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Jony Ive Put Apple's Marketing Team in Charge of iOS 7 Icon Design
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This whole issue smacks of mob mentality, a group of people are whipped into a frenzy by a bunch of control freaks who seek attention through criticism and derision. Think about it. Does someone get an opportunity to write an article in Wired magazine on the subject of loving the design of iOS? No, the only news items we get are criticisms. And then people start jumping on that bandwagon, it's how mobs work.
Half the internet is *not* whipped up, but a few vocal people are upset all about... icons. Icons. Icons - something wholly subjective. Go over to sites like Cult of Mac and you'll see people are sick of this and think it's so blown out of proportion as to be beyond goofy. Icons. Icons on a beta product most people haven't even used first hand. Icons.
Also, attacking the marketing department, you give them so much power. They received a project brief, delivered by I would assume Sir Ive, they come back with ideas to address the requests in the brief, they ask approval to proceed, they get it. Never are they allowed to make unilateral decisions and they would be required to provide constant updates on progress (gaining approval with each step to continue). There was a committee (that's how these things are decided), but whoever is in charge of the designers isn't the one with final say, they are a member of the team that presents to the committee, so this attacking the marketing team is really nothing more than an attempt to focus the wrath of the angry torch and pitchfork wielding villagers on a department they know little or nothing about, and a process none of them have ever been involved in.
This issue will pass when the leaders of the mob find another issue to get all worked up about.
And don't "Dude" me, please.
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I don't really agree with much of that - and I'm glad people don't think the same about OSX which has been the same for nearly a decade bar tweaks as its basically perfect.
Ugh, don't let marketing people do anything but marketing.
The icons look like some cheap newspaper graphics.
The icons look like some cheap newspaper graphics.
To be fair though, they are awful icons.
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Well I can hope, but when theres a page with every single feature of iOS animated and a massive advert for iOS7 with all the icons on each one - I just can't see them changing it, I really cant...
If anyone has the WWDC app watch the What's New in iOS 7 Interface Design video. Speakers are Greg Christie and Mike Stern. They do a great job of explaining the thought process behind the redesign. It really gives you a sense of Apple's vision for the future.
One thing I took away from it was the use of gestures, animations, translucency, etc. to provide a life like feel and sense of enjoyment rather than going into great detail to create a visual representation of a physical object. The notes app was used as an example. The previous app design (from 2007) was designed to look like a physical notepad because using touch screen devices, swiping, pinch & zoom, gestures, etc. were new to people. So recreating the physical was more necessary for people to feel comfortable. But now that people are so familiar with using these devices it's no longer necessary. And certain things that don't make sense (like having a search box when there's no search functionality on a physical note pad) is gone. That was just one example.
It was a really interesting (and non technical) video that shows a lot of thought did go into this re-design. While iOS 7 UI still needs work and a lot of polish the thought process behind it seems very well thought out and make sense. I'll be really interested to see what 3rd party app developers do with their apps.
One thing I took away from it was the use of gestures, animations, translucency, etc. to provide a life like feel and sense of enjoyment rather than going into great detail to create a visual representation of a physical object. The notes app was used as an example. The previous app design (from 2007) was designed to look like a physical notepad because using touch screen devices, swiping, pinch & zoom, gestures, etc. were new to people. So recreating the physical was more necessary for people to feel comfortable. But now that people are so familiar with using these devices it's no longer necessary. And certain things that don't make sense (like having a search box when there's no search functionality on a physical note pad) is gone. That was just one example.
It was a really interesting (and non technical) video that shows a lot of thought did go into this re-design. While iOS 7 UI still needs work and a lot of polish the thought process behind it seems very well thought out and make sense. I'll be really interested to see what 3rd party app developers do with their apps.
Icon disaster
I've designed hundreds of icons in my over 15 years of experience. But even for someone who never designed an icon should notice that the icons in iOS7 are a disaster. Someone dropped the ball here. If these icons stay, I will lose respect for Apple's ability to maintain uniform, sleek and cool design. I am hoping the icon design team was on a tight schedule and had to scramble clipart libraries from around the world to put them together, and now they are hard at work designing them from scratch. Because they don't need improvement, they need complete redesign. I don't care if they are work in progress, Ive should not have allowed them to be made public in this state. Not cool Apple. Not cool.
