Is the Finder Icon, Iconic?

[Omega Mac]

Is it literally the FACE of the Mac?

Even the finder icon is used as the avatar for the macOS forum.

In design and branding terms it would be classed as an Iconic logo, and thus an incredibly valuable asset.

However some do not agree, and feel arbitrary changes to such icons are justified in the universalisation of iOS ui's foibles across all Apple platforms (exemplified by Tahoe) - maybe you feel that way, or maybe you disagree strongly.

Post your vote accordingly, and comment as you wish.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

I really like the Finder icon, but I feel Apple has had a tricky relationship with it (or more specifically, in times gone by).

If we forget about MultiFinder and think about why the icon was developed later on, it served the dual purpose of being both a GUI element as well as branding for retail packaging, where the product's platform was displayed. Thus, as you say, it was intended to be iconic.

But even this setup wasn't exactly intuitive, because Finder isn't the Mac and the Mac isn't Finder: so why use the icon to represent both a piece of software and a platform? I guess it was convenient for Apple since Finder was unique to the Mac, and back then it represented a major difference between Mac and Windows, not just in appearance but in functionality and the way you operated the computer.

Of course, today there is a greater blurring of lines between Mac and Windows and, whilst I still believe Finder is superior to File Explorer, it doesn't have the same novelty factor that it did many years ago.

Outside of this, I think the Finder icon is just a nice design. It doesn't cry out 'file/application manager' to me, but in a way I find this to be charming. Mac is Apple's primary platform that everything else is developed from, so to me it makes sense that they would want to continue to have this small emblem of character rather than copying the more sterile nature of Files on iOS and File Explorer on Windows.

You can make other arguments too about nostalgia and familiarity for long-time users, but I think Apple just likes the idea of the Mac having its own identity, even if it is such a small manner. It's where the Macintosh experience really began.

 

[Gregg2]

It is kind of two-faced. Is there a message in that? 🤔

 

[dmr727]

I've always liked the logo, and I see it as synonymous with the Mac. I agree that these kinds of associations are good for the brand and very valuable, IMO. Warner Brothers learned this the hard way with HBO, and I think Apple would be nuts to mess with it.