Actual text in an icon can be difficult to read and doesn’t support accessibility or localization. If text is essential for communicating your app’s purpose, consider creating a graphic abstraction of it.

For example, the Xcode app icon features a hammer that looks like it has a steel head and polymer grip. Replicate the characteristics of substances like fabric, glass, paper, and metal to convey an object’s weight and feel.

If you depict real objects in your app icon, make them look like they’re made of physical materials and have actual mass. If you do this, make sure the tool remains visually unified with the background and doesn’t overwhelm the rounded-rectangle shape. After you create a detailed, realistic image of a tool, it often works well to let it float just above the background and extend slightly past the icon boundaries. For example, the TextEdit icon pairs a mechanical pencil with a sheet of lined paper to suggest a utilitarian writing experience. To give context to your app’s purpose, you can use the icon background to portray the tool’s environment or the items it affects. For example, in iOS and watchOS, the Mail app icon depicts the white envelope in a streamlined, graphical style in macOS 11, the envelope includes depth and detail that communicate a realistic weight and texture.Ĭonsider depicting a familiar tool to communicate what people use your app to do. If your app runs on other platforms, use a similar image for all app icons while rendering them in the style that’s appropriate for each platform. To give people a familiar and consistent experience, prefer a design that works well across multiple platforms. Presenting multiple focus points can obscure the icon’s message.

A single, centered point of interest captures the user’s attention and helps them recognize your app at a glance. Too many details can be hard to discern and can make the icon appear muddy, especially at smaller sizes.Įstablish a single focus point.

Find a concept or element that captures the essence of your app and express it in a simple, unique way, adding details only when doing so enhances meaning. Combine an engaging design with an artistic interpretation of your app’s purpose that people can instantly understand.Įmbrace simplicity. You can’t include two different app icons for one app, and the macOS 11 app icon style looks fine on a Mac running Catalina or earlier.ĭesign a beautiful icon that clearly represents your app. IMPORTANT When you update your app for macOS 11, use your new app icon design to replace the icon you designed for earlier versions.

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