From information to decoration
I just bought a new lawnmower. This is what it tells me:
I know it is important, because the first pictogram says so. That is one of the two pictograms Im familiar with. The other one is hearing protection. Then there are four more that I can guess what are for. The rest? Well, what do you think?
I wonder if all twelve pictograms really are necessary. Apart from the team that came up with this, I dont believe there are anyone in the whole World that can tell what all twelve are for.
Pictograms were cool when they first appeared. But the usage at this point is ridiculous. They have become a decoration that signals "advanced technical stuff" and "from a highly competent company". Which, when you think about it, they prove that they are not.
Could we please get back to old style meaningful pictogramming?
- only the few most relevant pictograms
- upright triangles only used for important warnings
- pictograms placed on the parts that they apply to
- short help texts