In my experience artists using complex software actually prefer text labels to an endless sea of icons. High-end visual effects software tends to use text buttons.
Twenty years ago, when there still was competition in high-end 3D packages, before Autodesk bought everybody and monopolized the market, there was a race between Maya and Softimage XSI. The latter was generally praised for its artist-friendly UI which used text labels while Maya was icon-heavy and seen more as a technically oriented tool.
Twenty years ago, when there still was competition in high-end 3D packages, before Autodesk bought everybody and monopolized the market, there was a race between Maya and Softimage XSI. The latter was generally praised for its artist-friendly UI which used text labels while Maya was icon-heavy and seen more as a technically oriented tool.