No More Icons In Every Menu By Default

Jim Nielsen welcomes Apple removing default icons from every menu item in macOS Golden Gate, notes the new Human Interface Guidelines now cite Tahoe's menus as what not to do, and reflects on how choosing not to do something you've done is experience.

Have you heard the good news? I bemoaned the approach of putting an icon in every menu item by default which shipped with macOS Tahoe — but now it’s gone in Golden Gate!

John Gruber wrote about this reversion back in June, including the fact that Apple’s new Human Interface Guidelines specifically call out Tahoe’s approach to menus as an example of what not to do on macOS.

Two menu lists showing days of the week; one with icons marked incorrect, one without icons marked correct, illustrating consistent visual treatment. Text advises uniform design and guidance on icons.

As the old saying goes, it takes a big ~~man~~ corporation to admit when they’re wrong.

As I mentioned in my original post, one of the arguments I had in my quiver against this practice was “Apple doesn’t do it”. But once Apple started putting icons in all their menus in Tahoe, I lost a persuasive point in my argument.

But now, I think I have an argument that’s even stronger than before!

It’s no longer: “Apple doesn’t put icons in their menus.”

It’s: “Apple tried putting icons in all their menus, and even they went back on it!”

They designed it, shipped it, lived with it for a year, then publicly changed their guidance on it. To me, that’s a lot more persuasive than simply saying, “Apple doesn’t do this.”

Choosing not to do something you’ve never done is one thing.

Choosing not to do something you’ve done is experience.

That’s the essence of life: learning by doing.