3 ms·
When I see a pushback against icon-only buttons, I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that the mobile space is changing so rapidly that things don't have
by adevine 11y ago
When I see a pushback against icon-only buttons, I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that the mobile space is changing so rapidly that things don't have a chance to "settle down" like they did for previous technologies.
I mean, I don't think it's inherently obvious that a triangle pointing to the right means play, a square means stop, and a circle means record. However, it didn't take cassette players and VCRs to be out that long before everyone knew what they meant. In that case, I think having more info (like the text 'Play') is unnecessary.
In the mobile space, I feel like there is pushback because it's also not immediately apparent that 3 horizontal lines means "menu". I wonder how long that will be the case, though.
- lazerwalker 11y agoI feel like the hamburger button is a special example, since the fact that your mobile app has a "here's where we shoved the features we couldn't fit in anywhere else" menu is usually a smell that you have deeper design issues at the information architecture level.
- daveguy 11y agoHamburger button? Is that what people are calling the three lines button? I think that's one that will catch on. I didn't get it at first, but I think now it's here to stay. It also isn't necessarily a sign of bad design. I think it's mostly used as the "main menu" on a small mobile screen interface where you typically use the majority of the screen for information display. Not a bad design at all.
- true_religion 11y agoOr you know... it's a symptom of needing a menu.
- aninhumer 11y agoI'd much rather apps include a menu of extra features that don't quite fit into their interface paradigm, rather than omit them until they can find the One True Interface that can incorporate them all. Or even worse, make the common case harder just so the interface can include all the features.