Original->Redesigned chart didn't have to be a gif
Laundry symbols make no sense
111–120 of 237 posts
Re: Laundry symbols make no sense
#112Within a second of seeing the 'improved' ones I spot what is, to my mind at least, an immediate failure - the detail resolution is far too small. It doesn't account for the printing limitations on small fabric tags, never mind the ability of old fogeys such as myself to be able to squint that hard and actually read them. I have no idea even looking on my screen here what the difference between the first three is supp…
I don't think they did real world testing on the "improved" ones. I'd say it's obvious the number thirty could use a degree sign after it, but making it smaller and putting a box around it instead of in water, makes zero sense to me.
Re: Laundry symbols make no sense
#113Within a second of seeing the 'improved' ones I spot what is, to my mind at least, an immediate failure - the detail resolution is far too small. It doesn't account for the printing limitations on small fabric tags, never mind the ability of old fogeys such as myself to be able to squint that hard and actually read them. I have no idea even looking on my screen here what the difference between the first three is supp…
I really find the idea that "having to know, or lookup stuff", as a problem, offensive. Laundry is literally filled with things to know, outside of these symbols. Household tasks are. I don't see labels on bleech bottles, saying not to mix it with vinegar or you could die. Yet people have done that in the wash, so why not start there? Here's what each sane person should do, who actually takes time to look at tags. (a…
> I really find the idea that "having to know, or lookup stuff", as a problem, offensive.
I tend to agree. As a culture we have the knowledge of the world in our pocket day in and day out yet we have become lazy and even obstinate about using it.
I've started turning gardening and landscaping into a bit of a hobby with my new house. I'm constantly looking up specifics on plants, how to prune, and etc. It is so much easier than when I last had a house. The workflow no longer requires amassed knowledge, books, or keeping every tag that came with every plant.
It's now:
Take a photo of plant Use app to identify Get all the info you need
Re: Laundry symbols make no sense
#114Earlier quoted context omitted.
Speaking of bleach though - when was the last time anyone here used bleach while washing clothes? I have never in my entire life done so.
Maybe not regularly, as bleach is quite damaging to fabric and others, but often enough to have a bottle of bleach available in laundry room
Ok, just to clarify, do people say "bleach" when the mean products containing sodium percarbonate (like Vanish, OxiClean)? Or do you mean actual bleach (as in sodium hypochlorite)?
Re: Laundry symbols make no sense
#115Earlier quoted context omitted.
I really find the idea that "having to know, or lookup stuff", as a problem, offensive. Laundry is literally filled with things to know, outside of these symbols. Household tasks are. I don't see labels on bleech bottles, saying not to mix it with vinegar or you could die. Yet people have done that in the wash, so why not start there? Here's what each sane person should do, who actually takes time to look at tags. (a…
> I don't see labels on bleech bottles, saying not to mix it with vinegar or you could die. You sure about that?
Well, I can’t speak to your tolerance for chlorine gas, but…
Or were you saying that the bleach bottles on your shelf state that one should not mix bleach with acids such as vinegar? I’d actually have to go look at mine, but I don’t recall a mention.
So I looked: the warning is in the middle of a wall of text, with print so small only pedantic geeks with good, young eyes are going to bother. Let alone be able to read it, anyone over 40 will need a magnifier.
Re: Laundry symbols make no sense
#116Earlier quoted context omitted.
> I don't see labels on bleech bottles, saying not to mix it with vinegar or you could die. You sure about that?
Well, I can’t speak to your tolerance for chlorine gas, but… Or were you saying that the bleach bottles on your shelf state that one should not mix bleach with acids such as vinegar? I’d actually have to go look at mine, but I don’t recall a mention. So I looked: the warning is in the middle of a wall of text, with print so small only pedantic geeks with good, young eyes are going to bother. Let alone be able to read…
I was referring to the statement that the bottles don't contain a warning, not about the chemical reaction that obviously exists.
It probably doesn't specify vinegar, but a general "do not mix with other cleaners". If it only said vinegar, then someone would mix it with ammonia and when they died, they'd claim "it only said vinegar!"
Re: Laundry symbols make no sense
#117Some of these are better (the bleach one being the most obvious) but most of them are worse or neutral. If I don't know what a line under the washing machine means, how am I supposed to know what the 2nd button means. The line is at least more visible. It's similar for the iron. Maybe dots as temperature isn't obvious, but it's about as clear as the thermometer, is easy to read, and matches the icons on the iron itse…
To me it looks like neither you nor the designer have ever used an iron on their clothes. Every iron I have ever seen had one, two and three dot markings at the appropriate positions on the temperature dial. Or does that just happen on European irons?
My iron does not have a temperature dial (it has digital controls) and none of the settings have any dots or anything that resembles the tag icons in any way.
Re: Laundry symbols make no sense
#118It's a lost cause, looking for 'intuitive' symbols. It depends on your culture, your experiences, heck your generation. Just look at the symbols for 'save' (a floppy disk) or 'make a call' (an old phone handset). Kids just have to memorize them, they mean nothing 'intuitively'.
I liken these attempts at symbol sets, to ancient hieroglyphics - a different picture-writing for everything. Even the Egyptians gave up and turned to phonetic spelling.
Just write the instructions on the tag. Or heck, put a 2D scan code there and my phone will tell me what to do.
Re: Laundry symbols make no sense
#119The author has a point that a redesign could be more intuitive and understandable. Unfortunately the provided redesigns don't fit the bill.
There's some decent ideas here though. The shape of the bleach bottle, the circular motion of the arrows indicating tumble, a thermometer, and a dry cleaning bag. Unfortunately, the execution isn't as good as it should be. The strokes are too thick, and detailing is too crowded.
If anything, this is a decent first draft. But I would send it back with notes. The most important one being: less is more. And it's okay to leave existing icons alone that already work. Perhaps redesign within the constraints of the existing style, rather than creating a new style?
Re: Laundry symbols make no sense
#120Within a second of seeing the 'improved' ones I spot what is, to my mind at least, an immediate failure - the detail resolution is far too small. It doesn't account for the printing limitations on small fabric tags, never mind the ability of old fogeys such as myself to be able to squint that hard and actually read them. I have no idea even looking on my screen here what the difference between the first three is supp…
I really find the idea that "having to know, or lookup stuff", as a problem, offensive. Laundry is literally filled with things to know, outside of these symbols. Household tasks are. I don't see labels on bleech bottles, saying not to mix it with vinegar or you could die. Yet people have done that in the wash, so why not start there? Here's what each sane person should do, who actually takes time to look at tags. (a…
That’s not ‘problem solved’. That’s an ‘acceptable workaround’.
The problem is ultimately that the symbols are so abstract that nobody remembers them.