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Make icons make senseSolving symbols for global audiencesPatrick Hofmann UX Designer • Sydney
@phofmann
gplus.to/pman
facebook.com/phofmann
Agenda
1Guessing game
2Simplification
3Distinction
4Landmarks
5Age groups
6Takeaways
Make icons make senseSolving symbols for global audiencesPatrick Hofmann UX Designer • Sydney
Welcome!
My name is Patrick Hofmann
I studied technical writing but have spent most of my career as a technical illustrator,
visual interaction designer, and now a
user experience designer in Sydney
Despite their challenges, I like
icons
Patrick Hofmann
?
Me and my wombmates
If we’re genetically, demographically,
virtually identical, arewe the same users?
If we are unique inour experiences and interests, do we useand interpret things
differently?
Guessing
game
1
Guessing
game
1
Guessing
game
1
Guessing
game
1
Guessing
game
1
Guessing
game
1
Guessing
game
1
Guessing
game
1
Guessing
game
1
Guessing
game
1
Guessing
game
1
Guessing
game
1
Guessing
game
1
Placement and context
What is this?
Pointingupward?
Signallingimportance?
Directingmovement?
Placement and context
What is this?
On a flag?
On a calculator?
In a screeninterface?
On a building?
On a medicinebottle?
On a shoppingmall map?
On a food packageor recipe?
On a mobilephone?
Placement and context
What is this?
On a machinedial or knob?
On a milk cartonor bottle?
On a browser?
Placement and context
What is this?
Placement and context
What is this?
In the aisle of a hardware store?
In the margin ofa user guide?
In a cartoon abovesomeone’s head?
Important factors for
any icon
Familiarity
Placement
Context
Juxtaposition
Simplicity
Distinction
Simplicity
2
Simplicity
2
Simplicity
2
Simplicity
2
Simplicity
2
Distinction
3
Distinction
3
Distinction
3
Landmarks
4
Bank
Hospital
Stadium
Business
Place of worship
5Age groups
Why are age groups
important to consider?
The social information age has
expanded our range of users
A 6-year-old and a 96-year-old both use
the same product
We use visuals that do not satisfy
all age groups -- especially younger
Studying younger users
Conducted a series of tests with 5- to 15-
year olds in the US, Canada, Switzerland,
Australia and New Zealand
Asked children to sketch specific
conceptsor answer a series of
visual “flash cards”
Here are the outcomes
Television
Telephone
Movie listingsor video files
Music files or audio streams
Write
Save a file
The impact of age groups on
our work
As technology expands, our
audiences expand
As we localise or internationalise our
icons, we must look at age
Like our users, our icons grow
old as well
Test, test, test -- any way you can
6Takeaways
Takeaways
Icons shouldbe instantly
recognised, notread and analysed
Icons need to present a single,
core message
In a grid or series, icons need to be
distinguishable
Consider age-groups as cultures
Test, test, testany way you can!
Takeaways
Size does matter: Your icon must be
recognisable even if it’s very small
Design your iconat actual size
aiga.org
dafont.com
commons.wikimedia.org
thenounproject.com
images.google.com
Takeaways
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So...
Who’s learned something about
icons?
So...
Who’s learned something about
icons?
Who thinksI’m a nutter?
So...
Who’s learned something about
icons?
Who thinksI’m a nutter?
So...
Who’s learned something about
icons?
Who thinksI’m a nutter?
Who thinksI’m charming?
So...
Who’s learned something about
icons?
Who thinksI’m a nutter?
Who thinksI’m charming?
