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How To Design An App Icon: 6 Killing Practices For 2024

How to Design an App Icon: 6 Killing Practices for 2024

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A lot of effort goes into the process of developing mobile applications. As simple as it sounds, it takes a reasonable amount of time, money, effort, and energy to make functional as well as visually appealing mobile applications. A part of this effort is also dedicated to the process of designing an app, and by design, we are not talking about the UI/UX design of the application only. In this context, designing refers to the overall process and effort put in place to design an app icon as well as the application’s user interface. 

So without any further delay, let us get into our topic for today and discuss the practices that are helpful in designing attractive and identifiable app icons.  

What Is An App Icon? Definition And Explanation

App icons are small figures or images that are showcased on the app store once you type the name of the app in the search engine. Once the app is installed, these app icons are showcased on your home screen with other applications. 

What Is The Difference Between An App Icon And A Brand’s Logo?

Well, a  common misconception that is often found among people is that they always confuse a brand’s logo with the app icon. However, a brand’s logo is something that identifies the brand on multiple platforms. On the other hand, we have an app icon that is specifically designed for the brand’s mobile application. 

There is a possibility that, in some cases, a brand decides to develop an app icon that resembles its logo, but sometimes a company might decide to keep designing an app icon that is different from the logo. In both cases, an app icon would be considered to be different from the brand logo for a few reasons. 

  1. The first reason is that an app icon is designed to act as a visual anchor for mobile apps in app stores or on the home screen.
  2. Another reason is that app icons have different dimensions as compared to a brand’s logo. For instance, they must be square and range in size from 29 by 29 to 1024 by 1024 pixels.
  3. An app icon has the power to convey the app’s core feature or unique selling proposition.
  4. With the help of an app icon, a brand can draw user’s attention as well as mark its name and place in the market through creativity and uniqueness. 

Why Is It Important To Design An App Icon Effectively?

An app icon is important, as it is the first thing that leaves an impression on the users who view the app store to search for your mobile application. Research has also shown that unique and attractive app icons aid potential customers in deciding if they want to install your application and use it. 

 With the help of attractive graphic components like symbols, pictures, an aesthetic color palette, and other features for an app icon, you can easily grab the attention of users and build a connection with them without even having direct contact with them. In simple words, an app icon acts as a link between the user and the features of your app, creating connections on an emotional level that will help you attract and keep more users. 

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A List Of 6 Best Practices To Design An App Icon

Up until now, it has been made clear that an app icon holds a prominent place in the development of a mobile application. However, there is a possibility that you might consider this job a complex one, but in reality, there are many tips and tricks that facilitate the process of designing an app icon efficiently and effectively. 

In this section of the article, we will be exploring six practices that help employees working for a mobile app development company design an attractive and unique app icon. 

  • Minimal and Simple Design.
  • Creative and Unique. 
  • Exclusion of Words. 
  • Continuous Testing and Upgrading.
  • Platform-Specific Design. 
  • Connects with Your Brand. 

 

  • Minimal And Simple Design

The first tip to design an app icon is to keep the design minimal. In this regard, it does not mean that you create a boring design that is not at all visually appealing; instead, it means that you should use the correct balance of colors and symbols to make a simple app icon that would also be memorable for users. 

In order to design a minimal app icon, the first thing that a designer has to do is get rid of all the elements that can cause distraction or make the icon too complicated. For instance, a lot of colors, figures, or images. You should remember that less is more, and the same goes for designing an app icon. The examples of popular brands or platforms like YouTube, Pinterest, etc., are enough to take inspiration from, as the icons of these applications are a mixture of a single vibrant color and simple shapes or symbols.

  • Creative And Unique 

It is essential to design an app icon that is unique but creative. The reason for paying this much attention to the uniqueness of an app icon is that there are hundreds and thousands of apps being launched in the market on a regular basis that serve similar purposes. In such a competitive market, it is necessary for your app to stand out, and one way of doing that is through a unique app icon. 

In this regard, it is essential for brand owners and designers to conduct a competitive analysis to see what kind of app icons other companies or businesses have designed. This will give you information regarding what to take from them as inspiration and what to add to the innovation of your brand’s identity in the market. 

  • Exclusion Of Words

Another useful practice that is followed by designers and developers in a mobile app development company is that they prefer not to add long words to an app icon. The reason for this exclusion is that it becomes difficult for users to read words in such a small space alongside different elements like symbols or figures. Therefore, app icon designers always prefer to use the first alphabet or initial of the world to mark identity as well as make users remember the name of the brand. A few examples of brands using their initials for this reason are Pinterest, Facebook, Tumblr, Uber, etc. 

  • Continuous Testing And Upgrading

The fourth tip that helps designers and developers design an app icon is to design different versions of your app icon in order to test them out and get user feedback before launching the app on the market. In this regard, mobile app development companies run focus groups or conduct A/B testing to decide which app icon is perfect and will help generate brand identity, user attention, and sales. 

Another practice that helps in a similar way as testing does is upgrading your app icon when needed. Upgradation of an icon is necessary to meet market expectations. For this reason, you might want to take inspiration from well-known companies to get an idea of broader design trends or analyze the patterns of your competitors. 

Testing and upgrading all together help companies and businesses create a sense of consideration among users by making them feel valued and that the brand truly cares for its cause. 

  • Platform-Specific Design

Another important practice that should be followed while designing your app icon is making an icon platform-specific. In this regard, developers and designers must look out for the specific guidelines each platform or app store has. For instance, the guidelines of the iOS platform would be different from those of Android. 

 

Brands often hire Android app developers as well as iOS app developers to develop icons that utilize the same design components,  including color, shape, symbols, etc., while giving importance to the instructions or guidelines of the required operating system. 

  • Connects With Your Brand 

Last but not least, one of the most important practices to follow in order to design an app icon is making sure the icon connects or aligns with the brand’s cause. In other words, your app icon must visually communicate the solutions your brand has to offer, or it can showcase the identity of your brand through its initials. In both cases, the factor that is similar is creating a connection between the brand’s identity and the app icon. 

To Wrap Up – How Can A Mobile App Development Company Help You Design An icon?

Mobile app development is increasingly vital for businesses, offering brand awareness, user retention, and revenue. Companies now seek to hire Android app developers as well as iOS developers to create attractive and functional apps. The industry continually expands, encompassing various genres from gaming to e-commerce and exploring technologies like AR and VR. Security and privacy have become paramount, demanding robust measures for data protection and user trust. Developers must merge innovation, user-friendly interfaces, and dependable backend systems to ensure a seamless user experience. User feedback and iterative development are critical to adapting to ever-changing market demands. In conclusion, mobile app development is essential for bridging companies to their audiences, enhancing brands, and driving profits, while constant evolution necessitates adaptability and user-focused innovation.

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