There are surprisingly many "Shared" icon styles and which one should be selected actually

If you are using smartphones and SNS frequently, you probably have used the "share" feature almost certainly. Its function is to pass photos taken by myself to someone via e-mail or cloud, or to introduce entries my friend wrote in SNS, but Icon representing it There are unexpectedly various designs by each vendor. Min Ming Lo, who is also a software developer and designer, compares the icons used to represent "share" in the world, and summarizes the differences among the ideas of each vendor hidden in it.

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◆ Uploader type: iOS 7


The arrow pointing outward from the square box The icon signifying this "share" first appeared in the place of WWDC 2013 which iOS 7 debuted, and it came to be seen by the people. When Min Ming Lo introduced this icon on his own blog, he said that unpleasant voices were received from the surroundings.

The reason was that it was similar to the existing "download" icon, so it was impossible to understand the meaning accurately. As the illustration below shows, when aligned with the "Download" icon on the left, it is no wonder that the new icon is understood as "upload".


◆ Outward arrow: iOS 7 or earlier


Until the design of the icon on iOS 7 was changed, it was an icon used in iOS and Mac OS. Although the combination "square box + arrow" itself can be said to be the same as iOS 7, it can be said that there were many people who can realize the meaning of "share" in the design that imagines something popping out of the tray.

◆ 3 dot type: Android 4.0 or later


The design of "three dots and two lines connecting them" which is widely used in Android terminals is a plug-in for developersShareThisBut that logo is also used. Although it seems that there seems to be a person who seems to have someone who said imaichi meaning did not convey well at first glance, the concept is that information is transmitted from one node (individual) represented on the left side to another node on the right It is thought that it represents. In that sense, many people say Android users have come to understand the meaning while using it for a while.

The above image is based on the motif of Min Ming Lo's image search of "Share icon" as a keyword, and seven out of ten are motifs of three dots.

◆ Y shape: Android 3 or earlier


The icon used by Android version 3 or earlier was this icon which caused multiple arrows to jump out of one dot. Along with upgrading Android version, although it is a design that has become less visible now, "It can be said that it represents the most accurate content from the viewpoint of representing motion," Min Ming Lo gives a high evaluation At the same time, "points that are symmetrical" are said to be superior in terms of design.

◆ Circle (yen) type: Windows 8


Even icons used in Windows 8 use three dots, but the layout is very different from Android. For this design where three dots are connected to a circle, Min Ming Lo says, "This is also an abstract concept and if the caption" share "is not attached, the user It may not be possible to understand the meaning, "she seems not accepting favorably favorably.

◆ Present type: Windows Phone 7


About this icon representing "gifts" that looks like that, Min Ming Lo gives a certain evaluation that "I think it's changed but I think it is interesting." However, the act of sharing on a smartphone is basically "copying" the content to the opponent, and it is noteworthy that it is not "not left at hand" like an actual gift . When Min Min Ling actually saw this icon for the first time, the meaning was "I could not find it at all".

It is an icon that seems to be pretty and a fun appearance, but with Windows Phone 7 it seems that it will end up as short as 2 years.

◆ Two hands: Open Share icon


"Holding Universal Design Representing" Share "ShareaholicThe icon created by the icon is an icon that imitates the wrapping of dots with these two hands. Its origins are explained as follows.

The icon of Open Share is an icon including the act of "passing" or "sharing" by expressing how one object is handed over from one hand to the other hand. At the same time, this icon imitates human eyes and also includes the meaning "Please look here."

It is an icon convinced when I hear it, but conversely, Min Ming Lo says that it can be said that the meaning does not convey unintentionally only by looking at once.

◆ Others · Diffusion type


It seems that it expresses the meaning "spread the object widely" well, it seems to be said that it is too complex as the icon design.

◆ Other · Anomalous dot type


By changing the size of the dot, it seems to be said that the relationship between the share source and the receiving side is expressed, but in the sense that it refers to the act itself of "share", the sense of confusion a little is also ants.

◆ Others - Palm type


It is a palm icon that has been used until a few years ago, but mainly about sharing activity on the local network, which is slightly different from that on a wide social network.

◆ Others · People icon type


It is a style in which humanoid icons representing members of the group are arranged, but this has a strong sense to point to a specific "group", and in that sense it seems to be said that the target is also different from those on a wide social network .

◆ Extra version · Straw type
Min Ming Lo asks a friend, "What kind of design would you design if you represented the act of" sharing "with an icon?" Then the friend said that he drew illustrations showing a sight that shared drinks like milkshakes with two people.


About this idea Min Min Ling says, "I think it is a very interesting idea to express the act of sharing skillfully, but it says," Milkshake matches other icons "or" what they share only between the two " The implication is that the meaning will become stronger ".

While saying, Min Ming Lo who made sharpness and vector icons.


◆ Summary
The following image summarizes the style of icons listed up to this point. After all, which icon to pickIcon is used environment or sceneIt is important that basically it should be used on iOS, iOS, what is used on Android should also be suitable for it, unless there is a good reasonYou should not use iOS 'upload icon' on AndroidIt is said. On top of that, Min Ming Lo says "Personally the best icon is" Y-shaped "with symmetrical shape."