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Title: What Makes an Icon Effective?

Journal Article · · AIP Conference Proceedings
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3078113· OSTI ID:21255387
;  [1]
  1. Department of Manufacturing Engineering and Engineering Management City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong (Hong Kong)

Several criteria like conspicuity, legibility, and comprehension must be met for an icon to be effective. Previous studies found that visual and cognitive features of icons have significant influence on meeting the criteria for icon effectiveness. The aim of this paper is to present a review on visual features (color, shape, size) and cognitive features (familiarity, concreteness, complexity, meaningfulness, semantic distance). The influence of these features on icon effectiveness was studied. The relationships amongst cognitive features and ways to quantify cognitive features were identified. Suggestions regarding opportunities for future research on icons were also highlighted. Such a review would be helpful in formulating research plans and methodologies for icon studies in the future. In addition, this review would facilitate graphic designers to create more user-friendly icons in various contexts.

OSTI ID:
21255387
Journal Information:
AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1089, Issue 1; Conference: IMECS 2008: International multiconference of engineers and computer scientists 2008, Hong Kong (Hong Kong), 19-21 Mar 2008; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3078113; (c) 2009 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English