On Adobe Creative Suite CS 2 Icons

Though it was a good read, the article had perhaps the funniest quote I’ve read about icons in a long while:

Ok, before we get into the real features, I feel like this needs attention. Watching the icons in the Adobe CS suite progressively change is like seeing someone in your office getting more and more into the drink. “Mike, I know you’re not explicitly peeing on my keyboard but dude, your belly dancing and constant humming of ‘Life is life’ is distracting.” It’s time the icon people at Adobe got an intervention.

Sure, I’m sure it feels good shedding the old icon constraints but this isn’t Yanni’s postmodern universe. A SEA SHELL AND A FEATHER MEAN NOTHING TO ME.

Ok, an eye fading was a bit clichéd but at least it made sense. I can only imagine the very real confusion that would arise if this became the norm: iTunes would be the feel of wind against your cheek on a June morning, Excel would be a plum listening to Jethro Tull, and the Quake symbol would be replaced by a Beluga whale in Matrix shades. Anyway, my point is that consistency makes sense when you’re chasing a deadline at 4 am and the only thing keeping you going is caffeinated beer and being able to recognize that hazy blob in your app switcher. If not for me, do it for the branding — the branding of the children.

– Adobe Photoshop CS 2 and Adobe Bridge review at Arstechnica