Creating Your Own Icon from Scratch: A Step-by-Step Guide

Icons are tiny graphics that represent complex ideas or actions. They are seen everywhere, from mobile phones to desktops to websites. A good icon can convey its purpose in a glance, making it essential for designers to know how to create them. Fortunately, making an icon is not as difficult as it may seem. With the right tools and techniques, anyone can create icons that are effective and visually appealing.

The first step to creating an icon is to select a suitable size and shape. Icons are usually small, but their size can vary depending on their use. For example, icons on mobile devices are smaller than those on desktops. Similarly, the shape of an icon should reflect its purpose. A round shape is often used for icons that represent actions, while a square shape is more appropriate for icons that represent information. Once you have determined the size and shape of your icon, it’s time to start designing.

Choosing the Right Shape and Size

Icon design starts with choosing the right shape and size based on the intended purpose and platform. The first consideration is the shape of the icon. Is it round, square or another shape? The shape needs to be relevant to the purpose of the icon and recognizable to the target audience. Size is another critical factor to consider. Icons designed for mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, need to be smaller compared to desktop icons.

Defining the Icon Style and Colour

The style and colour of the icon need to reflect the brand or application requirement. Icon style includes flat, gradient, skeuomorphic or a combination of these. Flat icons have simple lines and colours with no shadows or gradients. Gradient icons add complexity by using various shades of colours. Skeuomorphic icons resemble real-life objects, but with a digital touch. The colour palette chosen should be in harmony with the brand colour scheme.

Gathering Inspiration

Inspiration for icon designs can come from various sources, including other icons, photographs, cartoons, illustrations, and user interface elements. Researching and identifying other icons in your industry or related industries can help evolve your design ideas and avoid repetition.

Choosing the Right Tools

To make an icon, you’ll need to choose the right tools. If you’re starting with a rough sketch, you can use tools like Adobe Illustrator, Figma, Sketch, or Procreate for digitizing and refining the design. Other tools for designing icons include Icon Workshop, Icon Slayer, and the Iconic web font.

Refining the Sketch

Once your design is digitized, the next step is to refine your sketch further. This refining process includes adjusting the shape and curves, changing the colour scheme, and making sure the design is legible. This process may take some time depending on your design philosophy and the platform.

Creating Multiple Versions

Creating various versions of the icon design is useful to see how it will look at different sizes or on different backgrounds. This technique can also help in A/B testing to determine what version best fits the intended audience and marketing goals.

Testing and Feedback

Testing different designs to evaluate their effectiveness is a crucial step to developing successful icons. Feedback from focus groups or surveys can point out issues and limitations, and identify opportunities for improvement and enhancement.

Finalising the Design

Once the icon design has been adjusted and tested to ensure it meets the intended purpose, the final step is to finalise the design and prepare the files for release. The file format should be compatible with the target platform and should include specific details such as size, resolution, and DPI.

Updating and Evolving your Icon Designs

Icon designs, like other design elements, require updating and evolving to stay relevant and effective. This evolution may include modifications in colour, shape, or style to adapt to new trends or platforms. Understanding the target audience and their evolving needs is a key factor to consider when updating and evolving icon designs.

Conclusion

Designing icons is an essential part of a brand’s identity and user experience. Choosing the right shape and size, defining the style and colour, gathering inspiration, choosing the right tools, refining the sketch, creating multiple versions, testing and feedback, finalizing the design, and updating and evolving the design are critical steps in making an icon. By following these steps, you can create an effective and memorable icon that meets your intended purpose and enhances your brand’s identity.

Choosing the Design and Style of Your Icon

Now that you have a grasp of the basic principles of icon design, it’s time to start thinking about the specific design elements you want to incorporate. In this section, we’ll walk you through the process of selecting the right colors, shapes, and other design elements to create a visually appealing and functional icon.

Consider Color Theory

Color is one of the most important elements in icon design. It can evoke emotional responses and help guide the user’s eye to important information. When selecting colors for your icon, consider the principles of color theory. For example, complementary colors (those located opposite each other on the color wheel) can create contrast and make elements stand out.

Choose the Right Shapes

The shape of your icon is also important. Different shapes can convey different meanings and emotions. For example, a circle may represent unity, while a triangle can suggest stability or direction. When selecting shapes for your icon, think about the message you want to convey and choose shapes that support that message.

