[WEB4LIB] RE: icons/images for email reference service

[Sarah Graham]

Ever heard the cliche "a picture is worth a thousand words"? Marketers and
computer interface designers have known for a long time that icons perform
important functions in our world. For example, think about how many complex
commands and functions are represented on your MS Word toolbar. Then imagine
how awful that toolbar would be if it was all words and not images. We are
all familiar with the printer icon meaning, "send document to the printer" -
it works well because it represents a simple action.

Icons don't work well when they involve tricky metaphors... because you're
defeating the role of an icon as a visual representation of an activity,
function, or in the case of computers, command. Icons also work best when
you use images that are familiar to people. If I saw a book in front of a
computer I wouldn't know what the heck it meant (and would probably guess
"ebooks") - and confusion often means you frustrate and lose the attention
of your user.

I would suggest that if you want to represent your ask a librarian service
with an icon, you may want a picture of a librarian. Or better yet, perhaps
a question mark--the universal symbol for help. But remember that it is
rarely helpful to create your own new iconographic system, icons work best
when they work with the users familiarity. 

Edward Tufte has written a lot about theories of presenting information. I
recommend, _Envisioning Information_ (Graphics Press, 1990) and _Visual
explanations: images and quantities, evidence and narrative_ (Graphics
Press, 1997).

Sarah Graham
Coordinator of Web Development/Reference Librarian
Emerson College Library
Boston, MA 02116

-----Original Message-----
From: Gillian Wiseman
To: Multiple recipients of list
Sent: 2/23/2002 10:37 AM
Subject: [WEB4LIB] RE: icons/images for email reference service

 
The only reason our library page has an icon is that there is enough
text
already on the page (most of it not my choice!) that the icon was an
attempt
to make it stand out. 

If you want to see the page, it is: 
http://www.waco-texas.com/city_depts/libraryservices/libraryservices.htm

I didn't design the page. It is maintained by the city of waco Public
Information office. I just make suggestions and offer advice and provide
informational updates. It's sad!

Gillian Wiseman
Electronic Resources Librarian
Waco-McLennan County Library


-----Original Message-----
From: george at library.caltech.edu
To: Multiple recipients of list
Sent: 2/22/02 5:55 PM
Subject: [WEB4LIB] RE: icons/images for email reference service

Clueless curmudgeon alert!!!

Why, oh why must there be icons and graphics designed and applied all
over
the place?  If they add value through:

increasing clarity
enhancing website "stickiness"
[insert other favorable outcome here, my well has run dry]

then by all means, use 'em.

BUT, the gains need to outweigh the potential losses:

increased confusion
longer load times
accessibility issues (visit Bobby http://cast.org/bobby)
too cute for their own good (applies to icons and names of services,
even in
text)
[also not an exhaustive list, keep going -- your detractors will]

I've heard of far too many services that were ham strung while waiting
for a
nifty name and even niftier logo, before they were allowed to start
providing needed functions to the target clientele. 

Food for thought, I hope.

George S. Porter
Sherman Fairchild Library of Engineering & Applied Science
Caltech, 1-43
Pasadena, CA  91125-4300
Telephone (626) 395-3409 Fax (626) 431-2681