Small symbols.
WHAT ICONS DO WELL
Reinforce a label Save space where meaning is universally understood Aid recognition in repeated interfaces
WHAT THEY DO POORLY
Convey meaning alone.
WHY
Very few icons are universally understood.
WHICH ARE
Search, close, print, and a handful of others.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE
Pair the icon with a text label.
WHAT PEOPLE ASSUME WRONGLY
That an icon is self-explanatory because it is obvious to them.
WHAT TO TEST
Show the icon alone and ask what it does.
WHAT TO KEEP CONSISTENT
One icon set, one style, one weight.
WHY
Mixed styles look assembled rather than designed.
WHAT SIZE
Large enough to recognise, with an adequate tap area around it.
WHAT TO ENSURE
That an icon-only control has an accessible label.
WHAT TO AVOID
Icons for actions with consequences, unlabelled Different icons for the same action in different places
