AND THEY SAID I WAS THE ONLY ONE...

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2 2007 @ 02:18 PM

There's actually a bunch of people not liking the new icons for the Adobe products, to the point that there's a now an open contest to come up with new ideas. However boring or ugly these icons might seem to some people, the rationale behind the campaign makes total sense.

Adobe Icons Wheel

"If something is not broken, don't fix it" is what I've been hearing and repeting myself when discusing the new icons that will the products we use everyday. I don't hate them, but I don't love them. I will definitely miss the curvy "F" I have become familiar with for the past few years.

I'm sure people within Adobe had their own concerns, but they are ultimately looking at the big picture: after merger with Macromedia and the adquisition of other software companies, Adobe wants to unify their new universe of products under an homogeneous look and feel. Icons are an important part of how a software company markets their products, as they decorate interfaces, splash screens, packaging an a pletora of other adevertising materials. That's why it makes sense that, in order to present their products as an integrated group, Adobe chose to use the "periodic table" as their paradigm for this initiative.

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TJERJA

FEBRUARY 2 2007 @ 03:38 PM

Ofcourse, the business logic of merging so many titles into a new graphical grid makes sense. However, doing that by abbreviating the well known names and symbols into two character letter combinations is very confusing and doesn't make sense for users. There are a lot of similarities and overlap. it would be wiser to define cluster groups like online, print, video, technology, and create unique 'flash like' icons for those. I simply can't believe adobe thinks that i will remember the meaning of 4 abbreviated 2 letter icons instead of the powerfull CS2 icon set...

BRENDAN

FEBRUARY 2 2007 @ 04:43 PM

The new icons are a nightmare to remember. The whole idea behind having icons is that they are a picture of some sort to help us associate or identify with a metaphor as easily as possible. Nice idea that practically will be a bit misdirected ...

BRENDAN

FEBRUARY 2 2007 @ 04:46 PM

just to add ... how about adding some emotion to the icons imovie idvd icons es an example

CHUROWA

FEBRUARY 2 2007 @ 04:46 PM

I can't believe that you think you WON'T remember it. I'm sure your question was rhetorical, but it brings up an important point. The fact is, users WILL adapt to it. They're not going to run for the hills, they're just going to learn the new standard. Then, once they're used to it, they'll like it. It's kinda neat being able to identify a product and where it fits into the family by looking at its colour. Hey, if a periodic table works for chemists, it'll probably end up working for us, too.

TJERJA

FEBRUARY 3 2007 @ 05:21 AM

Churowa; well actually, icons SHOULD have an instant communication factor. Whatever works for scientists doesn't have to work for (creative) people. It's indeed a different approach, but good designed icons don't need an explanation or a manual. And forcing things up on people, historically never worked anyway...Whoever came up with that new sciencelab icon idea to merge all the Adobe/macromedia products visually, should be fired. Look at the icons of the apple product range, at least users emotionally understand them (without a manual). Can you imagine that your local drugstore would rewrap all packages the same with just different colours? it simply doesn't work.

OSCAR TRELLES

FEBRUARY 4 2007 @ 04:21 PM

The problem with the icons is not about remembering them: eventually people will get used to them and remember them, just like they do transit signs, but that doesn't mean they will like them.

While I agree that organize icons using a color chart may be useful as a marketing strategy, using two letters to identify a product may not. A two letter code over a color background does not convey a powerful message. Think about it: what does "Ps" or "Fl" tell you about the product they represent? what about the products you might not even know like "Sb" or "Lr"?

ANTYKI

FEBRUARY 17 2007 @ 04:18 AM

thanks for article Oscar.