Thoughts on interface metaphors and more...
This is a blog-like page of postings where I'm gathering thoughts and links about Interface metaphors, icon & interface design. Feel free to send me comments related to the topic.Icon taxonomy in interface design – 29.6.2010
I found this article: A survey of icon taxonomy used in the interface design by Wang Hsiu-Feng, Hung Sheng-Hsiung and Liao Ching-Chih. Which is a good overview and comparison of the different systems that have been suggested for icon taxonomy.Different researchers have used similar and overlapping definitions or based their systems on previously existing ones. For instance Rogers' four icon types: resemblance, exemplar, symbolic and arbitrary versus Lidwell et al's similar, example, symbolic and arbitrary. In a sense it can seem like meaningless potato potaato debate, but the attempt to create a taxonomy can also reveal the cognitive aspects of interface icon design. That is – what kind of processes do we use as we try to interpret icons and metaphors and whether the icons of a given type are more easy to adopt than others.
Corporate logos and interface icons – 14.6.2010
Designing logos for companies has a lot in common with designing interface icons. Specially when it comes to pictorial logos, like those of Apple, Twitter or Lacoste. These logos are recognizable literal images that have been simplified and stylized (Wheeler, Designing Brand Identity).
Some of the same principals also apply to designing good icons versus logos. They are both items that should be immediately recognizable and able to communicate just what it is they do. What's interesting is how some corporate logos have also sustained a status as interface icons, the way Twitter and Facebook have.
Metaphors and the user interface – 6.6.2010
I just read this article by Katalin Szabó which "provides a glimpse into the world of metaphors and how they can be used in user interface design".
In the text Szabo makes an interesting notion that metaphors are error that are committed on purpose, as the two things that presented as identical are in fact not. This is followed by the comparison of metaphors and similes, and according to Szabo a metaphor differs from a simile since it is an implicit simile in which the fact of comparing is not explicitly mentioned.
Even though the paper has been written in 1995 there is already an interesting notion, that holds true today. Szabo states that as users become accustomed to interface metaphors, in the long run they don't even think of them as metaphors anymore.
I think it would be interesting to conduct a survey with 14-18 year olds who have been exposed to computers practically all of their lives, and see if they are actually conscious of all of metaphors that they face in everyday life.
Another interesting research to pursue would be to make a study of the evolution of the most common interface metaphors in graphical user interfaces ranging from 1984 to this day. Additionally perhaps attempting to create some sort of a taxonomy or classification for different types of metaphors.
