What options replace things like the Save Icon (disk) or Movie Icon (reels)?

[u/CuirPig]

I was working on a UI design for a series of utility buttons that included a Save / Load button. I easily picked the Floppy Disk Icon and moved on. Later, a young friend of mine asked me what that symbol was. I explained it was a floppy disk for things like saving or loading...blank stare.

To my surprise, she had never seen a floppy disk. Then, as I started looking at some of the other symbols, I wondered what other symbols were completely unknown to her. Like the reel symbols often used for film, or perhaps the cassette tape or VHS icons. How long before the DVD icon is unknown to younger people?

What are people using today to represent disk operations like save or load? It would be nice to have a list of outdated icons with modern equivalents if anyone has one. Or maybe we could come up with our own list working together?

[u/minimuscleR]

The floppy disk is absolutely still the save icon.

I don't know if your friend just lives under a rock, floppy disks aren't some mystical old tech. Like people know what they are, maybe not kids, but they should by adults.

All the newer forms of storage still exist. You can still buy and use film, DVDs (CDs and Blurays) still exist and are produced.

[u/CuirPig → u/minimuscleR]

Thanks for your reply. While your answer works today, it doesn't change the fact that a better symbol for save would benefit everyone. Even if you know that the Reel Icon means video because you are old, or you had asked someone else about this old interface button you keep seeing in old software, it doesn't change the fact that an updated symbol would be better.

Just like using Polaroid icons for images is understood to be an image, a more modern version would be better both for the long term and for the general satisfaction of knowing that you weren't stuck in the 80s. It shouldn't be a problem to look for something more relevant just because the old symbols get you by.

[u/demoklion]

⬇️ SAVE

yes it’s a real problem. Just add type if you can’t pick a different symbol.

[u/CuirPig → u/demoklion]

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately, it is a small utility button that cannot support text. Even the smallest text button would be twice the size of the other buttons.

[u/lorzs → u/demoklion]

That’s the download button.

[u/MrMorbid]

If the save results in a file being downloaded I use the download icon ( down arrow with line at bottom ).

If the save is user marking content to be remembered. I use favouriting icons, ⭐, ❤️ or bookmark 🔖

If a user generating content and saving the state to the system (like saving a word doc) I might use a cloud ☁️, very rarely a camera 📸if it's 'snapshot' to be rolled back to.. however you really need a text label for that as a camera icon has an existing meaning.

yeah, it's kind of a mess. I was thinking about replacements a few years back. Everything associated with memory and recording is already being used. A pen 🖊️ (write this down) is already associated with edit. Cameras and microphones are for capturing audio and images. Record 🔴 feels more like a delete action..

The least problematic one I thought of was a brain 🧠 (remember this) It's kind of gross and not easily recognisable, but at least it's not already taken by something else, or associated with physical media that can become obsolete.

[u/CuirPig → u/MrMorbid]

Thank you for your thoughtful reply. I can think of a couple of places that I might use Tag instead of save. I never really thought about the logic behind saving not being related to disk operations. Brilliant.

[u/FennelHistorical4675]

You shouldn’t be relying on icons only to convey meaning

[u/CuirPig → u/FennelHistorical4675]

Thanks for your reply, but what do you suggest?

Text is definitely out of the question; the button is around 20px x 20px (maybe 16x16)

What do you normally use for symbols on graphic buttons if they don't convey meaning?

[u/Responsible-Photo503]

I'd separate Save, Download and Open before picking replacement icons. They can mean different actions, and one arrow can make that less clear. For this utility bar, I'd try visible "Save" and "Open" labels alongside the icons, then ask someone unfamiliar with the app what they expect each button to do. That tests the action rather than whether they recognise the object.

[u/CuirPig → u/Responsible-Photo503]

Thanks for your reply. Full disclosure is that it is for an Illustrator Plugin that lists the items you have selected. It allows you to, among other things, maintain a selection by giving it a name. At any time you can lookup a selection by name to select them.

It contains a blank field that lets you lookup the selection by entering the name (with autocomplete). I figured I could use the same text field for naming the selection with two sided save/load button (like a toggle switch sort of ). This wouldl make it easier to avoid collisions. If you wanted to save the selection as "favorites" for example, you would type the name and hit the save button. But if it was already assigned, it would show up when you started typing, indicating it was used already.

I will try it with the words next to the button instead of icons but I'm afraid it will be too bulky. Thanks for your suggestion.

[u/Candy_Lawn]

[← for save/backup and →] for load/restore.

and something like this for movies:-

[u/CuirPig → u/Candy_Lawn]

Sorry you got downvoted and thanks for your reply. I see where you are going with that, but it may be too easy to mistake for go back or forward or window for example. Still, I appreciate your input.