“You 3D Printed the save icon!”

Skeuomorphism is the design concept of making items represented resemble their real-world counterparts. When transitioning from analog to digital, it was a no brainer to use skeuomorphic icons in digital design to help make the change easier for people.

Now there’s a new generation who haven’t even seen any of the items these icons are based on. Do they still work as icons though?

The Floppy disk ‘save icon’

I remember having a set of colorful transparent floppy disks. I thought it was the coolest thing ever. (Do I sound old yet?) While I remembering saving random documents on them and taking it over to a friend’s place, that never happens nowadays. Everything is either in a cloud or a usb.

The Clipboard ‘paste icon’

Clipboard are still present in doctor’s offices and such. Aside from that, clipboards aren’t a thing anymore either. Back then, clipboards were used to keep clippings together and organized when someone needed to alter a hardcopy of a document. There’s no need for that anymore.

The Phone ‘call icon’

Yes, it’s a phone. It is used to make calls. However, phones with a handset are slowly disappearing along with landlines. Some people only use their cell phones nowadays. There are people out there who have never seen an actual landline phone before! Not only would they not know where this icon came from, they’ve never had the satisfaction of slamming the phone to hang up when they’re mad!

The Reel tape ‘voicemail icon’

Back to the having an actual phone with a handset again. Voicemails used to be recorded on actual tapes that were on the phone! Hence the reel tape on spools for the icon. You definitely don’t see those anymore. I don’t think anyone records anything on spools anymore. Yet, the icon still exists and works well anyway.

The Envelope ‘mail icon’

Fewer people are sending snail mail now. Many don’t even remember which address goes where on the envelope. The newer generations probably never even used an envelope to mail anything. Soon they might even ask what a stamp is! But that won’t stop them from composing an email or knowing which app is for their emails. I hope.