Hey Can, thanks for the comment and link to the fovea data, that’s really cool.

I maintain that there is a better solution to the the text fading as the primary object exits focus. I can think of several options that would work well, and that maintain the narrative of the icon+text object without splitting it unnecessarily. One idea would be a ‘parallax’ movement on the icon+text object, similar to older versions of the app switcher, and which use a ‘parenting + parallax’ combo to make the objects connect spatially.

Also, by the time the object is 3 layers deep in the stack, the ‘obscuration’ is so heavy as to render the icon unrecognizable.

I also feel that the fading introduces an inconsistency into the scene, as nothing else fades, they only become more obscured. I would definitely tell this story differently and in a way that gels more with the scene as a whole and look for opportunities to tighten it up.

I get that it doesn’t feel like an opportunity to you, but it does to me :) No right/wrong, just how we interpret the behavior. I also attribute it to having more cognitive load than you do :)

I might work up some motion mockups on this as words don’t fully convey usability sometimes.

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    Issara Willenskomer

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    I write and lead workshops on the topic of motion and usability. www.uxinmotion.com