Is icon perspective important?

Looking around the I Started Something Blog, I found out that Windows Vista Icons were facing the wrong direction. I used Vista for a couple of weeks and never noticed it, but when we compare them with icons from Windows XP, we can tell the difference.

Original Vista Icons were conceived to face right, but instead, the final ones were flipped and face left. For most people it isn't a big deal, but we know that icons are one of the most important ways to communicate with the user, and are one of the basis of a good User Interface. Unlike other cultures, we're used to reading from left to right, and usually our icons on the desktop are displayed form left to right, that's why icons facing to the right seem more friendly.

Perspective is definitely important when designing an icon, it shows depth and helps the detail in larger versions. For me, it isn't that important where the icons are facing, as long as they are all facing the same direction, and maintaining a visual unity.

I personally find Windows Vista's graphic user interface really nice and eye-catching, and I think it's definitely one of the few good things of Vista. What do you think about it? Do you think icon perspective is important? Drop us a comment and let us know.