Creating a successful UI solely rests on the presentation and effective relaying of the message to the user. The message can be conveyed through language (labels, content, and so on) or visual elements such as iconography. You can create the most aesthetically pleasing website, but if the language and visual elements of the UI do not support the message, it can be horribly misinterpreted and have a negative impact on the website.
Semiotics is timeless, and having a good understanding of this subject is priceless in the long run. Web design trends change monthly, but semiotics is an established field of study with tremendous insights into the user’s understanding of visuals. With a good understanding of semiotics, you can create effective iconography that conveys a message that will not confuse the user. The biggest challenge with iconography is not size, but that the visual element, which is the icon...