If you put Apple icons in reverse it looks like someone getting good at design (mastodon.social)

Article summary

The article appears to discuss the evolution of Apple icons, with a focus on the design of the Pages app icon. The comments reveal a debate about the effectiveness of the new icons, with some finding them too simple or unclear. The discussion also touches on the challenges of designing icons that are both aesthetically pleasing and easily recognizable. The article itself is not available, but the comments provide insight into the design process and the trade-offs involved in creating effective icons.

Main themes

• Icon design
• User experience
• Design process
• Apple design philosophy
• Recognizability vs simplicity

What commenters say

• The new Apple icons are too simple and lack clarity, making them difficult to recognize.
• The evolution of the Pages icon shows a shift towards simplicity, but at the cost of recognizability.
• Icon design should prioritize utility and affordances over aesthetics, as the primary goal is to communicate the app's purpose.
• The design process for icons can be grueling and tedious, with too many stakeholders and opinions leading to indecision and poor design.
• Some argue that the middle iteration of the Pages icon is the most effective, striking a balance between clarity and simplicity.
• Others believe that the latest icons are a step back, with some comparing them unfavorably to Microsoft's icon design.
• The use of abstract symbols in icon design can be effective, but requires careful consideration of the target audience and their ability to understand the symbolism.
• Effective icon design requires a balance between recognizability, simplicity, and aesthetics, with no one-size-fits-all solution.