Applying Axiomatic Method to Icon Design for Process Control Displays

Abstract

This chapter discusses the application of axiomatic method to icon design for the process control displays. Icons have become an important feature of current widespread Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) for almost every interactive computer system. This is because of their aesthetic attractiveness, possibility of rapid recognition, and international potential. At the same time, evidence of confusion and misinterpretation about icons suggests that their design is not as simple as replacing text with graphics. In this chapter, issues about icon design are described from the viewpoints of semiotics and human information processing. Research on cognitive characteristics of icons and relevant design guidelines and standards are also reviewed. GUIs are extensively applied to the user interfaces of almost every computer system. An important feature of GUIs is the icon. While it is not difficult to find relevant information for the design of icons from handbooks, industry standards or guidelines, it is surprising to find many inconsistencies in the information. Hence, it is necessary to find a new and improved method for the design of icons. An axiomatic method is applied to icon design. This method is based on the two axioms of the Axiomatic Design (AD) principles—the Independence Axiom and the Information Axiom.