Focus on Icon Designs: Tips & Examples

Posted by Admin on February 3rd, 2010

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Icons are a source of Identification. We are familiar with so many icons around us like twitter, metros, traffic signals, mails etc. The icons are a great way to provide the user focus and enhance the visibility of web page. Not only this, well-designed icons can help the user thereby to move more efficiently through the site. While poorly designed icons do not add any value and make the user’s experience on the web site very uncomfortable. So, keeping in mind the importance of icon designs, Bestpsdtohtml would be taking up issues related to it.
If you want to use icons in your website, the following will definitely be helpful to you. Go ahead….

Standards to be kept while Designing an Icon

Always sketching

This tip is indeed subjective, but it is always better to sketch out the icons. One can deal with perspective and shadows on paper, and it is much faster than anything else.

Logical element

Icons should always be logical. Their meaning must be quickly delivered to the users. Optimal is when the user does not need the text beside it.

Always consider your audience

keeping your audience in mind is very important before designing the icon. If you are creating icon for the product which is to be sold internationally, cultural considerations are essential. Symbols may differ as per places and their respective cultures, for common elements you may use for your designs.

Holistic approach towards designing icons

Icons fit within graphic systems. They become one of the graphic element and need to work coherently when icons are designed for desktop applications or web sites. Icons can be appreciated for their aesthetic solutions individually, but they don’t function alone. Evaluate your icon designs relative to the graphic system you’re using them in. Make sure that each icon differs from surrounding icons, while still working together as a whole in a harmonious way.

Use colors

Icons which are created in the same scheme of colors as the site quickly and easily be overlooked and lose their effectiveness as visual landmarks, while if proper color scheme is adopted , then they carry a value with them and this value as a supporting graphics, facilitate the user to stay on the web site with a pleasant experience. It is experimented with the most complementary color schemes.

Distinction between various icons should be observable

The icons on a web site should not be too similar. They must be able to distinguish themselves fast and simple so that no confusion arises.

Cast Consistent Lighting, Reflections, and Shadows

It’s important that the impression you add to your designs all function coherently. If you use a light source coming from one direction then stick with it. Or you risk losing the integrated design of your icons. Also consider the light source of the design your icons will be placed in. If the light source of the icons is at odds with the Web site or application design you’re using them in, then the design will appear amateurish.

Text next to the icons

Even if your icon fullproof, you should never allowed it to stand without a descriptive text. If someone does not understand the icon, a part of the site useless.

Text and icons: Not a good mix

Text should never be used in icons. First, these icons are not used across countries. Secondly icons are just supposed to replace the text. Third is the text should not be too small size to be read.

Never use too many icons

Icons should be approached with caution and used sparingly. They grab attention, depending on how large and conspicuous they are. If you use too many icons, especially if they are the same size, will contribute to confusion.

Make use of limited perspective

The range of perspective within your icon design set should work together. If you have icons being looked at from straight ahead then stick with that. If you place one at a specific angle, then make sure all the icons function that way. Imagine a camera being placed from a specific vantage point and looking at all the objects from the same perspective. This helps to maintain consistency in your icon designs.

The larger more complex and same is the other way

Small icons should be one-dimensional and contain little detail. If the icon is bigger, it can also come along like light and shadow, and be three-dimensional. It is important to pay attention to the smallest details.