Professional Icon Design

Professional designed icons are one of the most visible attributes of an excellent application; the best icons are a result of a significant attention to detail in icon design. Developers who are serious about producing professional software should hire a professional icon designer to do their icon design instead of relegating this important task to someone who does not have the proper skills.

Professional Designed Icons are Effective Icons.

To be effective, icons must contain certain elementary properties to communicate their messages successfully.

When designing icons, the following considerations should be taken into account:

Use established concepts where possible to ensure consistency of meanings for the user.
Consider how the icon will appear in the context of your user interface and how it might work as part of a set of icons.
Consider the cultural impact of your graphics. Avoid using letters, words, hands, or faces in icons. When you must represent people or users, depict them as generically as possible.
If combining multiple objects into one image in an icon, consider how the image will scale to smaller sizes. We suggest that you use no more than three objects in an icon. For the 16 × 16 size, you can also consider removing objects or simplifying the image to improve recognition.
Use universal imagery that people will easily recognize. Avoid focusing on a secondary aspect of an element.
Strive for simplicity.
Avoid using Windows interface elements in your icons; they could be confused with the actual interface.

Icon Design Project Milestones

The project milestones of a typical icon project are as follows:

Step Task Client Icon Designer

1.
Price inquiry

2.
Send price estimation

3.
Request formal quote

4.
Send formal quote

5.
Acceptance of formal quote

6.
Send payment request for 50% deposit

7.
Pay 50% deposit

8.
Design icons

9.
Sign-off icons

10.
Send final invoice

11.
Pay final invoice

12.
Satisfied client and happy icon designer!

Professional Icon Desing Process for each Icon

Professional icon design follows usually several distinct steps that help to create effective icons that fully meet the clients requirements. Sometimes it is required to repeat a step in order to meet the goals and to create the graphics that completely satisfy.

Professional icon design steps for each icon are:

Step Task Client Icon Designer

1.
Gather information about the users and the task

2.
Analyze the product

3.
Brainstorm icon metaphor

4.
Create icon sketche (not always required)

5.
Sign-off icon sketche (subject to previous step)

6.
Design icon

7.
Sign-off icon design

8.
Integrate the icon into the graphical user interface and test user interface.

9.
Final sign-off icon

10.
Satisfied client and happy icon designer!