Consider the User’s Perspective

In addition to selecting colors and shapes that support your message, it’s important to consider the user’s perspective. Will the icon appear small on a mobile device or large on a desktop computer? Will it be used in a dark or light environment? These factors can impact the visibility and legibility of your icon, so it’s important to design with the end user in mind.

Look to Industry Standards

When designing an icon for a specific industry or purpose, it’s a good idea to look to industry standards for inspiration and guidance. For example, icons used in the healthcare industry typically incorporate a medical cross symbol, while icons for social media often feature well-known symbols like the Twitter bird or Facebook “F”.

Consider Accessibility

Accessibility is an increasingly important consideration in icon design. Icons should be designed for all users, including those with visual impairments. This means using high contrast colors, simple shapes, and avoiding detailed graphics or text.

Think About Context

Icons are often used in different contexts, so it’s important to design with context in mind. Will the icon be used on a button or as part of a larger interface? Will it be used in a standalone application or as part of a larger system? These factors can impact the design of your icon, so it’s important to consider them at the outset.

Choose a Design Style

Icons can be created in a variety of design styles, from flat and minimalistic to 3D and photorealistic. When choosing a design style for your icon, consider your brand identity, target audience, and the general design aesthetic of your product or service.

Experiment with Typography

Typography can be used to add visual interest and communicate additional information in an icon. For example, you might include a word or phrase in the icon to clarify its meaning or provide additional context. When experimenting with typography in icon design, be sure to choose a legible font and take into account the size and scale of your icon.

Keep it Simple

Ultimately, the most effective icons are those that are simple, sleek, and easy to understand. Don’t clutter your icon with unnecessary details or elements. Instead, focus on conveying your message clearly and concisely with a minimalist design.

Test and Iterate

Finally, it’s important to test and iterate your icon design. Show it to colleagues or beta testers and gather feedback on its effectiveness and clarity. Then, use that feedback to make improvements and refine your design until it’s perfect.

Tools Needed for Making an Icon

Making an icon requires a certain set of digital tools and software to bring your design ideas to life. In this section, we’ll be discussing the essential tools you need to create a stunning icon for your website or application.

1. Vector Editing Software

To create scalable and high-quality icons, you need vector editing software. Adobe Illustrator is the most popular software used by icon designers, but it comes with a steep learning curve. Other alternatives include Inkscape, CorelDRAW, and Sketch.

With a vector editing software, you can easily modify the size, color, and shape of your icon without losing its quality. Moreover, it allows you to create complex shapes and apply gradients and filters to your designs.

2. Icon Grid System

An icon grid system helps you ensure your icon has a consistent form and aesthetic. The grid system is a preset layout that helps you align and combine shapes accurately. You can use a customizable grid system by creating your own or downloading pre-made ones from the internet.

3. Icon Font Generator

Icon font generators are tools that allow you to create scalable icons using a font file format. Popular icon font generators include Font Awesome, IcoMoon, and Glyphicons. They offer pre-made graphical icons that can be easily customized, colored, and added to your website.

Icon font generators simplify the process of creating icons, and they are easy to use and update. Making use of icon font generators is highly recommended, especially if you need custom icons that match your brand’s visual identity.

4. Icon Library

An icon library is a collection of pre-designed icons that you can download and use for your projects. These icons come in various file formats, including vector SVG, PNG, and icon font files.

Popular icon libraries include Flaticon, Fontawesome, The Noun Project, and Material Design. They offer a wide range of icons that you can use for free or at a fee.

5. Icon Tester and Optimizer

Before deploying your icons to your website, ensure they load quickly and are optimized for different devices and screen sizes. Icon testers and optimizers measure the performance of your icons and recommend improvements for faster loading.

Some popular icon testers and optimizers include Sprite Cow, SVGOMG, and ImageOptim. They help you optimize your icons and ensure they are fully compatible with all devices and browsers.

In Conclusion

Making an icon requires a set of digital tools and software, including vector editing software, icon grid system, icon font generator, icon library, and icon tester and optimizer. These tools help you create high-quality icons that are scalable, optimized, and consistent in form and aesthetic.

Time to Let Your Creativity Flow!

So, there you have it – an easy and fun 3-step process to make an icon! With all the tools available online and on our computers these days, it’s never been easier to create your own designs and make your mark. We hope this article has inspired you to give it a go and experiment with your own unique ideas. Thanks for reading and don’t forget to come back for more DIY design tips and tricks! Remember, practice makes perfect, so keep at it and watch your creativity soar!