this post was submitted on 02 Feb 2025
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We reached the point (some time ago) where the save icon being a floppy disk makes absolutely no sense to anyone born after a certain time. We could choose a more modern media format and use an icon of that instead, but we would run into the same problem once that media becomes obsolete.

What is a good icon for the function of saving something that can easily be understood by anyone regardless of language or the march of time?

Edit: I know it's not really an answerable question and is hard but the question is what would you come up with if tasks to design an icon. Given the constraints of the question, what are your best shots at coming up with something that fills the requirements and why do you thing it would work?

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

What are you doing when you save something? You’re keeping it in its current state, held in stasis, to be retrieved later. Maybe using freezing imagery (like a snowflake) could get that concept across, and it would retain its meaning over time.

Another way to think of saving is storage - putting something in a convenient location for later access. A safe might be a useful image, but it implies security. Other types of storage devices seem too likely to change with time. Maybe a pocket? If there was a way to graphically represent putting something in your pocket that would be a fairly universal and durable image.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

Your second sentence makes me think an equal sign would be appropriate.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 hours ago

An equation does not need to be identical on both sides, just equal in value.

Also both sides don’t need to be unchanged. In fact mostly they don’t.

= does not convey persistence in any way for me (& I guess most people).