

Test your icon against different wallpapers.

Instead, consider incorporating your icon’s color scheme. It can be confusing to see an icon used for different purposes throughout an app. In general, avoid displaying replicas of devices, because hardware designs tend to change frequently and can make your icon look dated.ĭon’t place your app icon throughout the interface. Apple products are copyrighted and can’t be reproduced in your icons or images. Interface elements in an icon are misleading and confusing.ĭon’t use replicas of Apple hardware products. Screenshots are too complex for an app icon and don’t generally help communicate your app’s purpose. Photographic details can be very hard to see at small sizes. Don’t include nonessential words that repeat the name or tell people what to do with your app, like "Watch" or "Play." If your design includes any text, emphasize words that relate to the actual content your app offers.ĭon’t include photos, screenshots, or interface elements. An app’s name appears below its icon on the Home screen. Use words only when they’re essential or part of a logo. You don’t need to fill the entire icon with content. Give it a simple background so it doesn’t overpower other app icons nearby. Make sure your icon is opaque, and don’t clutter the background. Keep the background simple and avoid transparency. Take time to design a beautiful and engaging abstract icon that artistically represents your app’s purpose. For example, the Mail app icon uses an envelope, which is universally associated with mail. People shouldn’t have to analyze the icon to figure out what it represents. Design an icon with a single, centered point that immediately captures attention and clearly identifies your app.ĭesign a recognizable icon. If an icon’s content or shape is overly complex, the details can be hard to discern, especially at smaller sizes. Find a single element that captures the essence of your app and express that element in a simple, unique shape.
