Humans in order to recognize, express, and exchange information with a more convenient method, a series of graphs and symbols with referent meanings were invented which we called Pictographic language. The pictographic language was invented and developed between the 31st century BC and the 2nd century AD.
Now, designers in order to reduce the learning costs for users when they meet the new icons. The icons designed for different apps have become more and more similar. Just like a kind of new “language” which learn from the pictographic language.
Alipay is a necessary app in China. Almost every people only bring their phone when they go out because of this app. Now, the Alipay not only work as a digital wallet but also has varieties of functions. We can find a lot of icons on it.
Ant Forest is a little app in the Alipay. Users can collect energy in their “carbon account” through reducing carbon emissions, which can be used to maintain a virtual tree in Alipay. After the virtual tree grows up, users can plant an entity tree in a certain region in reality.
Ant forest’s icon is combined both ant and tree. The tree in the ant also works as an ant’s mouth. This kind of mimicry method for the tree and ant is very similar to the Egyptian hieroglyphics and stone age symbols.
This is the bill icon in the Alipay. The square clearly shows the meaning of paper. From the stone age, people use “-” to show the symbol of record something. Combine these two together, shows that some information is recorded on the paper, which implies users the meaning of the bill.
Thank you for sharing! It’s good to know that designers in order to reduce the learning costs for users when they meet the new icons.
I would humbly disagree that “A pictogram or ideogram which is displayed on a computer screen. This is the definition of the icon.” There is no assumption that an icon is displayed on a computer screen—even though this prompt is about digital display. I think you are trying to say that Icons, displayed on computer screens, are generally pictograms or ideograms. Your posting would be stronger without the first paragraph. The rest is very interesting and I like the comparisons to both stone age and Egyptian.