The article argues that enforcing uniform shapes and styles across icon sets limits each icon’s potential to be distinctive and memorable. It contrasts macOS’s original, varied icons—which excel individually—with modern, systematized icons that sacrifice uniqueness for easy consistency.

• Old macOS icons had no shared shape/material/lighting rules, which made each one distinctive and memorable on its own terms
• Modern Creator Studio-style icons force everything into the same rounded-rectangle frame with matching gradients and depth, making the set look tidy but forgettable
• Rule-based design systems are easy to automate and enforce, but excellence requires judgment and context that can't be reduced to a style guide
• Prioritizing group consistency (shape, stroke, shadow) caps how good any individual icon can be; consistency should instead come from shared quality standards, not matching visual details

The article critiques the icon design in macOS Tahoe, highlighting issues such as clutter, inconsistency, and poor usability. It argues that the proliferation of icons dilutes their effectiveness, making it harder for users to navigate and understand the interface. Additionally, the piece discusses how the small size and detail of icons contribute to confusion and frustration.

• macOS Tahoe's icon redesign introduces visual clutter and inconsistency across the system, making icons harder to distinguish at a glance.
• The sheer proliferation of icon styles and details dilutes their usefulness as quick visual identifiers, undermining their core purpose.
• Small icon sizes combined with excessive detail cause confusion, forcing users to work harder to recognize and navigate apps.