Projects/Usability/HIG/IconDesign: Difference between revisions

From KDE TechBase
< Projects‎ | Usability‎ | HIG
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 4: Line 4:


== Guidelines ==
== Guidelines ==
* Create icons with varying sizes in respect to the level of design. Simply scaling down (or up) does not work.
* As a developer use an icon from the predefined set. KDE uses the [http://websvn.kde.org/trunk/kdesupport/oxygen-icons/ Oxygen icon set]. Ask at the [https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/kde-artists kde-artists mailing list] if the set lacks on a specific item.
* As a designer create icons with varying sizes in respect to the level of design. Simply scaling down (or up) does not work.
* Design icons with a small number of metaphors [1].  
* Design icons with a small number of metaphors [1].  
** Apply metaphors only once (e.g. do not use a brush twice for different options).
** Apply metaphors only once (e.g. do not use a brush twice for different options).
Line 17: Line 18:
* Test your icon set on strength of association, discriminatory power, conspicuousness, and, if applicable, on accessibility.
* Test your icon set on strength of association, discriminatory power, conspicuousness, and, if applicable, on accessibility.
==Implementation==
==Implementation==
 
http://websvn.kde.org/trunk/kdesupport/oxygen-icons/
https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/kde-artists
==References==
==References==
[1] http://user-prompt.com/semiotics-in-usability-guidelines-for-the-development-of-icon-metaphors/
[1] http://user-prompt.com/semiotics-in-usability-guidelines-for-the-development-of-icon-metaphors/

Revision as of 15:08, 30 December 2013

Purpose

Icons are pictorial representations of functions and objects, important not only for aesthetic reasons as part of the visual identity of a program, but also for utilitarian reasons as shorthand for conveying meaning that users perceive almost instantaneously. Well-designed icons improve the visual communication and strongly impact users' overall impression of visual design. Last but not least, icons are space-saving and improve usability by making programs, objects, and actions easier to identify, learn.

Guidelines

  • As a developer use an icon from the predefined set. KDE uses the Oxygen icon set. Ask at the kde-artists mailing list if the set lacks on a specific item.
  • As a designer create icons with varying sizes in respect to the level of design. Simply scaling down (or up) does not work.
  • Design icons with a small number of metaphors [1].
    • Apply metaphors only once (e.g. do not use a brush twice for different options).
    • Rethink conventionally used metaphors (e.g. the clipboard icon of paste).
    • Antiquated metaphors might work well (e.g. a floppy is not necessarily outdated to represent save).
    • Adjust the degree of abstractness according to familiarity of the metaphor.
    • Avoid using arrows, they are unspecific.
    • Define metaphors independent from language and culture.
    • Make icons simple.
  • Colorize icons according to the meaning but in respect to application’s colors.
  • Don’t use animated icons.
  • Test your icon set on strength of association, discriminatory power, conspicuousness, and, if applicable, on accessibility.

Implementation

http://websvn.kde.org/trunk/kdesupport/oxygen-icons/ https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/kde-artists

References

[1] http://user-prompt.com/semiotics-in-usability-guidelines-for-the-development-of-icon-metaphors/