> I assume partly that designers do that since textual labels require translation, but icons generally don't. What fits perfectly in English often doesn't fit in German.
Except that icons need tooltips, which would require translation anyway.
You missed the second sentance. The length of the translated string is less critical for a tooltip compared to a toolbar filled with buttons.
Imagine when an app is to be translated to 20 languages. Only the original language had the luxery of having a voice in how many buttons fit on the toolbar.
Except that icons need tooltips, which would require translation anyway.