Episode 50

Evolving Icons

Published on: 10th August, 2021

Icons are all around us in our personal computers and electronic devices to represent functions that we use daily, such as saving a document or attaching a file to an email. The first versions of these icons were created using metaphors or analogies related to the ways the tasks were previously performed, to ease the transition into a more digital framework.

However, many of these initial versions could now be replaced to resonate better with current generations of digital users, but why isn't evolving or replacing icons a simple task? How can we ensure that new versions land well with both younger and older generations? Are we getting into an era in which everything is so digital, ethereal, and abstract that it is not possible to create easily recognisable icons?

Lisa, Chris, and Diana reflect on this challenging topic that impacts us all. In Condensed Soup, they discuss their favourite or most interesting icon they have come across.

Want to share your opinion on icons that should or shouldn't have been replaced? Email us at UXSoup@strategyanalytics.com

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About the Podcast

UX Soup
Bite-sized human-centered design insights
Join Chris Schreiner, Derek Viita, and Lisa Schreiner from User Driven Strategies as they discuss the latest developments impacting the user experience, whether in the car, at home, or on the go. Examine the state of the UX and human factors professions, listen to interviews from leading practitioners in industry and academia, and hear the team discuss the latest products and services from a human-centered design perspective.

About your hosts

Chris Schreiner

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Chris has 25 years of experience in automotive HF and UX, working for automotive OEMs, suppliers, academic research institutions, and consultancies, providing objective and actionable guidance impacting design.

Chris has over 20 years of experience in UX and human factors research, and has successfully led projects globally for clients in the automotive and wireless industries.

Derek Viita

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Derek is a human factors expert who helps tech companies, research orgs, and consultancies build safe and useful things. His passion is automotive UX, with 2 decades of specialized expertise. Beyond cars, his work has spanned mobile devices, physical workstations, virtual telecom platforms, mobile payment, and more.

Derek has produced live research, workshops, and conference presentations on 3 continents, and is a named author on over a dozen peer-reviewed papers and technical reports.