The Effect of Icon Size and Grid Size on Smartphone Menu Selection

Abstract

Menu interface design is an important part for the smartphone application. It's the main screen that leads the user to the function of an application. For grid menu design, selecting the number of grid size and icon size is an important part. The previous research has shown that icon sizes affect search speed and accuracy of menu selection [3]. But the research was on a desktop computer, which was unlike mobile phones [2]. To create a guideline for developers who want to design applications which have to place icons on a grid menu and to study the effect of icon sizes and grid sizes on smartphone menu selections, this study was conducted by comparing two icon sizes: 48x48 pixels and 60 x 60 pixels arranged on three grid sizes: 2x3, 3x3, and 3x4. The studies conducted the menu selection time that the participant uses to find the target icon. Results showed that the icon size did not affect menu selection time. Participants select the menu which has grid size 3x4 faster than the other two sizes. There was a significant difference between grid size 2x3 and 3x4.