And that’s not surprising! An app icon is a piece of branding, and there is often intentional overlap between icons and logos. If you want to learn how to design a good logo there are countless articles on the topic, and most are based at least partly on Paul Rand’s brand design principles. Let’s get this out of the way: app icon ≠ logo. Now it assists in the search for the app on the Home screen among other icons.īut what makes an app icon “good”? 3 rules of app icon design Once the user installs an app, however, the icon’s goal changes. It confuses and casts doubt on the benefit of an app. Compliance with iOS and Android guidelinesĪn app icon is a unique image added for every mobile application, and the first users see when they find an app on the Apple App Store and Google Play.Īt this early stage, when the user is still deciding whether to even check out the app, the icon is what will help generate interest and assure the user that the app is a useful, and trustworthy, investment.Ī bad icon does twice as much-but the other way around.How to keep design simple and interesting.

Now, as a designer at an app development agency, I want to share what took me time, experience, and energy to figure out for myself.

These use layered elements that animate when the phone is unlocked or take advantage of the depth effect.When I faced the challenge of drawing an app icon for the first time, I had a lot of questions-that I only found answers on some of them only after my first few completed projects.

Collections - a set of dynamic wallpapers created by Apple.

A good starting point for finding images with depth effects.

Suggested Photos - a group of photos based on what Apple's algorithm deems wallpaper worthy.

Color - generate a simple wallpaper using a selection of gradients or a solid color.

A unique unlock animation will play for the Earth and Moon options.

Astronomy - a selection of animated wallpapers that show the Earth, Moon, or Solar System using current conditions such as time of day, moon phase, and planetary position.

These conditions can include sunny, cloudy, raining, snowing, fog, and more.

Weather - a wallpaper is generated based on the current conditions at the user's location.

Emoji - select up to six emojis and generate a wallpaper using one of five patterns.

Photo Shuffle - generate a wallpaper that shuffles a set of personal photos throughout the day based on people, pets, nature, cities, or a manual selection.

People - surface photos based on the People album filled with labeled faces.

Photos - search the entire photo library using search terms and filters.

Cool app icons