Introduction into icons

Icons are a fundamental element of design and have become increasingly important in today's digital age. Here are some of the reasons why icons are so crucial:

Icons use simple visual metaphors to represent complex concepts and ideas, making it easier for users to recognise and understand information at a glance. This is particularly important in today's fast-paced world, where people have less time to spend reading and interpreting information.

Good icon design helps users navigate and interact with digital interfaces more effectively. Intuitive icons can reduce the cognitive load on users, making it easier for them to complete tasks and achieve their goals.

Icons can play an important role in establishing and reinforcing a brand's identity. A well-designed icon can become a recognisable and memorable symbol of a brand, helping to establish brand recognition and recall.

Icons are universal and can be understood across different cultures and languages. This makes them a powerful tool for communication in today's globalised world.

Vic Bell

Vic lives in Durham where they work remotely, they are currently a senior illustrator for Gitlab. On their spare time off they like to work on their passion project Bear. Working for big named brands such as Uber and Burberry Vic is inspirational to any student in interaction design.

The reason I chose Vic Bell was down to their design style, I love the illustrative technique they put into their work and it makes it have personality. They use a lot of cool tone palettes in their artwork which gives off a modern appearance.

As a doodler myself I really love this rough sketching process and I would like to add this into my own work style.

Bonny Kate Wolff

Bonnie is a illustrator and icon designer working in brand and product design for Netlfix. She currently lives in San Francisco. She is the brand lead and illustrator for Design x Us.

Otl Aicher

Otl Aicher was a German graphic designer and typographer who is best known for his iconic designs for the 1972 Munich Olympics. He studied at the Ulm School of Design where he later taught as a professor from 1953 to 1962. Otl is also known for his iconic designs for the German airline Lufthansa and the German appliance manufacturer Braun. He was known for his minimalist and functional design approach, and his use of simple geometric shapes and bold colours.

His work had a significant impact on the field of graphic design, and he is often credited with helping to establish the "International Style" of design that emerged in the 1950s and 60s. His designs continue to be studied today and he is remembered as one of the most important and influential designers of the 20th century.

Icons are Language Agnostic

Language agnostic means something that is not tied to any particular programming language or technology, and can be used or understood regardless of the programming language or platform used. In software development, a language-agnostic approach means designing and developing software in a way that is not dependent on a specific programming language, platform or technology.

Using a language-agnostic approach is a useful strategy for creating software that is more flexible, adaptable, collaborative and can help to reduce the complexity and cost of software development for different languages and platforms.