by Justas | Sep 11, 2015 | Inspiration
Hey guys! Once again I’ll present you collection of 15 great icon sets I’ve collected through the week. It’s nice to see so many different styles and interesting approaches on icon design. I’m sure you will discover some great icon designers and awesome icon sets. Let’s dive into the best icons of the...
by Justas | Sep 8, 2015 | Icon Tutorials
Hey guys! Hope your first autumn weekend was great! So if you follow my work or at least read my blog from time to time you may know I love outline icons. I practice them daily and improve my skills and knowledge everyday. Today I thought I would share my own approach to outline icon design. Don’t worry, I won’t be talking about my process. Instead, I’ll cover some great tips for you to follow when creating outline icons. Outline icons are the easiest to learn compared to all other icon styles. So they are great if you are just starting practicing icon design. But don’t get misled – outline icons may be easy to learn, but they are really hard to master. However, once you’ve made it, you can fit these icons into various projects, because outline icons are very adaptable. By implying different style variations you can make your outline icons look really “fluffy” and cheerful, or, quite the opposite, serious and corporate. This is a really powerful icon style. Now let’s get to the “meat” – how to properly make your outline icon set? It’s outline icons, for god’s sake. Use outlines! When I started working with outline icons I was simply recreating outlines with various shapes. For example, instead of drawing a simple 20px long and 2px thick line I would make a 2px tall and 20px long rectangle. It looked exactly the same, but it was a nightmare when I needed to edit the icon or change the line thickness. I would spend countless nights editing and tweaking the icons just because I somehow...
by Justas | Sep 4, 2015 | Inspiration
Hey, everybody! Another week – another batch of best icons of the week! I’ve got a ton of positive reviews about the first batch so I think I’ll continue making these weekly collections. Some of the icons are available as a freebies so don’t hesitate to download them and say thanks to the author! So let’s get inspired!...
by Justas | Sep 3, 2015 | Articles
There is a first time for everything Creating first icon set could be really challenging. There are usually lots of questions popping in your head, like “What should my icon set be about?”, “How many icons is enough?” or a classic “How do I know if it is good?”. Sounds familiar? Concerns like these prevent you from even starting an icon set. This has to stop. We all know too well that the hardest thing to do is to start. To make it easier – start small. Don’t make your first icon set for a client. Don’t make it for sale. Don’t even make it a freebie. Do it for fun! You will always have a chance to work for some scumbag who will try to kill your passion for the icon design. Starting your journey has to be nothing but fun and excitement, from the first sketch to the polished vector icons, ready to knock everyone off their feet. Here are a couple of things that will smooth your way into the icon design. 1. Choose the right theme for you first set Your first icon set should reflect something you’re passionate about. Otherwise, how are you going to enjoy the whole process of creating it? Forget about the boring basic topics like household items (unless they are your passion, of course)! Think outside the box and go for something that brings your joy in real life. Do you like skateboarding? Or is it painting that makes your heart skip a beat? Maybe reading? Riding a bicycle? Is singing your thing? Choosing the theme that excites you is...
by Justas | Sep 2, 2015 | Articles
So…you want to be an icon designer. You want to put sophisticated ideas into simple icons. Help lonely wanderers find their way through the jungles of the internet. Be able to talk to every person, regardless of the language they speak. And, of course, help foreigners find a toilet when they need it the most! But you still question yourselves “Do I have what it takes?” Am I right? Well, let me tell you. Yes, you do! I strongly believe that a person can be absolutely anything and anyone they want. Yes, for some people it would be much easier, while others will struggle to get what they want, but in the end if you are committed to something, if you practice, you will become a real expert in your field. You know what they say – practice makes perfect! So you want to create kick ass icons, huh? Get ready to try, fail and then try again until your icons are impeccable. To help you get there I’ve got some useful tips prepared for you. Jump in! 1. Pay attention to details Great icon designers pay attention to each and every small detail. If you want to become one, you must too. There is no such thing as an insignificant detail when it comes to small icons that carry big messages. Everything must be perfect, and everything matters. Period. With every single line or curve you can either make a message clearer or completely ruin it. I bet that’s not what you aim to, right? Be patient and take this piece of advice seriously. 2. Choose the right...