I've designed hundreds of icons in my over 15 years of experience. But even for someone who never designed an icon should notice that the icons in iOS7 are a disaster. Someone dropped the ball here. If these icons stay, I will lose respect for Apple's ability to maintain uniform, sleek and cool design. I am hoping the icon design team was on a tight schedule and had to scramble clipart libraries from around the world to put them together, and now they are hard at work designing them from scratch. Because they don't need improvement, they need complete redesign. I don't care if they are work in progress, Ive should not have allowed them to be made public in this state. Not cool Apple. Not cool.
Yes, and Apple basically confirms this. App icons aside there was a considered purpose behind the redesign. It's definitely not change for the sake of change. It's their vision for the future. Once it get refined and polished I think it will be great. I'm still amazed at everything they did do in only 6 months. There were people putting in some serious work hours at Apple to get this done and its far from finished.
Look at this example. What is it and how is it used? What are static text and what are moving parts? This is not good imo.
Hopefully someone at Apple is monitoring this forum and will report back on our concerns. Probably not, but one can hope. There are a lot of cool things in iOS 7, but like most here, the icons could use a little more work. They surely have the talent to do a better job at it...
I like most of the icons and I am an adult. I personally hope Apple only critically listens to developers. People who have not actually experienced the whole OS, are not a good source of feedback. Moreover, the look of the OS needs a refresh.
That is an opinion (and actually I don't share it) - but, this is all so subjective.
Even if I were an icon designer by profession with oodles of education and experience and I said they were crap wouldn't make them crap, it would be my opinion. We don't even know the brief the group got, we just look at them and say, nice or not, or mostly, "I just don't care enough one way or the other, they're just icons" (in a beta demonstration). For every designer that comes up with arguments against them we can find 2 who will disagree with that designer, and probably not agree with each other.
The whole issue is so silly. There will never be universal agreement over any element of the OS, especially the visual ones, but to get all worked up about an icon seems to me just a bit to be a complete waste of one's energy and time. It's not as big a deal as people here think it is, it really isn't. And they aren't final. Even if they make the cut to final release, over time they won't stay the same, and shortly after release everyone will get used to them and forget all about it.
For the love of God and all things good, Apple, just come up with an icon set that has elegance. That's all.....elegance. After all, it's that elegance in design that has got you to where you are today. Seriously, Steve will be spinning in his grave. Never would he allow Jony to release such lack of thought and elegance. Masses will leave iOS if these icons are to stay. Android and Windows will be laughing over each other or probably stunned with mouths open at what they thought would never be released from the mighty designers at 1 Infinite Loop.
You seriously wouldn't know how to use that?
It's unnecessary confusing, it's a bunch of "words" spread out on a white background. It's not 100% clear what are buttons and what are text. To quote the name of an old web design book "don't make me think". Also, contrast please.
i.e it's not a matter of if I can use it, or figure it out by trial and error. I think I'll manage, but it could be much better. Try to analyze it not from an aesthetic point of view, but as concept in terms of use. What is it, how do I achieve my objectives and navigate etc. It's not a question of if it's impossible to use, try to imagine a scale that goes from impossible to obvious and give it a grade.
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Yet you do not tell us why they are a disaster. I have never designed an icon, but do have a degree in Fashion Design and worked in that industry for years.
I personally like most of the icons. They have a unified harmonious color scheme which is visually pleasing. They also are minimalist in design. Those are elegant traits.
My problem with a few of the icons are they are too simple. One example is the Safari icon. The color scheme is good, but there needs to be a touch more in terms of detail. I like some icons, like Game Center.
As an experienced icon designer, your comments are not helpful because you provide no information as to why they do not work for you. As I pointed out, they embrace proper color theory by using harmonious and unified colors. So I doubt color is your grievance.
