Universal and intuitive? Scientific guidelines for icon design

Abstract

In this paper, we examine approaches to icon design, and we argue that they are not ideal. For example, they might disadvantage people from distinct cultures, of distinct ages, and with distinct capabilities. However, we suggest that icons have the potential to be universally and intuitively comprehended because they can be similar to the real world. We present an approach that is grounded in visual perception because the process of visual perception is assumed to be universal and intuitive. We derive 34 guidelines from scientific research on visual perception, and we argue that these guidelines might be a basis for more universal and more intuitive icon designs in the future.