Guide to Create iOS App Icons

The icon which mobile application users put on the home screen and tap while starting the app is known as the app icon. The icon is the most essential part of a mobile application because it helps to establish the identity of the software amongst its users and in the market. Therefore a strong visual appeal should be an integral part of the icon design; it should be compact, have an attractive package, and be directly identifiable. Here we discuss about simple tips and tricks for creating the perfect iOS app icon.

1. Use of universal imagery – While building an iOS application icon, software designers must make sure to use images that the target audience base will recognize instantly. Focusing on the creation of obscure or secondary aspects of elements of software is unnecessary and a loss of effort.

2. Simplicity is key – The foremost point that app icon designers must remember is to avoid cramming several images into one icon. Using one simple object that will help express the essence you want to convey with your iOS mobile application is essential. A simple trick is to include images of basic shapes in the app icon and adding details to it later when the mobile application is updated. Complex content or shape of an iOS app icon will make it appear muddy and confusing to the user.

3. Make a judicious use of color and shade – Colors should not be added to the iOS app design merely for the sake of making it appear more vivid and appealing. Rather, it is expected of the designer to add smooth shades or gradients which will work in a way to delineate the sharpness of the color.

4. Do not use iOS interface elements in the app icon artwork – The reason why this tip needs to be followed by the mobile application developers is that users should not get confused between the design of the user interface of the iOS app and the design of its icon.

5. Accuracy of portrayal of real substances is a must – iOS app icons representing real objects must give the appearance of having real mass and being made with real materials. This is because of the fact that only realistic app icons will give an accurate replica of substances like glass, fabric, metal, or paper, and thus be able to convey the weight and feel of the object.

6. Use of transparency is recommended but not necessary – When transparency of an iOS app icon image is maintained, it lends a clear depiction of the product; but remember that complete and convincing transparency of iOS apps is rather difficult to achieve. Therefore, if it is unintelligible, designing to achieve transparency of iOS app icons is not needed.

7. Do not replicate the designs of hardware products of Apple in the icon artwork – All symbols used to represent Apple’s hardware products come with copyrights and therefore cannot be used in the images of iOS app icons designed by you. The idea is to avoid the replica of a specific hardware component in the iOS app icon artwork.

The above were few of the simplest tips and tricks for creating good quality iOS app icons. It is important for designers to remember here that custom artwork is not necessary for building a successful iOS app icon.