Medium’s genius UX move — the golden 4-point star

How the smallest digital design change can create a huge impact in curiosity and joy

August 1st seems to be a super-important date for launching app and UX interface updates. Many sites have launched updates on this date in 2022. And we all know, updates are meant to deliver a stronger, more secure, and more delightful product to the trusted customers and creators.

Medium has done exactly that. Their new icon addition, a 4-point golden star on the profile picture, jumped out at me at once upon opening my page. I was surprised and fascinated at once.

As an icon, it is elegant, inspiring, and contemporary.

Without knowing the why, I expect this icon to bring me oodles of joy and happiness, from now on till forever.

This yellow star seems to be my compass for my path ahead, its points symbolizing the four cardinal directions, north, east, south, west.

The icon’s yellow-golden color suggested rays of sun and warmth. Or, the color of a star in the sky. Similarly, the color of happiness.

The star’s white outline suggests boldness, a negative space reinterpreted as shiny glow. It has a nice balance.

I googled this yellow-golden star at once. I could not find much, but Medium writer Jason Provencio has written an insightful review on the golden star. He is as smitten as I am. There are no answers in…