10 Mistakes in Icon Design
Author: Denis Kortunov
12 February 2008
It is much easier to criticize somebody else’s work than to create something cool yourself. But if you apply a systematic approach to criticizing, make a numbered list and prepare illustrations, it will be regarded as a fully-fledged analysis! In my opinion, icon design is undergoing a transitional period. On the one hand, screen resolutions are increasing, hence enhancing icons. On the other hand, we still have good old pixels. Icons sized 16×16 and even smaller are still widely used. And so, here are the most commonly observed mistakes in icon design…
#1 Insufficient differentiation between icons
Sometimes within one set of icons, we have icons that look alike and it is very hard to understand what is what. If you miss the legends, you can very easily get the icons mixed up.
Icons from the Utilities section in Mac OS X. I am always getting them confused and launching the wrong application.
The problem is aggravated by having small size icons displayed on screen.
#2 Too many elements in one icon
The simpler and more laconic the icon, the better. It is preferable to keep the number of objects in a single icon to a minimum.
Nevertheless, Microsoft’s designers, inspired by the new format of icons featured in Windows Vista, decided to go big and drew bloated icons to justify their bloated budget:
Each icon presents us with a mini-story with an intertwined plot. The problem is that in small size you are unable to work out what is depicted. Even in larger sizes, it is not always that easy to decipher the icons.
This is another merging stream of the binary me. It may at times collide or overlap with the real me.
About Me:
I love to travel, then return home. In projects, I dig the details, when they compliment the greater perspective. I adore good design and applaud inspired implementation. Simplicity is king; functionally and in form.
This is another merging stream of the binary me. It may at times collide or overlap with the real me.
About Me:
I love to travel, then return home. In projects, I dig the details, when they compliment the greater perspective. I adore good design and applaud inspired implementation. Simplicity is king; functionally and in form.
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