The UX designers are responsible for how a website, app, or online platform will appear in front of the audience. It is not easy to design icons for a brand that is willing to spend anything on its platform. Everything has to be perfect while designing the icons. Let us explore the mistakes that UX designers can make while making icons, so you do not repeat the same.
Icons are hard to differentiate
Sometimes, the designers forget to create a unique style for each set of icons, making them confusing for the users. If all icons look the same and are of small sizes, it is difficult to understand their meaning.
Absence of uniformity
If a group of icons looks formal on a platform, it cannot have another group of icons that are funky and carefree. Designers must consider the maximum limits they can go before they break the uniformity of the icons on a platform. Changing the shadows of icons is good, but changing the font and style of them is a no-go.
Unnecessary elements
If the icon does not need a boundary around it, you do not have to force it. The icons should be easy to recognize. That is why the designers should keep it simple with necessary elements only. It is a common mistake that designers make in their projects.
Unnecessary shadows
When the icons are already small and hard to read, adding shadows to them will only make the experience worse. 3D icons are trending today, but if the icons need to be too small, a 2D illustration will still do better than a 3D image with shadows.
Texts inside icons
The professionals suggest that you never mix the text and icons together. If the text is in one language, it will limit the brand from becoming an international name. If the icons are small, the text will become hard to read, making them useless. Another thing is that the name of the app is displayed below the icon in every OS. Hence, there is no point in adding texts to the icons unless the brand logo is in text.
Too many details
Avoid adding too many details to the icons, or else you will make it hard to understand for the users. Minimize the details on small icons to give them space to make things understandable. Complex icons do not suit well in small sizes.
Using boring colors
Try to be as vibrant as you can while choosing colors. At the same time, avoid using colors that are completely opposite to the idea of the brand. When you use strong and attractive colors, make sure that your icon is still visible. Use different shades of a single color instead of using a different color for each icon in a group.