[TYPO3-v4] 4.4 skin: EM load / unload icons

[Jigal van Hemert]

Steffen Gebert wrote:
> Yes, that's the consistency, Lars wants to bring into the BE: It shows 
> the status, click to change it.
> Also the bulbs hide/unhide are changed now: The show the status, instead 
> of the action. This is now consistent to the (-) symbols in the page tree.
> We did the same for EM so.

There is no clue that a click will change anything. Besides, some icons 
in the interface show an action (move up/down, edit, show,...) others 
show a status. Some of the status icons have a context menu with actions 
(pagetree icons), other have a mysterious action on click.

Icons which (also) perform an action should indicate that action. That's 
what the small overlay icons are used for in most UIs. A page icon with 
a pencil overlay: edit document; an icon with plus overlay: create 
element; a user icon with a delete overlay: delete user.

Then again: what is the delete-icon? Sometimes it's trash can, sometimes 
it's a red disc with white 'minus'-sign.
Hide-icon: a light bulb (very hard to recognize) with a delete 
overlay... So, it'll delete the light... oh yes, it will become invisible.

A golden oldie in icon design gone wrong (not TYPO3 specific, it's a 
general problem): a link has an icon with a small piece of chain on it. 
This is very specific to the English language. A link is also an element 
of a chain, but in other languages such a bent piece of metal has a 
completely different name which has nothing to do with a web link. It 
would be like using an icon of a picture frame for a list (in Dutch a 
picture frame is called 'lijst', the same word that is used for list).

I'd also like to use a normal garbage can icon for the recycler. It's 
very hard to recognize an over filled garbage can with the lid next to it.

Proposals:
- use clear icon overlays for actions. Since the red-disc-with-minus is 
already used in several places for hidden (pagetree) and because it is 
used in many countries in traffic signs for no access, a (red) 'x' 
should be used for delete actions.
- icon overlays for actions should have a fixed position. This way it 
becomes clear if an icon has an action when clicked.
- status should be shown in the icon itself if possible (unless the 
states become too complex, but then the function of the icon becomes 
completely different)
- make related icons consistent (see attachment for versioning/workspace 
icons)
- please, make icons not language dependent.

Sorry for the ranting, but 4.4 is *the* chance to get the UI right for 
the next couple of versions of TYPO3.

-- 
Jigal van Hemert
skype:jigal.van.hemert
msn: jigal at xs4all.nl
http://twitter.com/jigalvh