Beware of Style in Icon Design!
http://www.hceye.org/UsabilityInsights/?p=72

Katre, Dinesh S.
Journal of HCI Vistas
2007

Abstract:

The icons or baby faces used as part of user interface have now turned into a major aspect of product branding. With powerful computers, enhanced graphics capabilities, advanced tools for illustration, and professionals to advocate rich user experience, icon design has become more important and complex than ever before! Windows Vista has raised the standard of quality icons even higher. An interface design project forced me to think about ’style’ in icon design. It raised some basic questions in my mind.