Before you get yourself started in creating your own icon design, you might want to consider some of its guidelines and principles and how you fare with them. Studying these principles will do you good and it’s going to be worth it.
Creating effective icon designs would have to include taking into account simplicity, lighting, audience, size, perspective, and some excellent styles.
The things that will be mentioned here are principles that those who are successful in creating great icon designs are being measured with. They are living through it as they take on every project they are given.
Although each icon can be appreciated as what they are ‘individually’, your approach with icon design should be in a holistic manner. Icons can be used for desktop applications or for any websites. It is good to make each icon look appealing but it is very important to not disregard seeing the bigger picture. Make your icon designs ‘belong’ to the page.
When you already know how the icon designs will be used and by whom, you must not forget such detail; know and consider your audience. The appreciation of your icon design will be highly significant when it gives the right message to those who you created it for or for what.
Don’t be lazy in designing icons in different sizes. If you already have created an icon set for a certain size, your base design should not be used for other output sizes. Optimize your design if you need to use it on a different size.
It is good to have a very attractive icon design. But don’t just make it too complicated just because you want it to stand out. You will be surprised to find that great icon designs are mostly those that are simple and convey a clear image. Take for example the Apple icon design, it is just a silhouette of an apple with a bite but it is iconic. Simple is great.
If you are to cast lighting, reflections, and shadows, make sure you are doing it consistently. Be consistent in figuring out where the light source should be coming from. Be consistent to make your icon designs expertly done.
These principles here can give you a guide in how should your next set of icon designs should be like. Make these principles work for you.
