Prototyping – Logos and Icons
What is an icon?
A key concept to know immediately is that an App Icon is NOT a logo. An app icon is the visual anchor representing a brand or product. App icons are small in size but make a large contribution to an app’s success. Furthermore, icons are not scalable and typically fit in a square.
Every app requires a memorable icon that attracts an individuals attention in the App Store and stands out on the Home screen. Essentially, it is the centre of initial opportunity to communicate your app’s purpose at a glance.
A few tips to remember when designing and developing an app icon are to:
Embrace Simplicity – Find a way to express the essence of your app in a simple and unique way.
Provide a single focus point – Create an icon with a single, centered point that draws attention whilst also clearly identifying your app.
Design a recognizable icon – Keep your icon recognizable, the last thing you want is to force the user to have to closely analyse your icon just to figure out what is represents.
Keep the background and avoid transparency – Ensure your icon is opaque and easy to view, avoid a cluttered background.
Use words only when they’re essential or part of a logo – An app’s name should always appear under the icon on the home screen.
Don’t include photos, screenshots, or interface elements – Photographic details can be hard to view at smaller sizes, avoid using images.
Don’t use replicas of Apple hardware products – Do not use Apple products since they’re copyrighted.
Don’t place your app icon throughout the interface – Do not place your app icon throughout the apps interface as it can be confusing to users.
Test your icon against different wallpapers – Its always important to test your app icon on different wallpapers, light or dark.
Keep icon corners square – The system automatically applies round corners to app icons, so ensure your icons are set to square.
What is a logo?
A logo on the other hand, is an image, wordmark, shape, or a combination of the three that represents name and purpose of a business. Well-designed logos are memorable, can convey the brand identity, and create an emotional connection with the target audience. Unlike app icons, logos are a scalable (vector) object and are not constrained by square boundaries.
Reflection
After viewing this lecture pod, I had learnt that the design of an app icon is just as critical as a logo in app design. App icons are one of the first thing a user sees before installing the app, it is vital that you make your app icon stand out and be unique, as visual appeal is just as important and can be what brings the user to download the app, first impressions count.
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