Graphic Legibility Enhancement using Simplification Guidelines

This study explores an approach to app icon legibility enhancement. Four areas of research are included: (1) design process; (2) the trend of logo/app icon redesign; (3) graphic legibility and (4) graphic simplification. It presents the results of five experiments designed to capture and compare design principles. Firstly, the result categorised the characteristics of simple shape. Secondly, the agreement of simplification judgement was summarised based on the average score of participants. Thirdly, the impact of each simplification criterion was compared and represented as a ratio; a measurement template and simplification guidelines were also generated at this stage. Fourthly, how this design principle (simplification guidelines) can be applied in practical use by student designers was examined. Finally, the legibility enhancement test was proved by the results of reaction time and accuracy improvement. The findings of this study determined the impact of simplification criteria with regard to: component, open-closed, weight, form, symmetry, angles and straight-curved respectively. After identifying these design principles (simplification guidelines), graphic designers, user interface designers and other users will be enabled to design a more legible logo/app icon design required for display on small devices.