Traditional star/numeric ratings often fail to convey true quality. Research shows ratings tend to cluster at the high end (a “J-curve” bias) and mean different things to different people . Instead, we propose a five-tier system using symbols, words, and colors that adapt across contexts. For example, many communities already use lettered tiers (S, A, B, …) where “S-tier” denotes “super” or “special” quality . Our scale builds on this idea: the top rank “Legendary (S)” means truly outstanding, while descending tiers (A, B, C, D) indicate progressively lower quality. This avoids overloading a mid-level score with vague meaning .
Figure: Example “tier list” ranking items from S (top) to F (bottom). Here the highest tier is labeled S (“special/super”) as in gaming and reviews .
Tiered Scale Overview
We use five tiers (modeled on gaming tier lists and school grading) with descriptive names, icons, and colors to signal quality:
| Tier | Icon/Symbol (Color) | Description (Example uses) |
| Legendary (S) | 👑 Crown (Purple) or 💎 Diamond | Exceptional/best-of-class. E.g. a masterpiece film or Michelin-level cuisine. |
| Excellent (A) | 🌟 Star (Gold) or 🥇 Medal | High quality. E.g. a critically acclaimed movie or a top-rated local restaurant. |
| Good (B) | ✅ Check (Green) or 👍 Thumbs Up | Solid performance. E.g. a crowd-pleasing film or a reliable household product. |
| Fair (C) | ⚠️ Warning (Yellow) or 😐 Neutral | Average/okay. E.g. a mediocre restaurant visit or a well-known but flawed gadget. |
| Poor (D) | ❌ Cross (Red) or 🚫 Stop | Below expectations. E.g. a disappointing photo or a workout that falls short. |
Each tier combines a word label (Legendary–Poor), an intuitive emoji/icon, and a color code (purple/gold/green/yellow/red) to reinforce meaning. For instance, red/stop signals low quality, while green/check signals solid performance – following universal traffic-light cues . Using icons like crowns, stars or thumbs makes the scale feel familiar: studies note hearts and thumbs (👍/👎) are universal reaction symbols on social media .
Visual and Symbolic Encoding
- Icons/Emojis: We use friendly symbols (crown, star, checkmark, etc.) as quick cues. For example, a heart or “smiley” can indicate positive feedback . Even a simple like/dislike (thumbs up/down) is a common binary alternative . Our scale’s symbols can be themed per domain: e.g. prefixing a crown with 🍽️ for restaurants or 🎬 for movies to contextualize the rating.
- Color Gradients: Each tier has a distinct color band. The progression red → yellow → green (or bronze→silver→gold→diamond) leverages innate meaning: red = poor/stop, green = good/go . For finer nuance, one could even use gradients or color-coded sliders . Overall, the combination of icon + color + label makes the rating instantly interpretable without needing numeric literacy.
- Descriptors/Tags: We pair each level with a short descriptor (Legendary, Excellent, etc.) to avoid ambiguity. (This echoes simple scales like “Negative/Neutral/Positive” which research finds clearer than packed 1–5 stars .) Optionally, users could select an emotive reaction (happy, sad, etc.) to capture tone , but our core scale remains robust as a semi-quantitative gauge.
Interpreting the Scale Across Domains
Because our system is symbolic, each tier translates consistently across areas. Legendary (S) always means “best-in-class.” For a movie, this implies a cinematic masterpiece; for a workout, an elite-level program; for a product, outstanding build/feature quality. Excellent (A) means “very high quality”: a well-reviewed film or restaurant or a high-performing gadget. Good (B) is solid but not unique: e.g. a crowd-pleaser movie with minor flaws, or a gym session that’s effective but not extreme. Fair (C) suggests average/basic: a movie with mixed reviews or a restaurant with decent food but issues. Poor (D) flags serious problems (like an unenjoyable film or a workout prone to injury).
Importantly, each tier is a relative band, so mapping “mid-tier” means “above average but not outstanding.” For instance, a Good (B) movie might be entertaining yet formulaic, whereas a Good (B) workout is moderately challenging but not transformative. This mirrors how simplified 3-tier systems work (positive/neutral/negative) for clarity . In practice, one can also adapt thematic emojis per domain: for example, using 🌶️ chili peppers to indicate spiciness (as in food reviews ), or ✈️ airplanes to score travel experiences . The key is that color and symbol align: a red cross on a restaurant rating means “needs improvement,” just as red means stop elsewhere .
Example Ratings
- Movie (“Cosmic Quest”) – Legendary (S): A genre-defining epic with stunning visuals and storytelling (akin to an Oscar-winning classic).
- Restaurant (“La Petite Câté”) – Good (B): Delicious cuisine and friendly service, but with occasional wait times; overall a solid, enjoyable meal.
- Street Photo (“Downtown Sunset”) – Fair (C): Nice color palette but slightly blurred composition; a decent snapshot but not truly memorable.
- Workout Program (“Mountain HIIT”) – Legendary (S): Extremely intense, expertly designed routine that pushes fitness boundaries (best-in-class training).
- Wireless Earbuds (“SoundPulse”) – Excellent (A): Great audio quality and comfort; minor connectivity quirks keep it out of the very top tier.
Each of these examples shows how our tiered label conveys a quick verdict. A Legendary movie or workout is clearly outstanding, whereas an Average/Fair photo or class has room for improvement. By using symbols, color, and concise words together, anyone can immediately understand a rating’s meaning, no matter the category (movies, food, products, etc.).
This guide’s multi-dimensional scale thus offers a flexible, intuitive way to rate anything. The combination of visual cues and descriptive levels makes the system easy to interpret, while the standard five tiers ensure it can be applied uniformly from films to fitness programs.
Sources: This design draws on research into ratings UX (e.g. moving beyond 5 stars ), use of icons/emojis in feedback , and color-coding conventions to create a clear, universal framework.