Projects/Usability/HIG/IconDesign: Difference between revisions

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{{ Moved To Community | KDE_Visual_Design_Group/HIG/IconDesign }}
==Purpose==
Icons are pictorial representations of functions and objects, important not only for aesthetic reasons as part of the visual identity of a program, but also for utilitarian reasons as shorthand for conveying meaning that users perceive almost instantaneously. Well-designed icons improve the visual communication and strongly impact users' overall impression of visual design. Last but not least, icons are space-saving and improve usability by making programs, objects, and actions easier to identify, learn. Icon use should be consistent throughout the interface.
 
== Guidelines ==
* Design icons with a small number of metaphors [1].
** Apply metaphors only once (e.g. do not use a brush twice for different options).
** Rethink conventionally used metaphors (e.g. the clipboard icon of paste).
** Antiquated metaphors might work well (e.g. a floppy is not necessarily outdated to represent save).
** Adjust the degree of abstractness according to familiarity of the metaphor.
** Use arrows only if they can easily be related to spatial features such as ''Previous/Next'' in a sequence or ''Up/Down'' in a hierarchy. Avoid using arrows metaphorically (such as for ''Reply/Forward'' or ''Undo/Redo'').
** Attempt to use metaphors that are independent of language and culture.
** Make icons simple.
* If an icon has important details at larger sizes, rather than simply scaling it down, create unique versions of the icon at smaller sizes. Critical details may become unrecognizable when scaled down.
* Avoid using text in icon designs; it may not scale well to smaller sizes.
* Icons of a similar type share a consistent visual language (mimetypes, folders, devices, etc.).
* Follow the guidelines for presenting [[Projects/Usability/HIG/IconsAndText|icons with text]]
* Test your icon set on strength of association, discriminatory power, conspicuousness, and, if applicable, on accessibility.
=== Monochrome Icons ===
[[File:HIGMonoIcons.png]]
* Used for application toolbar and button actions, menus, and status and notifications. Also may be used for small (16x16) devices and places icons (folders, usb drives, etc.).
* Rely on a distinct shapes instead of fine details to distinguish between them.
* Color can be used for distinction (change of state, destructive actions, etc.).
 
=== Application icons ===
[[File:HIGAppIcons.png]]
* Unique and easily recognizable.
* Have the widest variation of color and visual style to represent the visual identity of the application.
* When creating an system icon theme, respect trademarks by avoiding significant alterations to application icons.
 
==Implementation==
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/IconTheme Icon theme guidance]
* For standard actions (back forward, open, save, refresh, etc.) use an icon from the platform-provided set. The KDE Platform 4.x uses the [http://websvn.kde.org/trunk/kdesupport/oxygen-icons/ Oxygen icon set]. Ask at the [https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/kde-artists kde-artists mailing list] to request addition of a specific item.
* http://websvn.kde.org/trunk/kdesupport/oxygen-icons/
* https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/kde-artists
* If you would like to request help designing icons unique to your application, you can ask for help on the [http://forum.kde.org/viewforum.php?f=285 KDE Visual Design Group Forum].
 
==References==
[1] http://user-prompt.com/semiotics-in-usability-guidelines-for-the-development-of-icon-metaphors/
 
[[Category:Usability]][[Category: Presentation]][[Category:Layout]]

Latest revision as of 11:26, 4 August 2016

This page is now on the community wiki.