Google Now, Google Why?

A lesson in appropriate icon use.

When Google makes a mistake, they make it beautifully.

Google Now is one of the newest developments in personalized web experiences. You’ll immediately feel the creep factor as it makes note of where you work, what sports teams you like, and where you parked your car. The interface is beautiful and the concept of “cards” feels fresh and friendly. But there’s a lot of work to be done.

What happens when Google Now gets something wrong? Or when I accidentally tell it that I’m interested in something I’m not? Go to the settings, of course… or tap that… magic wand?? Where have I seen that icon before? Oh right, the iOS Photos app uses it as an auto-enhance button. And Youtube’s video editor, which also uses it to denote “enhancements.”

Why on earth is the Google Now’s magic wand button the total opposite of a magic wand? The whole app runs on magic, using it’s intelligence to find you what you want without you doing any work. Then when you actually want to do something yourself, some behind-the-scenes muggle work, they represent it with a magic wand icon. Why.

Ironically, the white-tipped wand is used by magicians to make it easy to see where it is pointing and guide the audience’s eyes away from the secret sleight-of-hand moves. Well this white tip is not easy to follow and it certainly doesn’t hide your bad design.

A gear means settings. It’s one of the most widely recognized icons and one of the few that I would recommend over its word equivalent. Google, why?