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is skeuomorphism still applicable if the symbol has lost meaning to most? (lemmy.world)
submitted 9 months ago by to c/showerthoughts@lemmy.world
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Skeuomorphism is a design where there look of an object used for a function is copied in a tool performing the same function.

Like early electric lights where made to mimic candelabra, lemon juice is put in a container in the shape of a lemon or the 'call' button on a smartphone has the icon of an analog phone on it.

In the latter case there's a word thing going on. With the telephone as with the floppy symbol on the save button, there is a point where more people have never used the depicted object. There is a certain point in time where the symbol is used longer than the actual thing.

If that's the case, can we still call it skeuomorphic?

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[–] 4 points 9 months ago

The problem is that modern smartphones do so much that phone use is a vanishingly small part of their actual use patterns. So if you want an icon to indicate "make a voice call", it's probably more confusing than clear. Whereas an old fashioned phone headset indicates exactly and only that purpose.

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