Users don't understand the "Plug" toolbar icon (which points to the modules page) [#1891096]

Problem/Motivation

Usability testing showed participants did not understand what the plug represented. Perhaps the electrical plug does not translate to "plugin" which would not translate to extend and modules.

Proposed resolution

A) pick a more universal icon to represent Extend or Modules. Participant suggested a plus sign.
B) consider allowing an way for translation files to localize the icons (pick icons that make sense for their language).

Remaining tasks

Discuss.
Do more user testing?
Link to the issue that picked the icon originally to see discussion that has already taken place.

User interface changes

Change to the icon.

API changes

No API changes.

Original report in User testing report

http://groups.drupal.org/node/271918

Our beginner said: "Extend: is this a wall plug?!", "I did not know what Extend means", "I did not know what the wall plug meant", "Is still don’t know what it means", "It meant 'connect' to something to me, maybe a plus sign there would help"

Comments

Comment #1

ry5n CreditAttribution: ry5n commented 17 January 2013 at 16:03

From the original user testing report (quotes from participants), I suspect this is not solely a problem with the icon but also the label ('Extend') and the icon/label combination. If we could rename modules 'plugins', I'd bet the plug icon would test much better. If we are looking for a replacement icon we should consider choosing a new label first.

In any case, a 'plus' wouldn't be a good solution, since it typically means 'add new' or 'create'. That doesn't fit the task of installing and managing modules. Other options in common use for the concept of add-ons/plugins/extensions are the 'puzzle piece' icon and the 'lego brick' icon.

Comment #2

YesCT CreditAttribution: YesCT commented 17 January 2013 at 18:30

Issue tags:

+Usability, +budapest2012

Comment #3

jwilson3

English

Ecuador

CreditAttribution: jwilson3 commented 17 January 2013 at 18:50

How about a Puzzle piece for an icon? The plus sign is waay to generic to be helpful IHMO.

UPDATE: doh, and i just saw this was already suggested in #1 :-|

Comment #4

YesCT CreditAttribution: YesCT commented 17 January 2013 at 19:26

Which other systems (firefox? others?) use puzzle piece for this kind of add-ons/Extend/Plugins?

Comment #5

ry5n CreditAttribution: ry5n commented 18 January 2013 at 03:20

I believe Firefox, Safari and Chrome all use the puzzle piece icon. They all also use the term 'extension' (FF uses 'add-on' as a more generic term). I happened to notice CKeditor uses the icon on their website along with the term 'plugin'.

Comment #6

dubcanada CreditAttribution: dubcanada commented 22 February 2013 at 19:27

The "Plug" only makes sense if they are called "Plugins" since it is (weirdly if I may add) called "Extend" it should be something which says "Extend".

That being said my vote goes for "Puzzle Piece".

Comment #7

YesCT CreditAttribution: YesCT commented 26 March 2013 at 05:25

Issue tags:

+needs initial patch

ok. looks like there is general leaning toward puzzle piece.

so, needs initial patch to implement that.
is there any advice from people who have worked on the other icons for making this new one?

Comment #7.0

YesCT CreditAttribution: YesCT commented 26 March 2013 at 05:25

Issue summary:

View changes

Updated issue summary with quote from the testing, and the related issue about renaming to extends.

Comment #8

asif_khan CreditAttribution: asif_khan commented 25 December 2013 at 14:25

what about lego block type icon because puzzle piece is represented as something is missing and needs to complete in other hand lego block is as modules which helps to build something, from what blocks (modules) we have and we can add more lego blocks (contrib) to achieve to something we want.

Comment #9

Wim Leers

Ghent 🇧🇪🇪🇺

CreditAttribution: Wim Leers commented 5 November 2014 at 13:19

Title:	Plug Toolbar icon does not indicate the place to extend and enable modules	» Users don't understand the "Plug" toolbar icon (which points to the modules page)
Issue summary:	View changes

Better title.