rabbit hole, but I thought most people these days associated a chain link with an internet hyperlink.

Re: 9 Rules for Clear and Intuitive Icons

#3

Post by fleitz » Mon, Oct 31, 2011, 9:00 PM UTC

Icons should be iconic, a paperplane is not iconic of email. Icons take time to establish, you can't just create an icon, something becomes an icon as it becomes recognizable through repeated use.

As for the "Home" icon example I can clearly see the Home icon from OS X. The home icon from OSX is a better icon because more people are familiar with it.

Should the Save icon in Google docs be a floppy disk or a cloud? The floppy makes no sense when you think about it, but it's a better icon because for 20 years people have been clicking that to save their files. I'd even argue the same thing for the link icon, it's on enough interfaces that people who want to link things know to click that button.

You should only really create new icons when there isn't something existing. Buy an icon pack and be done with it. People will be more familiar with them because they are used around the web.

edit: My bad, there is no save icon in Google Docs, but if there was...

Re: 9 Rules for Clear and Intuitive Icons

#4

Post by trhaynes » Mon, Oct 31, 2011, 9:11 PM UTC

Who is writing these "rules"? They sound more like opinions, which is fine if they're coming from a reputed source like Tufte or Nielsen. But who is "anthony"?

Re: 9 Rules for Clear and Intuitive Icons

#5

Post by jamesgeck0 » Mon, Oct 31, 2011, 9:24 PM UTC

The other reason to label buttons with icons is so that they become larger and are easier to target.

Also, I'm sure I've seen that row of house icons before. Anyone know the original source?

Re: 9 Rules for Clear and Intuitive Icons

#6

Post by tjpick » Mon, Oct 31, 2011, 9:25 PM UTC

trhaynes wrote: post #4

Who is writing these "rules"? They sound more like opinions, which is fine if they're coming from a reputed source like Tufte or Nielsen. But who is "anthony"?

I'm continually disappointed to see uxmovement.com posts feature here.

Re: 9 Rules for Clear and Intuitive Icons

#7

Post by radley » Mon, Oct 31, 2011, 9:25 PM UTC

One rule for clear and intuitive icons:

1. Google Image Search for name + "icon". Match most prominent design to your style.

This solves almost all of your icon needs.

Re: 9 Rules for Clear and Intuitive Icons

#8

Post by trhaynes » Mon, Oct 31, 2011, 9:33 PM UTC

jamesgeck0 wrote: post #5

The other reason to label buttons with icons is so that they become larger and are easier to target. Also, I'm sure I've seen that row of house icons before. Anyone know the original source?

I think Lukas Mathis created it for his post "Realism in UI Design" [1].

[1] http://ignorethecode.net/blog/2010/01/21/realism_in_ui_desig...