3. Human Issues Concerning Icons
Icons are based on the system.
It doesn’t care if you are a novice user or not.
You have to study about the operation only by
clicking on the icon.
People identify the icons using its representing
object.
Commonly we can see symbols and metaphors as
icons.
4. Contd.
Icons can’t be isolated.
Every icon should achieves a particular task. there can’t be
a icon without doing any thing,
Recognition
For example close, maximize, minimize buttons are
universally accepted icons which will recall a persons
memory of its operation once seen.
5. Using Icons in InteractionDesign
How icons help us in our daily activities
Lets think that we’re installing a new software.
Once we’re doing it we begin searching for the next
best option to click on.
6. Using Icons in InteractionDesign
Normally people react to the physical attributes of an
icon and then move to the descriptive context of the
icon.
Physical attributes
• Detail
• Color
• Size
• Shape
• Location
7. Using Icons in InteractionDesign
How icons help us in our daily activities
Icons should have distinctive attributes such as size,
shape and colour.
Icons would be easier to be searched for if they
have a proper location.
8. Icon can save the space and well arrange the screen.
Microsoft word 2003 insert menu Microsoft word 2007 insert menu
Ribbon view
UsingIconsinInteractionDesign
10. Using Icons in Interaction Design
Context
Icons are in relation between all the other screen elements
Icons have no meaning without context
• Icon + context + viewer= meaning
Horton (1994)
Icons have different contexts
Physical – Location, Contrast, Juxtaposition, Density
Cognitive
Metaphorical
Temporal
14. Icon Terminology
Phonogram: A sign or symbol representing a word,
syllable, or speech sound.
– Pictogram: A picture that resembles what it signifies.
– Abstract Shapes.
– Ideogram: A symbol that stands for an idea or
Concept.
– Logogram (Logograph): a symbol that represents a
Word.
15. Icon Grammar
Icon principles and attributes may form an icon
grammar. In other words with regular and proper use
of icons it creates a universally accepted and
recognized standardized graphical representations.
Zoom-in icon
Battery icon
16. Deconstructing Icons
An icon can be broken down to;
A basic shape
Indicators
Styles
Canonical view
Aggregate symbols