Elevator buttons

by Paul on Thursday, 28 July, 2011 4 Comments

Elevator buttons

Elevator buttons

Are you ever confused by the array of buttons presented to you upon entering an elevator? I find it especially confusing when:

  1. a combination of numbers and letters are used for floors
  2. the letter G isn’t used for the ground floor
  3. basement parking levels start at a number greater than 0
  4. floors are numbered with various colours that seem to mean something important
  5. floors are labeled with landmarks unknown to me

This is the elevator at the Cape Quarter. Upon entering one is met with a combination of the points I made above. Not only this, but one’s also overwhelmed by a large poster, a confusing legend, that attempts to guide visitors to the right button.

All that I wanted was to go to the ground level – but as the doors closed and the elevator departed, overwhelmed, I found myself pondering the merits of taking a trip to destination unknown.


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  1. 1mjw
    Sunday, 31 July, 2011 at 14:25

    That’s horrible usability. I can’t believe someone designed that and then someone else actually authorised it to be used.

    If your “functional” design needs a legend it’s not intuitive and you have failed as a designer.

    Makes me want to go and see the lift now, though. Thanks for that.

  2. 2Paul
    Sunday, 31 July, 2011 at 14:28

    Thanks mjw – glad that you agree! While you’re visiting, perhaps you should indulge in macarons from Daniela’s while you’re there. :)

  3. 3Chris M
    Monday, 1 August, 2011 at 13:12

    Those are sweet!

  4. 4Paul
    Monday, 1 August, 2011 at 18:24

    The macarons you mean? Of course you do. :)

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