2

I'm facing an impasse with a colleague of mine regarding the usage of native iOS / Android icons on one of the apps we are currently building. This very app offers the users the possibility of finding fuel prices around their areas.

When users find a fuel station on the map (Apple Maps for the iOS version, Google Maps for Android version), they are offered with the following UI:

Car pin

The button with the car icon is taking the user to Apple / Google maps and opening up the route to that fuel station.

The problem itself is that i've heard feedback from people that were not involved in the development (and thus don't know how to use the app - yet) saying that the car icon doesn't make it clear that by clicking on it one will be redirected to Apple / Google maps.

So i've searched for a new icon on google and requested feedback to the same people - which agreed that it was already better than the car icon (please don't mind the low res, i'm not a designer and this is just a quick mockup):

enter image description here

But the problem is: the project architect still believes the car is better because users are "used to it", since it's the icon present on Apple Maps / Google Maps. No matter how many people agreed that the second option was better, he just kept claiming that we must always follow the same iconography provided by the manufacturer of the current device / OS and avoid making users "learn" new icons.

So, my questions are:

  • Should i really try to always use icons that look like the ones in the guidelines ?
  • Am i and everyone that agreed that the car icon doesn't make sense wrong?
  • Are there any useful books / articles on iconography for apps out there that i can take a look at ?
  • Is the second option better in this case ?
Improve this question
1
  • As far as the second icon goes, Google doesn't use that to indicate Navigation. Google Maps itself uses a car for navigation. You could also use the Navigation arrow. There is no hard and fast rule for icons to be specific to the design guidelines, however, they should be designed such that their style complements the overall design of the app and ecosystem.
    – Swapnil Borkar
    Jun 17, 2016 at 6:56

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
1

Your second icon is definitely better. It clearly communicates the idea of getting directions/navigation, which is what you want.

I'm not familiar with Apple Maps, but a car is neither the symbol for Google Maps nor the symbol representing directions/navigation within Google Maps. The only thing it is used for is selecting the transportation mode in that context (which is not what you are trying to communicate).

In addition, the car is confusing because fuel stations are car-related. It is ambiguous because it could relate to the context that is being shown in multiple ways.

Improve this answer
0

I would agree that the car isn't a clear icon for the action of going to maps and checking a route to get there.

It's kind of a best practice nowadays to use a pin-type icon (known from apps such as google maps) for showing either a location, or a way to get from "A to B".

Improve this answer

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.