An Investigation into the Subjective Experience of Icons: A Pilot Study

In electronic applications, the graphical user interface ("GUI") contains information on many levels of visualization. The user interacts with the computer by manipulation of graphic elements on the screen, the smallest unit being the icon. This paper describes a pilot test conducted with eight students at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). The hypothesis is that simpler, less visually complicated icons will be understood (thus picked up) first. The more immediately communicative an icon is, the faster the response, hence, the lesser the cognitive load. An unconventional test method was used: students were asked to place user-interface icons from daily computer-use (e.g. "HOME") on a dual-axis matrix, based on their immediate reaction. Through the pilot test, the author attempted to discover the relationship between 1) visual interpretation of icons and 2) the speed in which they are understood. Results showed that there is a consistency in how the icons were interpreted visually. The results also demonstrated a relationship between an icon\´s design and the order in which it was picked up. Future studies will target these issues more specifically