Sometimes the smallest things happen to be the most significant ones; this philosophy goes apt with website icons. These mini icons are one of the most crowd-pleasing components without which a website looks unfinished. It is viewed as best tool for casting an impression on the audience. You must be thinking, if you add handful of these small pictures, here and there on your website, your work is done but that’s not how these icons would benefit you. Just than being eye-candy, icons should have a purpose, it must be easily understood. Whenever you see a symbol of magnifying glass on a website, you identify it as search tool, an envelope sign signifies e-mail, now these signs without any interpretation are easily understood by the viewers, universally. These visual metaphors should state the meaning within a glance.
Web-designers seem to be puzzled as there is an assortment of icons available. It becomes imperative for these designers to choose perfect icons which look aesthetically pleasing as well as functionally effective. These miniature symbols are often taken for granted, but poor iconography may also result in website failure.
Here are few tips that can help the designers to come up with iconic icons for their website:
Appealing and logical:
The first rule for a perfect icon is that it should be visually-appealing. Icons should create a visual impact in the minds of the viewers. Choose icons which are beautiful as well as clear. You can make the icons more attractive by adding effects like transparency, drop shadows or gradients. You need to use same style and effect for all group icons or it may ruin the look. Choose logical icons, it should convey the message appropriately. The concept which you use for iconography should be clear rather than confusing.
Should be universally understood:
Incorporating creative icons doesn’t mean that it should be just eye-pleasing, it should also be understood by the audience all over the world. Icons are imagery words which should have meaning in it. Almost every person should know what the icon represents. Icons are similar to traffic signs which are understood by people universally. It should instruct the users and navigate them correctly or else the visitors might get baffled or get lost which would eventually force them to exit from the site.
Maintain consistency:
Consistency is very essential, in case of icons or else it will result in breakage in the flow of information. All the icons should be uniform in shape, size and color. You can change the background color of the icon but try to maintain same color for the icon shape. Colors are generally associated with emotions; hence you can use colors effectively to add more value to the icon. Despite of acting as decorative elements they should serve as visual tool for communication.
Icons should be functional:
While concentrating on creativity and quality aspects, do not forget to pay attention towards functionality. In order to make the website more striking, we tend to add unnecessary icons. Remember utilize only those icons which are functional and not for adorning purpose. Less icons is smart and impressive, more is just crowd. Don’t use icons to fill the empty spaces. Add icons, only where it is needed.
Before choosing your icons just focus on three essential factors, functionality, effectiveness and eye-catching. So, invest in right set of icons and make your website more alluring and inviting. Icons have become a powerful tool and are predicted to become more crucial part of web designs.
