Apple Command Icon (1983)
Date
Credits
- Susan Kare 9 Graphic Designer
Techniques
- illustration 361
Locations Made
- United States 1045
- California 270
The Command Icon, designed by Susan Kare in 1983 for the original Apple Macintosh, is one of the most influential symbols in digital interface history. Kare discovered the symbol in a Swedish symbol dictionary, where it marked “places of interest.” She adapted it into a pixel‑grid form that could be rendered on the early Macintosh’s low‑resolution screen.
This icon represents Kare’s unique approach to visual problem‑solving: blending cultural research, semiotics, and minimalist pixel design. Instead of relying on literal imagery, she chose a symbol that communicated meaning through abstraction and clarity. The Command Icon became a core part of Apple’s visual language and remains in use today across macOS and iOS.
Refer to the YouTube link provided; the relevant section begins at 15:20 where Susan Kare discusses the Command icon.
