Outdated Icons, Outdated Thinking: Why It's Time to Modernize Visuals in eLearning

When I started this career, the floppy disk icon was the perfect way to show “Save.” A computer tower represented “Technology.” A filing cabinet meant “Documents.” But here I am, many years later, building eLearning modules in 2025—and I have to admit, those icons don’t connect the way they once did.

Today’s workforce spans generations. We have Gen Z learners who have never touched a floppy disk and Millennials who grew up in a cloud-based world. Even Gen X and Boomers—my own peers—rarely encounter floppy disks or beige desktops anymore. If the icons we choose don’t resonate with their lived experience, they stop being helpful visual cues and start becoming distractions.

Icons are supposed to make learning easier. They’re shorthand for concepts, a way to speed recognition and reduce cognitive load. But if learners pause to think, “What is that square with a notch supposed to be?” then we’ve already failed. Our visuals should support learning, not require translation.

So, what should we do instead? We need to design with relevance in mind. If I want to represent “Software,” maybe it’s not a floppy disk anymore—maybe it’s an app window, a gear, or even a simple cloud icon. If I want to convey “technology,” I might lean on modern devices: a smartphone, a sleek laptop, or a network graphic. The key is to align visuals with the tools people actually use in their daily lives.

This isn’t about nostalgia or resisting change—it’s about keeping training content accessible, relatable, and modern. Every design choice tells a story about how in touch (or out of touch) we are with the people we’re designing for.

As instructional designers, we’re not just content creators. We’re translators between complexity and clarity, between theory and application. Our icons, as small as they may seem, carry weight in that translation. If we want learners to take our modules seriously, we need to show them that we understand their world—and that starts with something as simple as rethinking the visuals we’ve been using for decades.

So, here’s my challenge to myself and to you: the next time you reach for the floppy disk icon, pause. Ask yourself: Is this truly the best symbol for today’s learners? If not, it’s time to retire it and embrace visuals that match the present—and the future.