Comments on: Adobe defends the new CS3 branding

By: Curt

Curt — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 16:32:29 +0000

Okay, maybe it’s just me (judging from the responses so far) but the two letter icons make much more sense to me. The existing Adobe icons work for applications that I use daily. Over time I have learned that Photoshop is some feather thing and Illustrator is some flower thing. It makes no sense, but fine. But for things that I don’t use every day, it’s a real pain in the rear. Look at Premiere, After Effects and Encore. I have no idea which is which. The whole point of icons is speed. It’s not about making a design statement. It’s first and foremost about usability - and I have to pause over each icon to figure out which is which. Not good design. With the new (or old Macromedia influenced) icon design, I quickly know what is what. Who cares if your 6 year old, knows which is which. The products weren’t made for them. The products were made for design professionals on a deadline and hovering over an icon to figure which one I need every time is a waste of billable time.

By: Faruk Ateş

Faruk Ateş — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 14:51:24 +0000

Fantastic write-up, Aral. Certainly hit the nail on the head.

It’s a shame that such an obvious point made by their own userbase is being ignored.

I experienced a similar situation like you had with your software developer example, at a previous company I worked for. I was one of the CMS builders (for the longest time, the only one) and while we largely managed to build the system thinking from our user’s perspective (their expectations, needs and desires), I have to admit that our first two iterations had far too much workflow logic in them that made sense to us but not to our users.

The third one massively improved that, though — lesson learned, for sure. I hope Adobe will learn their lesson about the icons by the time they create new ones for CS4. Very sad it’s too late for them to get the hint for CS3

By: Charles Reynolds

Charles Reynolds — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 17:41:39 +0000

I saw the CS3 icon and said: “Don’t worry the blatant disregard for good design is just because it’s beta”

Out of all icons Adobe icons stood out, showing the creative nature of the program. Realising which was which was a doddle! Now they are recessing in graphics and quality! It’s rediculous it’s like Apple or MS saying that they are going to make all icons distinctive and ugly! It’s an unneccesary change and I think it isn’t required. Why not cater for everyone (Many peopke aren’t color blind, etc.) and offer different skins for the app, good looking and periodic table,

By: John Joyce

John Joyce — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 03:01:50 +0000

Adobe has been drinking it’s own koolaid alright.
Heck the application icons now look like elements from the periodic table of atomic elements!!!

By: Stefan Richter

Stefan Richter — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 20:29:08 +0000

Weird, I like the Apollo icon best… and that one doesn’t use a two letter abbreviation. So well done on that (I bet it’ll get dropped if and when they rename Apollo) but I am not yet convinced on the periodic table stuff…

By: ozgur uksal

ozgur uksal — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 19:02:45 +0000

Aral totally rocks.

By: Phillip Kerman

Phillip Kerman — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 18:00:13 +0000

I’ve been wrong before (as in the case of thinking MX was a dumb idea) but I really have to agree with you here Aral. At first I was going to say this two-letter thing won’t work for localization, but in fact I’m sure all products keep their name regardless of the language. However, here’s the deciding factor for me: my 6 year old can’t figure them out… The REAL point is that she can figure out the old ones. She knows the icon for KidPix and (now thanks to FOTB) Painter. She even knows a good deal of the Painter interface. Your mock up of the Photoshop toolbar is pretty convincing too.

I’m not saying it’s certainly a huge mistake that will cause world collapse… however, it is interesting that no one I’ve heard from Adobe seems to agree in any way with you Aral. I mean, either you’re just totally out there or they really are drinking the koolaid.

I don’t get the colors at all. I can’t wait for the new products that will go into the deep blue area. And, why do any of them have to overlap? Why are there two Acrobat logos? Why is one classroom icon nearly completely covered?

I really do hope it’s a big joke but I really doubt it.

By: LEE

LEE — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 17:39:29 +0000

I think they’re just messing with everyone and are going to roll out something entirely different at launch. Don’t worry Aral = ]

Adobe, bringing back the raging fun, and creativity first discovered in your Junior High science lab? Naaaaah, they’re playing a joke on us = ] Maybe they plan on launching CS3 in April, and are setting the grounds for their April Fools joke. Oops did I give it away?? = p

By: LEE

LEE — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 17:28:53 +0000

Great point…icons are very important in my experience. My wife and I go so far as to replace icons for app’s which we find distasteful, and will likely be doing this for the new CS3 icons.

Here are some dashing replacements, which do a FINE job exemplifying the professionalism, and creative flare of a product we happily throw money at:

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/19215705/?qo=7&q=adobe&qh=boost:popular age_sigma:24h age_scale:5

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/19479011/?qo=4&q=adobe&qh=boost:popular age_sigma:24h age_scale:5

And in general you can find some lovely ones here also:

http://interfacelift.com/

By: John Dowdell

John Dowdell — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 14:51:17 +0000

“I wonder how many people working at Adobe feel they can honestly express their opinions to the Sr. Experience Designer.”

I do… spoke with both Ryan and Michael Gough yesterday. It’s hard for me to imagine anyone in the shop feeling shy about saying what they think. (Both of them come out of the larger design world and are very familiar with the range of strong opinions.)

jd/adobe