Both points are valid IMO. Paradigms change, and the ability to accomplish something that wasn’t possible in the past due to technical limitations or lack of skill/knowledge shouldn’t stop us from doing good things now.
But it’s also important to look back at the rationales behind design decisions of the past and really understand why it isn’t okay—or actually is okay—to go against those past recommendations.
Having icons in menus does clutter a bit, but it is a real boon to people that can’t read or have bad vision, so they can easily find the entry they need.
That’s the actual issue. There are some people that are led by icomography. i.e. I don’t have bad near-sight vision so I won’nt need icons, but I happen to be trying to learn german and set my phone in german, so it’s a good clue when things are appropiately labeled with an icon so I don’t get lost and still can learn about how something is named in german.
All in all if you don’t want all those icons then there should be a setting to hide all but the most important ones - or all icons regardless.
Both points are valid IMO. Paradigms change, and the ability to accomplish something that wasn’t possible in the past due to technical limitations or lack of skill/knowledge shouldn’t stop us from doing good things now.
But it’s also important to look back at the rationales behind design decisions of the past and really understand why it isn’t okay—or actually is okay—to go against those past recommendations.
Having icons in menus does clutter a bit, but it is a real boon to people that can’t read or have bad vision, so they can easily find the entry they need.
Unless they are inconsistent or repetitive. As the article points out.
That’s the actual issue. There are some people that are led by icomography. i.e. I don’t have bad near-sight vision so I won’nt need icons, but I happen to be trying to learn german and set my phone in german, so it’s a good clue when things are appropiately labeled with an icon so I don’t get lost and still can learn about how something is named in german.
All in all if you don’t want all those icons then there should be a setting to hide all but the most important ones - or all icons regardless.