Title: The Woman Who Gave the Macintosh a Smile
Context: Just because it’s old school, doesn’t mean it still can’t teach you a thing or two.
Synopsis: Designs that stand the test of time are few and far between. The Great Pyramid. The Model T Ford. The smiling Mac icon. Yes, you heard me, the smiling Mac icon is a first ballot design Hall of Famer for sure. Truly great designs don’t just last, they change the course of history. Few elements of digital design are as elemental as iconography, and almost none are as rare as good iconography. The pixel constraints on canvas size and early monochromism didn’t limit the imagination, they fueled an aesthetic that prioritized simplicity and clarity from which timelessness flowed. Great design isn’t always about thinking big, rather, it’s often more important to simply think different.
Best Bit: “The command icon, still right there to the left of your space bar, was based on a Swedish campground sign meaning ‘interesting feature,’ pulled from a book of historical symbols.”
via newyorker.com
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