The My Feed and notification icons do not appropriately represent the function they are trying to convey. New users may find it difficult to match the icon with it’s unrelated purpose.
Below are reasons as to why these two icons in particular are problematic and suggestions as to their replacements, although if your UX and UI team finds a better solution by all means follow their direction.
The current icon for My Feed is a lightning bolt, which has almost zero relation to the purpose of a feed. For those unaware, it’s an area to view group shouts from all shouts you are in (they removed personal, user-based shouts.)
A much more representative icon would be one of a loudspeaker. (Icon below is not mine.)
The current icon for notifications is most likely a hamburger icon, which is supposed to represent a menu.
A better fit for notifications would be a bell, as a bell is non-specific and can include an umbrella of friend requests, friend request acceptances, updates, messages, etc. (Icon below is also not mine.)
Icons are very important to a user’s experience, and it is best to stick with icons that make sense and icons that have been used in the past on other platforms and apps. Each small tweak can better one’s UX, especially when it is their first time navigating the website/application.
Thank you!