Icons
Icons are a graphical metaphor presenting a visual image that the user associates with a particular object, state or operation. When a user sees a good icon they are immediately reminded of the item it represents, whether that be an application in the panel menu or the "right aligned" state in a word processor toolbar.
- Icons can assist the user in rapidly scanning a large number of objects to select the desired item. Particularly after a user is acustomed to an icon's appearance, they can identify it more rapidly than a text label.
- Icons can augment text by providing visual suggestions to accompany the descriptive text. Some things are easier to communicate with a picture, even a very small one.
- Icons can compactly represent a large number of objects when there is insufficient space to display textual descriptions (such as in a toolbar).
- 9.1. Style
- 9.2. Kinds of Icons
- 9.3. Designing Effective Icons
- 9.4. Designing Accessible Icons