This is “shuffle button” from Spotify. Crisscrossing arrows represents the randomization of song order. This icon is simple and intuitive, mainly because of the global familiarity with the symbol.For Spotify users, the learning curve is short. However, the shuffle icon requires users to associate the crossed arrows with the concept of randomness, which may not be obvious to first-time users, but is quickly learned. Even for those users who are not tech savvy.

The Mayan system of writing contains more than 800 characters, including some that are hieroglyphic and other phonetic signs representing syllables. The metaphors used in these pictographs often required cultural and religious knowledge to fully understand.

Spotify’s icons are highly simplified, abstract, and easy to understand, designed for a global, digital audience.Mayan hieroglyphs conveyed more complex and culturally specific ideas, often requiring a deeper understanding of the society’s symbols and language. While both systems rely on visual communication, the level of learning and cultural background required to fully understand Mayan hieroglyphics is much higher.