Simple Icon Sets That Improve UI Clarity

How to Create a Simple Icon in 5 Easy StepsIcons are small visual elements that communicate ideas quickly and clearly. A well-designed simple icon improves user interfaces, strengthens branding, and makes interactions more intuitive. This guide walks you through five practical steps to create a clear, functional, and attractive simple icon — from planning to final export.

Step 1 — Define Purpose and Context

Before drawing, clarify what the icon needs to do.

• Identify the meaning: Is the icon representing an action (e.g., “search”), an object (e.g., “camera”), or a state (e.g., “offline”)?
• Consider context and size: Will it appear on mobile at 24×24 px, on a website at 48×48 px, or in a print document? Design for the smallest size expected.
• Match style and brand: Determine if your icon should be outline, filled, rounded, or geometric to fit existing UI language.
• Accessibility: Ensure sufficient contrast and consider labeling for screen readers if the icon is interactive.

Step 2 — Sketch Concepts Quickly

Sketch multiple quick concepts on paper or digitally.

• Start with simple shapes: Circles, squares, and lines often form the basis of recognizable icons.
• Explore silhouettes: A strong silhouette helps recognition at small sizes.
• Limit detail: Simple icons should avoid tiny strokes or complex textures.
• Choose 2–3 best sketches to refine.

Step 3 — Build in Vector

Create the icon in a vector editor (Figma, Sketch, Adobe Illustrator, or Inkscape).

• Set up an artboard sized to a multiple of the target size (e.g., 24, 48, 96 px) and use a pixel grid if available.
• Use basic shapes and boolean operations (union, subtract, intersect) to create clean geometry.
• Keep stroke weights consistent; when using strokes, align them to the pixel grid to avoid blurry rendering.
• Use a limited grid system (e.g., 24px grid) and snap elements to it for optical consistency.
• Name layers and group elements logically for easy adjustments.

Example workflow in Figma:

1. Create a 24x24 frame. 2. Toggle Pixel Grid and Snap to Pixel Grid. 3. Draw a circle for the base with 2px stroke. 4. Use boolean subtract to cut out inner shapes. 5. Export as SVG and optimize. 

Step 4 — Test at Real Sizes & Iterate

Always test your icon at the sizes users will see.

• Export previews at target sizes (16px, 24px, 32px) and inspect clarity.
• Adjust path details: simplify shapes if the icon becomes noisy at smaller sizes.
• Create filled and outline variants if needed — some icons read better as fills at small sizes.
• Check visual weight compared to other icons in the set to ensure harmony.

Quick checks:

• Is the silhouette readable at 16–24 px?
• Do strokes align to pixels (no half-pixel strokes)?
• Does the icon match the contrast and color system in the UI?

Step 5 — Export and Optimize

Prepare final files for developers and products.

• Export formats: Provide SVG for web, PDF/EPS for print, and PNGs at required raster sizes.
• Optimize SVGs: Remove metadata, unnecessary groups, and reduce decimal precision to keep files small. Tools: SVGO, SVGOMG.
• Provide a sprite or icon font if the project requires many icons.
• Document usage: Include recommended sizes, padding, and color usage in a small spec sheet.

Example export checklist:

• SVG (optimized) — primary file
• PNG — 16/24/32/48 px
• PDF/EPS — for print
• A short README with alignment, spacing, and color info

Design Tips & Best Practices

• Consistency: Keep corner radii, stroke widths, and visual weight consistent across an icon set.
• Simplicity triumphs: Remove any element that doesn’t improve recognition.
• Use metaphors carefully: Cultural differences can affect interpretation; test with users if possible.
• Color sparingly: Icons often work best in a single color with optional accents.
• Accessibility: Ensure icons used alone have accessible labels or tooltips.

Quick Example — Designing a “Camera” Icon

1. Purpose: Represent “take photo” action in a mobile app at 24px.
2. Sketch: Camera body (rectangle with rounded corners), lens (circle), viewfinder (small rectangle).
3. Build: Use a 24px grid, create rounded rectangle (4px radius), center a circle for lens, boolean subtract to form inner ring.
4. Test: Export at 24px and 16px; simplify lens ring to a single filled circle at 16px.
5. Export: SVG optimized, PNG at 16/24/48 px, document 2px padding and primary color.

Icons are small but powerful — spending time on clarity, consistency, and testing pays off. Follow these five steps to produce simple icons that are readable, attractive, and production-ready.