Operator control device for an electrical appliance with: - an operator control panel, - a holding device (16, 116, 216, 316) on the operator control panel, - an operator control element (40, 140) which is secured on the holding device, wherein: - the operator control element (40, 140) or the holding device (16, 116, 216, 316) has at least one magnet element (35, 135, 235, 335) with a field of magnetic effect under an upper side of the operator control element, - the operator control element (40, 140) has above the at least one magnet element (35, 135, 235, 335) magnetochromic material (45, 147, 347) visible on an upper side of the operator control element in such a way that it is at least partially subjected to a change of the field of effect of the magnet element in the basic position and/or in one of the operating positions of the operator control element in such a way that its visual appearance is influenced by the at least one magnet element or by the field of magnetic effect thereof, - in the holding device (16, 116, 216, 316) means (20, 23, 24, 37, 120, 123, 124, 137, 220, 223, 237, 327, 337) for influencing the magnetochromic material (45, 147, 347) by the field of effect are provided, wherein the means are configured in such a way that, depending on an operating position of the operator control element (40, 140) on the holding device, the visual appearance of the magnetochromic material is influenced, characterized in that - the operator control element (40, 140) is movable on the holding device between a basic position and a number of operating positions, and - the operator control device has detecting means (13, 14) for detecting a position and/or movement of the operator control element (40, 140), in order to cause operation for the electrical appliance. - an operator control panel, - a holding device (16, 116, 216, 316) on the operator control panel, - an operator control element (40, 140) which is secured on the holding device, wherein: - the operator control element (40, 140) or the holding device (16, 116, 216, 316) has at least one magnet element (35, 135, 235, 335) with a field of magnetic effect under an upper side of the operator control element, - the operator control element (40, 140) has above the at least one magnet element (35, 135, 235, 335) magnetochromic material (45, 147, 347) visible on an upper side of the operator control element in such a way that it is at least partially subjected to a change of the field of effect of the magnet element in the basic position and/or in one of the operating positions of the operator control element in such a way that its visual appearance is influenced by the at least one magnet element or by the field of magnetic effect thereof, - in the holding device (16, 116, 216, 316) means (20, 23, 24, 37, 120, 123, 124, 137, 220, 223, 237, 327, 337) for influencing the magnetochromic material (45, 147, 347) by the field of effect are provided, wherein the means are configured in such a way that, depending on an operating position of the operator control element (40, 140) on the holding device, the visual appearance of the magnetochromic material is influenced, characterized in that - the operator control element (40, 140) is movable on the holding device between a basic position and a number of operating positions, and - the operator control device has detecting means (13, 14) for detecting a position and/or movement of the operator control element (40, 140), in order to cause operation for the electrical appliance.