Susan Kare icons revolution: il design che democratizza l’informatica

Abstract

The study explores the revolutionary contributions of Susan Kare, designer of the first graphical icons for the Macintosh 1984, examining the innovation and method that transformed early Human Computer Interaction. Kare's work laid the foundation for modern UX/UI design, introducing visual symbols that were intuitive and accessible. Through a meticulous design approach – starting from pixelated sketches on graph paper her icons not only democratized computer use but also brought a humanistic vision to technology. This paper contextualizes her achievements within the evolution of Graphical User Interfaces (GUI), underlining the enduring influence of her design language on contemporary digital systems.