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| __NOTOC__
| | {{ Moved To Community | KDE_Visual_Design_Group/HIG/IconDesign }} |
| ==Purpose==
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| 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.
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| == Guidelines ==
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| * As a developer use an icon from the predefined set. KDE 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] if the set lacks on a specific item.
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| * As a designer create icons with varying sizes in respect to the level of design. Simply scaling down (or up) does not work.
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| * Design icons with a small number of metaphors [1].
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| ** Apply metaphors only once (e.g. do not use a brush twice for different options).
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| ** Rethink conventionally used metaphors (e.g. the clipboard icon of paste).
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| ** Antiquated metaphors might work well (e.g. a floppy is not necessarily outdated to represent save).
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| ** Adjust the degree of abstractness according to familiarity of the metaphor.
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| ** Avoid using arrows, they are unspecific.
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| ** Define metaphors independent from language and culture.
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| ** Make icons simple.
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| * Colorize icons according to the meaning but in respect to application’s colors.
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| * Don’t use animated icons.
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| * Test your icon set on strength of association, discriminatory power, conspicuousness, and, if applicable, on accessibility.
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| ==Implementation==
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| http://websvn.kde.org/trunk/kdesupport/oxygen-icons/
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| https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/kde-artists
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| ==References==
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| [1] http://user-prompt.com/semiotics-in-usability-guidelines-for-the-development-of-icon-metaphors/
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