Originally posted 18 days ago by Erol Ahmed, Creative Principal at Punch
When every pixel counts, designers are forced to get creative—even with words. Erol Ahmed recently posed a challenge to the community: How do you best abbreviate the word “yesterday” when space is at a premium? This question isn’t just about shortening a word; it’s about balancing clarity with extreme space constraints, such as those found on a tiny map pin.
The Challenge
Inside the map pin, Erol’s design needs to communicate the concept of “yesterday” without using too many characters. His current options include:
- ystdy
- ystd
- yday
For context, his system also abbreviates other time-related terms:
- Weekend becomes “Wknd”
- Monday-Sunday is abbreviated as “Mon-Sun”
- Tomorrow appears as “Tmrw”
Yet, while words like “tomorrow” have clear, albeit informal, abbreviations, “yesterday” remains an unsolved puzzle.
Community Insights
The responses from the design community reveal a mix of practical suggestions and concerns:
- Time-Based Alternatives:
Koos Looijesteijn suggests ditching the word altogether in favor of a relative time measure, like “12h ago.” This approach not only sidesteps the abbreviation issue but could also be more intuitive for users. - Clarity Over Convention:
Jennifer Nguyen points out that any abbreviation for “yesterday” might require a tooltip for clarification, since it isn’t common knowledge. However, she also notes that tooltips might not work well on such a small interface element. - Design Constraints:
Given that the abbreviation must fit within a map pin, every character counts. Erol acknowledges the challenge and wonders if the context provided by other abbreviated time terms might eventually educate users—despite the inevitable learning curve. - Rethinking the Layout:
Kemie Guaida raises the possibility of revisiting the layout entirely. If abbreviations for “yesterday” are too confusing, maybe the design should be adjusted to allow for the full word, or a different method of conveying time could be employed.
Considerations for the Best Solution
Choosing the best abbreviation for “yesterday” isn’t just a matter of reducing character count; it’s about ensuring users immediately understand what it represents. Some key considerations include:
- User Understanding:
A relative time format like “12h ago” might be more immediately clear, especially if users are accustomed to seeing time expressed in hours rather than abbreviated words. - Consistency:
Any abbreviation used should fit seamlessly with the other time abbreviations within the app (e.g., “Tmrw” for tomorrow). Consistent design language helps users acclimate to these shortcuts over time. - Space vs. Clarity:
In ultra-constrained spaces like a map pin, sometimes design compromises are necessary. The trade-off between fitting a word into a small area and ensuring it remains legible and meaningful is a common challenge in UI design.
Conclusion
While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to abbreviating “yesterday,” the discussion underscores a broader design dilemma: how to communicate effectively within tight constraints. Whether you opt for a literal abbreviation like “yday” or a time-based alternative like “12h ago,” the key is to prioritize clarity and consistency. Testing different approaches with real users might ultimately be the best way to determine which solution resonates most effectively in your specific context.