Toward a methodology of graphical icon design

Abstract

The current practice of graphical icon design is more an art than a science. We propose a scientific-oriented methodology for graphical icon design. It incorporates several ideas from data/system modeling and natural languages in the design and interpretation of icons. Specifically, it incorporates ideas of multileveling modeling and type-instance concepts. It also incorporates the concepts of grammar structures from alphabetic-based languages such as English and the principles of ideogram construction of graphical icon-based natural languages such as Chinese and ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. The methodology also draws on other scientific disciplines such as cognitive science and user testing.