[Lotus Notes Sucks: Example 7]
Poorly Designed Icons
Problem
Here is the top portion of the properties sheet for my Lotus Notes "database":
Analysis
Look at these icons; let's guess what they mean from left to right:
- Information about books.
- Information.
- Printing properties.
- Design properties.
- Rocket launch parameters. Maybe something to do with Scud missiles or fireworks?
- Zoom In or Zoom Out. Or maybe a Search box?
- Something to do with anemometers (devices that measure wind speed).
What this example shows is that icons that have intuitive meanings are difficult to create. What a mess.
Update for Version 6.5.2
Black_adder sent me this tip:
He's right. I like the one that reads "Info." Don't non-native speakers of English have enough problems without having to learn slang? The icons still suck, but he's right.
See if you can guess what these icons mean:
Let's see:
- Information about a document. This one's OK.
- It looks like a carpenter's square.
- Something about printers.
- Something about security.
- It looks like cheesy crosshairs—like the special effects of the Six Million Dollar Man's bionic eye.
- Something about geeks.
Try this one:
Let me guess:
- Information about document attachments. This one's OK.
- Text justification. This one's OK. How am I doing so far?
- Luke, Leia and Han Solo trying to escape the trash compactor in Star Wars.
- Something about window shades.
- Something about luggage. It looks like a luggage tag to me. Or maybe 25% off. I don't know.
User Interface Guideline Violations
- Interface does not use standard terminology.
- User needs to learn what these goofy icons mean but probably never will. Just click the tabs until you find what you need.
- Forcing the user to deal with stupidity.
Conclusion
Lotus Notes sucks.