The effect of age on perception and preference of app icon styles

Abstract

Hand-held computer devices, such as smartphone, tablet etc., are popularly used at present. The icon styles for the apps in those devices can be generally classified into two types, namely, Aqua and Metro. How they can be perceived and preferred by people in different ages? What are the design features of these styles? This study aims to explore the relationship between icons’ style and perception on different ages. 10 Aqua and 10 Metro icons with same meanings were sampled. 300 respondents, evenly distributed in genders, aged 16–65 years old, stratified in ten age groups were recruited to do the test. A 5-point Likert scale was used to evaluate the perception of icons. The study examined the perception and preference of different age groups in using app icons of Metro and Aqua style. Four distinct design features, i.e. concrete, abstract, flatness and stereoscopic were also examined. In particular, it investigated whether an icon image that is concrete and solid at the same time can be more legible and preferable by the respondent. It also analyzed whether male and female exhibit different degree of perception and preference over different styles. It was found that the perception on Aqua icons was not significantly different among 10 age groups. In contrast, the perception of Metro icons was significantly different between two age groups: 16–30 and 31–65. All age groups prefer Aqua to Metro, especially on older groups aged beyond 31. Younger groups tend to be more comfortable with Metro than the older groups did. The study also found that perception was strongly influenced by concrete and abstract features.