Monday, February 28, 2011

Simple Web Icons Important Characteristics

Simple icons are among the principal features of minimalistic design. Do not forget that simple icons along with other design elements should be used moderately. Reduce the amount of simple icons. Use them only where it is absolutely necessary. Optional simple web icons are to be refrained from repetition or eluded. They may serve multiple functions.

Limited amount of color, reserved shades, clear elements, soft lighting are being used for simple web icons design. One of the greatest advantages of Simple icons is that they don't distract website visitors from the main idea of your website.

Rules for simple icons design:

  • minimal usage of duplication
  • less amount of graphical elements
  • maximum intuitive clarity
  • clear typography in simple web icons
  • less icons

How to produce minimalistic design with simple web icons

Additionally to simple icons themselves lightweight background textures and patterns are very important for the design and content perception. The eyes should focus on the internet site content or some most important blocks but not on the background pattern or image itself. So the background needs to be of a light simple shade making it secondary compared with the foreground items like simple web icons.

Clear typography is another prominent feature of the lightweight and clear design. Select simple icons names according to their function and bear in mind such names ought to be precise, and also meaningful. Also use readable and enough large font for headings on simple web icons. Clear hierarchy should be followed as well.

Enough white or empty space is helpful for creating a great clean simple icons design. Extra spaces keep elements more readable. Due to this fact it is easier to work with them. Even if you use some extra space between simple web icons this do not harm to the design of your site at all.

Speaking about the minimalistic trend in general it is not totally minimal. Despite its great amount of white space there are still some simple icons, light textures, neat styles and bold fonts. Minimal is just not exactly the same as simple. Initially minimal meant plain typographic excluding images and styling. Today there's a great amount of various website pages over the Internet. Thats why modern design requires something more than black text on white background. Reducing elements of design to the most essential items you can add much more zest to your web-site layout with some uncommon coloring, catchy simple icons, half-transparent and lightweight textures and patterns.

Simple = smart. While creating the modern website design you should bear in mind the eternal truth stating that genius lies in simplicity. Simple web icons is the greatest solution if you'd like your internet-site look fantastic and professional.