When designing an icon set, one of the most important things to keep in mind is that a set is more than just a collection of individual icons—it’s a cohesive visual story. Great icon sets can flesh out a detailed picture of a particular subject or topic with consistency, clarity, and intentionality. Whether you’re illustrating a broad theme or specific objects, maintaining a unified style across your icons is essential for helping your icon set look polished, professional, and well informed.
So, what exactly makes a great icon set? Let’s explore the key elements:
Start with Subject Matter
A great icon set starts with a strong concept. Before diving into the design process, spend some time thinking about the subject matter. Ask yourself: What message is this set trying to convey? What will the icons be used for? This initial clarity will guide the entire design process. If you’re designing a set around a specific theme, like “tools” or “outdoor activities,” ensure that every icon clearly relates to the theme. Avoid including icons that feel out of place, even if they’re visually appealing.
And don’t forget these two key considerations before you start designing:
Subject matter specificity: A lot of icon sets already exist in the world – how are yours going to stand out? It’s easy to find icons for general topics like web navigation (including home buttons, “settings” gears, and so forth) so what less-represented topics can you create icons for?
Diversity and inclusion: It’s important to represent a wide and diverse range of people in your work, and to avoid outdated stereotypes. Depictions of people should include a variety of different ages, hair types and styles, body types, facial features, and identities.
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