Do you judge a book by its cover? Yeah, so do I – at least in the first instance. What else have you got to go on? The name often doesn't tell you much, after all. The same could be said for apps and their icons. Seen alongside the thousands of others in the App Store, at first glance, the only thing you have to go on essentially is the icon. Now obviously, as a reviewer, I have to look beyond the icon when I'm browsing through the hundreds of new apps on the store, but for most people, a good icon could hook them in, leading to a potential sale. A shoddy-looking one, on the other hand...
Icons need to be at the same time simple, functional, distinctive and drop-dead gorgeous. Sound like too much of an ask? Well plenty of apps manage it, and here's why it's important.
Function
The icon needs to give some indication of what the app does. For apps from existing brands, this is perhaps easier, because so long as the icon is a recognisable extension of the brand, people will instantly have an idea of what it does. Developers of apps that aren't part of a big brand may have more freedom to design what they want, but must work harder to ensure their icon shows what the app's for. A good way to do this is by using things from everyday life, such as a notebook and pen (Penultimate), a guitar pick (Ultimate Guitar tabs) or one of the many printing apps.
Simplicity
Now in trying to make their icons show what the app does, some developers forget the KISS principle (that's keep it simple, stupid). I see so many apps where icon designers have crammed far too much into a small space, meaning that details get lost, text is too small, or the whole thing just looks plain cluttered. Not a good start when you're trying to persuade people to part with money. If the developer hasn't thought about the icon, how do you know they'll have thought about the app itself?
Some designers, again aided by working with a known brand, have got it just right by using a recognisable portion of the logo - think The Telegraph's T, Facebook's F or the Twitter bird.
Another good example is 0870, an alternative number finder, the icon for which is simply the number 0870 encircled in red with a line through it. Both simple and functional.
Try searching the App Store for "camera" and you'll get back hundreds of apps, many of which have very similar icons - a circular lens shape on a dark background. Good icons, many of them, but most need something to make them stand out. A simple + sign, like on Camera+ is an effective way to give the icon an edge.
Friendly Plus for Facebook combines the familiar blue and light grey colour scheme with enough of a twist on the true Facebook logo to make you realise what it does, yet be distinctive. Weet for Twitter is another - the bird instantly tells you it's Twitter-related, but because it's different from the real Twitter bird, it's clear you're dealing with a distinct app.
Stunning and polished looks
As well as ticking the functionality, simplicity and distinctiveness boxes, the icon needs to look the part. That touch of polish and panache is hard to describe in words but easy to spot, and it's quite incredible how this makes apps stand out, both on the App Store and on your Home screen.
Do many apps manage all of these things? Well yes, many do. UK Train Times, Reeder, Facebook, Skype, Notability and Corkulous are just a few that – I think – have got their icons spot-on. They're all good apps, too, which is why I'm going to leave you with this thought to mull: how many really good apps can you think of that have bad icons?
Function
The icon needs to give some indication of what the app does. For apps from existing brands, this is perhaps easier, because so long as the icon is a recognisable extension of the brand, people will instantly have an idea of what it does. Developers of apps that aren't part of a big brand may have more freedom to design what they want, but must work harder to ensure their icon shows what the app's for. A good way to do this is by using things from everyday life, such as a notebook and pen (Penultimate), a guitar pick (Ultimate Guitar tabs) or one of the many printing apps.
A quick glance at these three and you know what you're dealing with.
Simplicity
Now in trying to make their icons show what the app does, some developers forget the KISS principle (that's keep it simple, stupid). I see so many apps where icon designers have crammed far too much into a small space, meaning that details get lost, text is too small, or the whole thing just looks plain cluttered. Not a good start when you're trying to persuade people to part with money. If the developer hasn't thought about the icon, how do you know they'll have thought about the app itself?
Some designers, again aided by working with a known brand, have got it just right by using a recognisable portion of the logo - think The Telegraph's T, Facebook's F or the Twitter bird.
Another good example is 0870, an alternative number finder, the icon for which is simply the number 0870 encircled in red with a line through it. Both simple and functional.
Logos can be distilled to recognisable elements, while apps such as 0870 do a good job of keeping the icon simple and effective.
DistinctiveTry searching the App Store for "camera" and you'll get back hundreds of apps, many of which have very similar icons - a circular lens shape on a dark background. Good icons, many of them, but most need something to make them stand out. A simple + sign, like on Camera+ is an effective way to give the icon an edge.
Friendly Plus for Facebook combines the familiar blue and light grey colour scheme with enough of a twist on the true Facebook logo to make you realise what it does, yet be distinctive. Weet for Twitter is another - the bird instantly tells you it's Twitter-related, but because it's different from the real Twitter bird, it's clear you're dealing with a distinct app.
These icons show what the app does, but are distinctive enough to make them stand out from the crowds.
Stunning and polished looks
As well as ticking the functionality, simplicity and distinctiveness boxes, the icon needs to look the part. That touch of polish and panache is hard to describe in words but easy to spot, and it's quite incredible how this makes apps stand out, both on the App Store and on your Home screen.
Do many apps manage all of these things? Well yes, many do. UK Train Times, Reeder, Facebook, Skype, Notability and Corkulous are just a few that – I think – have got their icons spot-on. They're all good apps, too, which is why I'm going to leave you with this thought to mull: how many really good apps can you think of that have bad icons?
Just five examples of icons that are simple, functional, distinctive and look great.
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