I ’ve made my fair share of apps , and to me the one doubtfulness that still bounce around my head is : When taking an app - first approach to design a mathematical product , how should a designer resolve on the look and feel of the icon ? There are many unlike icon character I ’ve considered , but I want to explore a few of the more pervasive method I ’ve arrive across .
A Sea of Icons
Initially I had considered the UI Iconization look that apps like Calcbot ( of the marvelous TapBots serial ) , ParkBud and even the stock Notes app embodied . These apps have a highly customized look and find that imbue through the icon . The ikon make on the primal elements of the UI and essentially shrinks them down . I have this approach when I develop the picture for Just the Tip , but realise this would n’t aviate with an app that has piffling to no UI . This approach create a more intimate icon - to - app relationship , when the substance abuser sees the icon they are remind of the underlie experience the app ease up them . However , it miss the scalability needed to apply the icon on other platforms like vane or traditional branding collateral .
The next coming I had face at was the Hyper - Real type icon which conceptually captures the intention of the app it represents . instance of this include Instagram , a retro camera which is a direct nod to the types of filters users can apply to their photograph , Camera+ which is a simple and beautiful camera app , and Evernote Food which is a front - end app to track and store formula on the Evernote backend . This type of icon has a mess more chance to conquer the sentiment and essence of the software . Because the picture is extremely detailed , though , it is not scalable when it comes to traditional branding practices , but for the purpose of but stage the app ( and not a brand ) it works quite well .
Finally , the branded approach . I do nt even need to lean which apps these represent , because their firebrand are so strong they immediately stand out . For a designer , there is a little less flexibility in the creativeness , but there is still a challenge . The icon is a conduit to the brand by in large , which mean it still needs to uphold and map everything the marque has already established . It seems like a tall Holy Order , but a well - defined sword should have the collateral to make this already . Most of the sentence though , this simply means popping the logotype on the brand name colours . The only ( large ) caveat here is that for a individual purpose app , the designer would require to create an actual brand first .
My Exploration
With all that being said , for my app Notorious ( a gestural short letter - taking app , which is also malign ) I decide to literally explore every possible permutation of an app icon as control below .
I tried stylized Ns , realistic paper , esthetic close up noodle Ns , cagy moustache ( mustache are malefic , of class ) , and plainly old Ns on prostrate color , etc . My decision ultimately came down to a couple thoughts , I desire the icon to be :
Recognizable : At a glace , it would immediately stand out
Scalable : If I ever did make an sequent site , iPad , or OSX app , the icon should work with it as well
Contextual : Bears some link to the app ’s form and fuction
Homely : Nicely integrate with any home screen arrangement
Below is the last coming I landed on :
I ended up submit the branded approach namely because I ’d had aspirations of someday expanding the practical app to other platform . The front - loading of trade name institution before heading into design also help regulate the direction and key ocular elements of the program .
The ikon was still the focus , and a larger consideration when designing the blade overall . To me , the icon represented the simple layered design of the software by give birth leftover of folded paper , and the calm yellow really stands out in what seems to be a sea of predominantly blue icons in iOS . It has the scalability to become a true marque logo if the app ever blows up , but still remains unparalleled enough to have an identity of its own .
Final Thoughts
There you have it , a little geographic expedition of how to approach lotion - first products . I ’m not indicate people brand every diligence , but make trusted you know where the app and/or product is headed and put aside the desire to make a pretty icon for its own sake . The ikon is the user ’s window into your app , so make it count .
AppleIcons
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