: Icons to represent "browse" On higher level nodes of our site we have a utility nav with only 3 links: "sign in", "register", and "browse". The text labels for these actions are too long to
On higher level nodes of our site we have a utility nav with only 3 links: "sign in", "register", and "browse". The text labels for these actions are too long to keep fully visible at screen sizes 480px and under so we'll be using media queries to render them as icons. Normally we would simply collapse into the 3-bar menu toggle BUT some of these screens will also have a local nav with many links that we will be treating in that manner -- so we don't want to render two 3-bar menu icons. Instead, we'd like to do something like show a user profile icon for the sign-in/register link and something for "browse" (whose label at above 480px is "Browse by Discipline").
Maybe we need to rethink this approach but we were hoping to somehow represent "browse" but have come up with nothing satisfactory. A magnifying glass reads too strongly as "search" and the old binoculars seems awfully lame.
Any ideas or examples in the wild? All suggestions appreciated!
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It's rare to see icons for "Browse" these days. Think about what those buttons' roles normally would be:
Sign in: [button for existing users who've been logged out or on a new machine]
Register: [button for super-keen new users convinced they want an account]
Browse: [everything else a user might have come to the site for].
So it normally doesn't make sense to think in terms of representing the abstract concept of browsing. 'Browsing opportunities' isn't the unique attraction your user has come to your site for!
Instead, think in terms of what role that button plays:
If it's essentially 'Start here' or 'Continue to main site', something like a bold, simple emphasised arrow pointing right might be clearer. Or maybe even a 'Home' icon.
If it's 'This is where to get a list of disciplines', think icons for lists, or icons for 'Disciplines'.
If it's some other specific type of thing, think about what would catch the eye of someone looking for that specific type of thing.
(and I'd suggest only going with books, binoculars, compasses etc if you're selling books, binoculars or compasses to people who are looking for books, binoculars or compasses...)
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