Today we focus on tiny circles we couldn’t live without: operating buttons.
The whole concept of being able to use only a finger to make something (or someone) do your bidding is rather attractive. It makes us feel powerful and in control.
George Eastman tapped into this sentiment when he tried to popularise photography in the 1890’s, and came up with the perfect slogan:
“You press the button, we do the rest.”
Thus started the rise of the button - and for over a hundred years we have used buttons to operate machines, to play music, to open doors.
Sometimes even to close them - although the ‘close doors’ on many elevators is actually disabled. Good to know.
All day you press buttons without thinking about it - and the buttons actually tell you what to do using icons and colours.
For example:
Red buttons: stop, disable, start something scary.
Green buttons: start something good.
Triangular button: play music or video.
And the familiar power button icon is a very clever visual integration of the old I/0 switch.
Today, observe how many buttons you push in your life - and how they’re communicating with you.
What do they look like?
How do you operate them?
What are they telling you to do?
Capture them, and share them using the hashtag #kramerseye on Instagram or Twitter.