Mobile App Icon:
On a user’s smartphone, it is a little graphic that represents your app. Unsurprisingly, an icon is a crucial component of a brand’s identity. Your unique selling proposition is best communicated through an icon, which also makes you stand out.
According to research, people look up 70% of mobile apps on Google Play and the App Store. People discover the remaining 30% of applications through advertisements, reviews, newsletters, and posts on social media. Your objective is to design an appealing icon that will capture attention and encourage users to learn more about your items.
Five important points to remember while creating icons:
If a mobile app’s icon doesn’t look well on their screen, 21% of youths decide to uninstall it. This is why your icon needs to be both aesthetically pleasing and practical. We’re ready to let you in on the tricks of clever design.
1. Simplicity:
“Keep it clean and basic” is the sole guideline we would recommend for designing icons. Let’s explore that further:
- Say no to complicated designs. The more complexity your icon has, the more difficult it will be for consumers to identify and recognize it accurately. A visually complex design also causes problems when it comes to scalability. Whether it’s an app store, smartphone menu, or control panel, your icon must be instantly recognized in all sizes and across various media.
- Make use of symbolic imagery. Create your design around a memorable photograph. For example, Snapchat’s ghost makes it easy to identify the app. A camera picture works well in this scenario with Instagram. Make sure your business logo is simple and elegant if you use it.
- Lifehack: List the programs you use the most, then examine the icons. It’s always a smart idea to take lessons from successful companies.
2. Color:
When selecting whether or not to utilize your app, color may be a major factor to consider for many consumers. The following advice will help you create a color palette with balance:
- Don’t use more than two or three shades. Otherwise, you run the danger of making your design a confusing mess. Consider Dropbox, Pandora, and Airbnb as models.
- Recognize the selections of well-known brands. According to a survey, blue is the most popular shade among well-known businesses (Safari, Google Calendar, LinkedIn, Twitter). White and red come after it. By the way, businesses that specialize in food and beverages frequently utilize the color red.
- The colors you choose must be related to your brand identity and your business.
- Ensure that your icon appears excellent on a variety of backgrounds (colored, black, and white).
3. Coherence:
The purpose of your app must be expressed via your icon. The best method to develop a compelling visual picture that will engage your audience on an emotional level is to combine design and content. Customers enjoy when companies provide careful consideration to their designs:
- Take inspiration from your company’s branding while creating the icon for your app. Does your app have a gradient, odd geometry, or a vintage feel? Aim to include those components in your icon!
- If you have many apps, it would be wonderful if their free svg icons had a similar design. This is exactly what Adobe accomplished with its products (Illustrator Draw, Photoshop Sketch, Skan, Lightroom, and others).
- Combine design and usability together. A user must be able to tell what your app does just by looking at its icon, or at the very least, make a reasonable guess.
4. Imagery vs. Text:
Long phrases and images should never be used when developing a tiny icon. For the audience, these factors could make it more difficult to recognize the icon:
- Users process pictures 1,000 times quicker than they do text. The lesson learned is simple: utilize an icon or image rather than words to make a stronger effect.
- Make a list of connections that relate to your product if you’re having trouble coming up with the correct icon for your design. You’ll find it simpler to translate words into graphics than it will be to quickly discover the right icon.
- If your company name is really short, you can utilize text (BBC News, Uber). An excellent suggestion is to use the initial letter of your company name (for example, “F” for Facebook or “F” for Foursquare).
- If you’re set on using a picture as part of your icon, be sure to make it as simple as possible so that it will still be clear at any size.
5. Uniqueness:
Your icon will compete for the user’s attention with thousands of different pictures. It is important to provide original content since it will captivate your audience and compel them to download your app.
- Check out the techniques used by the most well-known applications in your field. Consider how you can make your work stand out from the crowd by using colors, graphics, etc.
- Discover which features are appealing to your intended audience. Make a list of design approaches that do not work for your customers.
Other methods for creating app icons:
You may create a professional-looking app icon using any of the three methods, depending on your goals and budget:
1. Graphic editors:
If you’ve worked with Photoshop or Illustrator before, don’t be afraid to put your abilities to use. This procedure necessitates no financial investment.
2. Online services:
- Logaster:This online logo builder can do anything, even create original images for your app! To use as the icon for your app, create a logo and download it in the appropriate size and format.
- Canva: A free graphic editing software with a large number of themes and customization features.
- Appicon: Upload and resize your image to make an iOS and Android app icon.
3. Designer:
You may hire a skilled graphic designer to create an impressive icon for your app if you have some money set up. Where to get a trustworthy contractor? Go to job-search services (such as Upwork or Fiverr), ask your acquaintances for references, or search on social media.
Conclusion:
Users use the app icon to judge the legitimacy of your company as a factor in where they should put their money. Therefore, a professional and carefully created app icon that can inspire potential consumers to explore your app. Also, various UI elements like splash screens and others help to increase user engagement. Therefore, while developing a mobile app, make sure the user experience is error-free and intuitive to keep one step ahead of the competition.
