14 comments

  • JC .JC ., almost 8 years ago

    Can't even remember the last time I saw a save icon in an app

    8 points
    • Sander VisserSander Visser, almost 8 years ago

      Exactly. Are save icons still relevant? I think most applications save without asking, because most things that need to be saved, should be saved by itself.

      3 points
    • Jamie Heuze, almost 8 years ago

      Yeah I believe most popular and new applications are already in this mindset that manually saving isn't necessary. A user just expects them have a version or multiple versions of the content at all times.

      0 points
  • Jake Lazaroff, almost 8 years ago

    I wanna look back at that survey for a second: Only 14 percent of the kids knew what the save icon represented Fourteen percent? Really? Interesting, now I read this as 100 percent knew this was a save icon but only 14 percent understood the history behind the symbol. So does this icon enable the user and machine to interact together? I would say it does.

    THIS.

    7 points
  • Tõnu RunnelTõnu Runnel, almost 8 years ago (edited almost 8 years ago )

    Just as the post is saying — having a save interaction instead of autosaving is a growing UX liability anyway. Just imagine when the younger generation at some point doesn't understand the concept anymore. "Save? Huh? What do you mean?"

    3 points
  • Mattan IngramMattan Ingram, almost 8 years ago

    We had this debate recently at work and decided to go with the floppy disk icon (a misnomer since most of the icons represent the later non-floppy version of the floppy disk) since we couldn't find a single person who didn't know what it was for. They might not have known what it was originally referencing, but as long as they understand the point of the button that is all that matters.

    1 point
  • Nathaniel Malone, almost 8 years ago

    Absofruitley

    1 point
  • John BJohn B, almost 8 years ago (edited almost 8 years ago )

    Jamie makes some good points; consistency being key is unquestionable. I don't really think it's crucial that we re-invent the save icon. How about the power button icon? I know that represents turning something on or off because of consistency, not because of it's immediately obvious from any human connection.

    Good UX goes beyond natural intuition and human connection. Give users additional clues rather than striving to re-invent things that don't need re-invention. For button icons, that could be a tooltip on hover; for power buttons it could be an LED indication.

    1 point
  • Jamie Heuze, almost 8 years ago

    The hunt for the perfect save icon Last week at Etch, my friend and colleague Matt Jackson asked me a simple question: Is using a floppy disk as a save icon still relevant?

    1 point
  • Dean HaydenDean Hayden, almost 8 years ago

    Funny how a magnifying glass is now synonymous with searching yet its first implementation in software was the representation of looking at something in detail (zoom). We now have both; one literal and one abstract.

    The disk icon, in my opinion, probably is the best icon to use; because people understand what it does, even if they don't know the technological reference.

    Sure with auto-saving and things being cloud based we are less reliant on clicking 'save' but if you need an icon to click, this is the one.

    When I've asked someone to click the save button / icon they've never responded 'what one's that?'

    0 points