Suggestion: Adding GUI Icons Alongside Shortcuts in Blender

Dear Blender Development Team,

I have been a long-time user of 3ds Max, which was the first software I learned when I started my journey in 3D. For many years, I have mainly used it for architectural visualization (interior and exterior).

However, my original motivation for entering the 3D field was for animation (especially character animation) and visual effects. At one point, I even worked extensively with the old 3ds Max “Reactor” system, which I found very limited and outdated. That was when I realized that 3ds Max was not truly designed for such purposes, unlike Maya at the time.

When Blender started to gain recognition, I was really excited, because it felt like a revolution for artists who wanted to expand their work. I started learning it with great enthusiasm.

But soon, I discovered a major limitation (at least from my perspective): Blender relies too heavily on shortcuts as the primary way of executing commands. In comparison, 3ds Max offers both shortcuts and icons/buttons, allowing users to:

Choose whichever method they prefer.

Customize their interface freely according to their workflow.

Rely less on memorizing shortcuts during the learning phase.

I strongly believe this is a barrier for many new users. It is common for artists to start with GUI buttons/icons, and then gradually adopt shortcuts as they become more advanced and comfortable.

👉 My suggestion: Please consider adding optional GUI icons/buttons alongside the existing shortcuts. This will make Blender more welcoming to new users, while still keeping the speed and flexibility that advanced artists love.

Thank you for your hard work and dedication to making Blender such an incredible tool. I truly believe that with this improvement, Blender will become even more accessible to a wider community of artists.

Best regards, MaxMagico