What’s the Most Overlooked Element in Icon Design?

Ghulam Abbas
24 replies
Hey Product Hunt Community! Quick question for all the designers out there: What’s the most overlooked element in icon design that makes a huge difference? Looking forward to your insights!

Replies

Martin Maričák
1. Apparent meaning. It should be clear what action, or concept an icon represents. If it's difficult to symbolise, a label, or at least a tooltip should come with an icon. 2. Consistent visual properties. E.g. same stroke width, same roundness, etc.
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Ghulam Abbas
@martinmaricak Great points! Ensuring an icon's meaning is clear and providing labels or tooltips for complex symbols is essential. Maintaining consistent visual properties, like stroke width and roundness, also makes a big difference. Thanks for sharing!
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Alexandre Contador
Videco - AI Personalized Video
I believe the regular color palette and playing with it
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Ghulam Abbas
@alexdigitalmkt I agree! A consistent color palette and creative use of it can significantly enhance the impact of icons. Thanks for your perspective!
Julia Grant
Do you think cultural context plays a role in icon design? Sometimes symbols aren't universally understood.
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Ghulam Abbas
@juliaagrantt_ Absolutely, cultural context can significantly influence how icons are perceived. Symbols that are clear in one culture might be confusing in another. How do you think Iconstica addresses cultural differences in its icon designs?
Fady Bark
Consistency, nothing screams "cheap UI" more than having icons that do not conform to the same style/filling
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Ghulam Abbas
@fady_bark Absolutely, consistency is key. Icons that don't conform to the same style can make the UI look unprofessional. Thanks for pointing that out!
Ditarth Desai
Consistency, simplicity, and adaptability across diverse designs.
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Ghulam Abbas
@ditarth_wbs Absolutely! Consistency, simplicity, and adaptability are key for creating effective icons that work across diverse designs. Thanks for the input!
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Gemma Mortlock
Negative space! It's not just about what you put in, but what you leave out. A well-designed icon uses empty space effectively.
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Ghulam Abbas
@gemma_mortlock Absolutely, negative space plays a crucial role in icon design. How do you think Iconstica utilizes negative space in its icon packs?
Fredrick James
For me, it's all about scalability. So many designers forget that icons need to look good at different sizes. Test your icons at 16x16 pixels!
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Ghulam Abbas
@fredrick_james Great point about scalability! Ensuring icons look good at various sizes is crucial. How do you feel Iconstica's icons perform when scaled down to smaller sizes, like 16x16 pixels?
Andrew Dale
I think consistency is often overlooked. Having a cohesive style across your icon set makes a huge difference in the overall look and feel.
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Ghulam Abbas
@andrew_dale2 I completely agree, consistency can really elevate an icon set. Have you had a chance to see how Iconstica ensures a cohesive style across its packs? Would love to hear your thoughts!
Eugenie Thompson
I'd say accessibility is often neglected. Making sure your icons are recognizable for colorblind users or those with visual impairments is crucial but often forgotten.
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Ghulam Abbas
@eugenie_thompson You're absolutely right about accessibility - it's essential for inclusive design. How do you think Iconstica addresses accessibility considerations in its icon design?
Brady Wilfahrt
From my perspective, the icon's adaptability to different themes and modes (like dark mode) is often neglected.
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Ghulam Abbas
@brady_wilfahrt That's a crucial perspective! Adaptability to different themes and modes, including dark mode, is indeed essential for a seamless user experience. Have you had a chance to explore how Iconstica addresses this aspect? Our icon packs are crafted to maintain clarity and style across various themes and modes. Check them out and let us know your thoughts!
Prudens Moulton
The legibility of icons on different screen resolutions is often something that gets overlooked.
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Ghulam Abbas
@prudens_moulton Absolutely! Thanks for sharing your insight! Have you had a chance to explore Iconstica yet? We've curated versatile icon packs that ensure clarity across various screen resolutions. Check them out and let us know what you think!
Charlotte Combes
Feedback and interactivity are essential. Users appreciate icons that provide visual feedback, but many designs miss this element.
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Ghulam Abbas
@charlotte_combes That's a great observation! How do you think Iconstica integrates feedback and interactivity into its icon designs?