Yes its opinion, however designers, with taste, can see they look very poor compared to what Apple is able to achieve. For years Apple has been miles ahead of any other gui designers, desktop or mobile with icon design, but now this. Its the gradients which make them look so amateurish. Its a miss mash of flat design and something else entirely.
Anyway the general consensus is that they look terrible, you can pretend it isn't, but it is - and I'm a person who's pretty much never criticised anything Apple has ever done and always argued their case, but these, are just, unarguably diabolically poor.
OPS thats embarrassing...
You know when a great architect draws a chair, and it may even look beautiful but it's the most uncomfortable chair you ever sit on? That happens because he is used to work on a scale where ergonomics is a different thing? This reminds me of that...
Everyone knows Jon Ive is a great product designer, but it looks like he doesn't really understand Interface design. The UI needs his on identity, it can just be a poor child of the Hardware. The UI needs to "Think different" as much as the hardware. This UI is just a bunch of safe choices, from the font, to the flatness, to the icons and colors. It is just disappointing for an Apple user, how is used to slick, subtle, great design, to see this lack of identity on a UI. He didn't won my heart.
And I say this as a graphic designer how tried the Beta.
You know when a great architect draws a chair, and it may even look beautiful but it's the most uncomfortable chair you ever sit on? That happens because he is used to work on a scale where ergonomics is a different thing? This reminds me of that...
Everyone knows Jon Ive is a great product designer, but it looks like he doesn't really understand Interface design. The UI needs his on identity, it can just be a poor child of the Hardware. The UI needs to "Think different" as much as the hardware. This UI is just a bunch of safe choices, from the font, to the flatness, to the icons and colors. It is just disappointing for an Apple user, how is used to slick, subtle, great design, to see this lack of identity on a UI. He didn't won my heart.
And I say this as a graphic designer how tried the Beta.
Yes the developers bug reporter is going to be the most listened to feedback - considering we are the people using it - the UI looks better in person and does grow on your (however I still dislike some icons like Game Center which has no consistency - and I am not sure why the notes and reminders app are textured to look like paper - when they have tried to get rid of skeuomorphism and it's not consent with the rest of the OS. And the folders are not transparent enough.
But the 3D effect on the UI really does bring new dept, overall the OS is much better than iOS5 and it's buggier iOS6 - I just hope they fix the battery draining and iPhone overheating which I and my work mates are experience with beta 1.
That's hysterical. You think people's buying decisions are based on icons? Seriously? That really makes me laugh.
No, it isn't the general consensus. Don't mistake volume for percentage. The other error is in believing that sites like MacRumors are a fair representation of the population of people who buy and use Apple products.
Amen. I think the fact is that Apple have always been top notch in terms of design, and this very vocal backlash reaction from people is an indication as to how poor these new icons really are in comparison to their previous standard.
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People's buying decision will be challenged when they compare a SGS4 which appears slick and minimalist compared to the Fisher Price phone. Maybe not right now, but when they go to upgrade, they'll think about it.
Oh you're right about fair representation of the population. We're more vocal and somewhat more accepting of Apple's screwups. That's called loyalty. The general public aren't.
I know this viewpoint is often taken by people here, but I've shown iOS 7 to quite a few "normal" (non-fanboy) friends and they all gave me a similar response about the over bright childlike look of the new iOS. All like the functionality of the system and much of the look inside the apps/menus but none have praised the look of the icons themselves which is the first point of contact.
Just because fanboys lap up everything Apple does as genius it doesn't mean everyone else does. As you said though, it won't stop anyone choosing an iDevice, it's just a shame Apple didn't try harder to get something more appealing to their core market of non-13-year-old-girls (if indeed they stick with this look).
Let me be clear here as I think many are lumping in UI with Icons - many don't like the ICONS, not many are complaining about iOS 7 in general which has come across quite favourably.
This is actually a great example. If you used a Flat design, people would be guessing about that 5 points? Is that braille? Is that a connecting points game?!? But by adding some depth to the dots, now you clearly know that it's a dice!!!
Design exists to help you, if it's making think harder, then, it's bad design.
The new icons however is not bad, not everything need to be recognizable as a real item.