Last modified: 2014-05-30 17:55:48 UTC
Created attachment 12849 [details] Original icon, and 2 suggested alternatives The "Insert reference" icon is not very intuitive. I've made a sketch of two alternatives. See attachment, or on-wiki at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:VisualEditor_-_Toolbar_-_Reference-edit1.png That image includes the current icon, and two adaptations that consist of: a snippet of grey text, and a blue super-scripted number [1]. The grey text could be made into abstract letterforms - squiggles - (rather than the letters REF) in order to make it usable by all languages. Or we could use a grey "+" sign with the blue [number]. (The only problem is RightToLeft languages. Not sure how to solve that.) The blue super-scripted [number] is universally recognizable and intuitively understandable as denoting references, both in Wikimedia projects and even beyond. I'd suggest this element, at the least, should form the basis for any replacement icon.
Notes: The current icon is stored at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:VisualEditor_-_Icon_-_Reference.svg Threads on en.wiki which discussed the confusing design of the current icon include these: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:VisualEditor/Feedback#Icons_are_incomprehensible http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:VisualEditor/Feedback/Archive_2013_07#Reference_Issues:_Omnibus_Edition http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:VisualEditor/Feedback/Archive_2013_07#Mystery_meat_navigation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:VisualEditor/Feedback/Archive_2013_07#References http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:VisualEditor/Feedback/Archive_2013_07#Attempting_to_add_a_reference http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:VisualEditor/Feedback/Archive_2013_07#User_experience http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:VisualEditor/Feedback/Archive_2013_07#Refs_and_templates (And one thread that reminds us that cellphones/tablets don't get hover text)
You should include a label besides each button whenever possible. When you have a clear label, it doesn't matter that the icon is hard to recognize. And no, hover text doesn't solve the problem.
I'm going to provisionally deem this solved with the new icon.
